How to Spot a Fake Job Posting Before You Apply
A real job does not need your money, your bank login, or a fake check.
Online work can be real. So can online job scams. The FTC warns that scammers often pretend to hire people, then ask for money, personal information, or a check deposit before real work begins.
Be careful with fast hiring
A fake employer may offer the job after a text chat or a short message. Real employers usually have a real interview, clear duties, and a traceable company contact.
Never pay to get paid
Fees for training, equipment, background checks, or supplies are a warning sign when they come before a real job relationship.
Watch for fake checks
A fake check may look real and may even show as available in your account. If you send money back before it clears, you can owe the bank.
Verify the company separately
Go to the company’s real website yourself. Do not rely only on the link or email address in the job message.
Protect your documents
Do not send your Social Security number, bank information, or ID until you have verified the employer and the hiring process.
The habit that matters most
The habit that matters most is to stop when a job asks you to move money. New hires are not payment processors.
Keep learning, free
Lumoset’s free course, Finding Legitimate Online Work – Level 1: Finding Real Work Without Getting Burned, walks through this topic step by step. No account needed, always free, at lumoset.org.
Sources: Federal Trade Commission, consumer.ftc.gov; Better Business Bureau, www.bbb.org.
Image credit: taiyofj (CC BY 2.0).