Job & Employment Scams

Job scams are fraudulent job offers or employment schemes that trick individuals into providing personal information, paying money, or performing work without proper compensation. These scams often promise high-paying jobs with little or no experience required, and they may use fake job postings, emails, or websites to lure in unsuspecting victims.

Examples of common job scams include:

• Work-from-home schemes that require upfront payment for training or materials
• Jobs that involve cashing fake checks or transferring funds on behalf of the employer
• Offers to start a business or be a "mystery shopper" that require an upfront fee
• Requests for personal information such as social security numbers, bank account information, or credit card numbers for employment purposes
• It is important to be cautious and do research when considering job offers, especially if they seem too good to be true or if the hiring process seems suspicious. Legitimate employers typically do not require personal information or money upfront and will provide a clear job description and salary information.

• Be cautious of job offers that seem too good to be true or that require you to pay a fee or provide sensitive information. Legitimate job offers will not require you to pay money or provide sensitive information such as your passport or visa details.
   
• Research the company or recruiter before providing any personal information or scheduling an interview. Look for the company's official website, read reviews and testimonials, and check if they have a physical location.
   
• Be suspicious of generic emails or job offers that do not address you by name. Scammers often use this method to contact multiple victims at once.
   
• They ask for your personal information or payment before you have had a chance to interview or to verify their legitimacy.
   
• If you receive a suspicious job offer or email, do not respond. Instead, report it to the proper authorities immediately.

Here is what a job scam email could possibly look like:

It's important to remember that legitimate job offers will not require payment or sensitive information, and they will typically conduct interviews and background checks before making a job offer. If you are unsure about the legitimacy of a job offer, do your research, and reach out to the Office of Career Services or the Office of Information Security.

Symplicity called the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and received the following instructions for schools to share with students who have responded to fraudulent postings.

• The student should immediately contact the local police. The police are responsible for conducting an investigation (regardless of whether the scam artist is local or in another state). At RIT, start with Public Safety, 585-475-2853

• If it is a situation where the student has sent money to a fraud employer, the student should contact their bank or credit card company immediately to close the account and dispute the charges

• If the incident occurred completely over the Internet, the student should file an incident report with the: http://www.justice.gov/criminal-ccips, or by calling the FTC at: 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).

See more at: https://www.symplicity.com/blog/2010/11/09/fraud-posting-tips/

• IACLEA Student's Guide to Fraud Scams (PDF)
• Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information on Job Scams
• Common Job Scams in 2022
• Additional Job Search Scams 
• Job Scams Too Many People Are Falling For
• Millennials and Job Scams
• 8 Warning Signs of a Job Scam
• Scams of the Heart