Young adults and recent graduates are common targets

By Editor | June 25, 2024

NEWS FROM THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

The summer season is an exciting time for many young adults as they enter the workforce following high school or college graduation. Unfortunately, not all job postings found online are legitimate and many fraudulent employers specifically target young adults with entry-level professional positions that offer a high salary and flexible working hours.
Employment scams were the No. 1 riskiest scam type for consumers between the ages of 18-44 years old.
From 2023 to present, Texas residents have lost $750,000 to employment scams.
Employment scams progress in various ways and do not always result in a loss of money. However, jobseekers who provide sensitive personal information to a fraudulent employers may have an increased risk of experiencing identity theft.
Common versions of employment scams include:
After being offered a position with a company, the employee provides all the required personal information including, but not limited to, banking information, address, Social Security number and other identification documents. Once submitted, the company ceases to contact the employee and all attempts to establish communication go unanswered.
The company provides the employee with a check under the direction it is to be used to purchase work or training materials. After depositing the check, the company informs the employee they were overpaid and demands the money be returned via nontraditional payment methods, such as gift cards, a wire transfer or mobile banking app. Eventually, the employee’s bank identifies the deposited check as fraudulent and removes the funds from their bank account, leaving the victim out however much money they ‘returned’ to the company.
In many cases, scammers impersonate well-known companies to appear legitimate and put victims at ease.
How to avoid employment scams:
Evaluate work-from-home opportunities. The transition to remote work has created many opportunities for legitimate and fraudulent businesses. Be wary of companies that require the applicant to download a specific mobile app to communicate, conduct the entirety of the interview through text or chat, or do not provide a physical address for the business.
Verify contact details. It is common for scammers to use addresses for vacant lots or other companies and a phone number that is either fabricated or not in service. At a minimum, verify that at least two contact methods will get you in touch with company representatives.
Research the company.  Spend time researching a company’s reputation and legitimacy before agreeing to work for them. If the offer is coming from a well-known company, check their official job board to verify the position is listed and use the posted contact methods to reach out to the hiring team.
Be wary of immediate offers and start dates. Any pressure to sign or onboard immediately indicates that the company may not be legitimate. Choosing a place to work is an important decision that most legitimate companies understand requires time to consider. Be especially wary if the position is offered without an interview or promises a significant income if the employee pays for coaching, training or certifications. If the hiring team threatens the job will go to the next candidate unless you make an immediate decision, it might be best to walk away.