Seeking employment online and working from home have become part of normal life since the start of the pandemic in 2020. As a result, there has been an increase in the number of individuals being taken advantage of through employment scams. In today’s blog, we’ll examine employment scams and ways to avoid falling victim to them.

Work-from-home scams:
Work-from-home scams have increased in popularity over the last five years, and are deceptive schemes designed to trick people into believing they have been offered real work-from-home opportunities. Scammers use these ploys to steal money and personal information in several ways, including unrealistic promises of high payment for minimal effort; lack of clarity and details; and/or payment via non-traceable methods such as gift cards, wire transfers, or even cryptocurrency.

Nanny, caregiver, and virtual personal assistant scams:
In these types of scams, internet users seeking employment as caregivers, nannies, virtual assistants, and other similar roles, are targeted – sometimes under the guise of generous pay and ideal working conditions. Common red flags include payment being offered prior to work being performed, often via check and/or in an amount significantly higher than initially promised, and a refusal of the new “employer” to meet in person or virtually.

Mystery shopper scams:
Mystery shopper scams prey on job seekers interested in earning money by evaluating businesses and/or the services they offer. Red flags can include being hired for a position you didn’t apply or have a formal interview for; receiving payment upfront with instructions to wire money or purchase gift cards; or even a specific focus on evaluating money transfer services. Be wary of any unsolicited job offers and verify the legitimacy of any company you’re interested in working for.

Job placement services scam:
These scams target job seekers by promising to help them secure employment – for a fee. The scammer poses as a representative for a job placement agency, promising users access to exclusive job opportunities. Victims are asked to pay upfront fees for services like creating a resume, job leads, guaranteed placement and more. After the scammer receives payment, the promised services are never delivered, or victims are provided with outdated or fake job listings. To avoid these sorts of scams, consider using reputable, job searching and resume building resources instead.

To better avoid falling victim to one of these scams, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Urgency is often manufactured – Many scammers will attempt to defraud you by creating a false sense of urgency to get you to perform the task they have requested. This is a tactic to get you to agree faster without asking appropriate questions about their requests.
2. Make sure the details line up – If something seems off about the company you are receiving messages from, double check the accuracy of the information you've been given. Doing some research could expose the "company" as fraudulent, and potentially save your money and the headache of having your identity stolen. 
3. Don't answer demands – Many scammers will threaten to take legal action if you do not meet their demands, but no trustworthy business or individual would ever require payment on the spot without question. 
4. Trust your intuition – Your intuition is often correct. If something seems off, it probably is. Exercise caution to better protect your identity and finances from potential scams.

It's much easier to prevent a scam than it is to recover from one, making it crucial to remain diligent in protecting yourself and your privacy. For additional fraud prevention resources, including tips for keeping your information safer online, please visit our Fraud Prevention Center.