Watch Out for These Online Scams While Looking for a Job!

It's hard enough to do a job search these days!  You apply to jobs you know you can do and never hear back from the employer.  Even worse, you may be doing a job search online and not even realizing you are getting scammed.    

Not all job sites are created equal.  Job sites like GreatInsuranceJobs.com validate every single job that gets posted.  All employers are validated; it will never be posted on the site if they don't pay. Conversely, huge sites like Indeed and Zip Recruiter have millions of jobs with no cost of entry.  While they have scam filters, it is similar to all your Facebook friends who regularly notify you they have been hacked. Facebook spends billions on validating content! Here are the scams you must be aware of in your job search. 

1. Phishing Scams 

Phishing scams are the easiest and are where a scammer poses as a legitimate employer. They find your resume and contact information on a job board database.  Many will send you fake job interview requests via email, talking about some fantastic jobs.  Once you click the "application link," they may ask you for more personal information, like your social security number, bank information, or a password. Legitimate employers will NEVER ask for a social security number until after you interview, get an offer, and get on board. GreatInsuranceJobsc.com will never allow resume database access to anyone but verified, legitimate employers. 

2. Fake Job Listings 

The fake job posting is the worst. The most common job is "remote assistant project manager-no experience necessary starting at $28.00 per hour". They're designed to get as much information about you as they can. The best way to verify if this is legit is to go directly to that company's website and see if you can find that job posting on their site. The next step before applying is to call the company using the contact information on the website. If it goes to someone's cell phone, you know it is a scam.  Finally, google the company name, phone number, and email.  This will lead you to others who this same company may have scammed. 

3. Job Placement Fees 

Never pay anyone a fee to access an interview or job…period.  This is a total scam.  This happens when you apply for a job and get a call back from a recruiter who makes the job seem like the best job ever.  These scammers are great at convincing you they are legit.  Then, they ask for a payment or a priority interview.  RUN. 

4. Work-From-Home Scams 

Since Covid, work-at-home jobs have become widely accepted, and more legit companies than ever are offering this to their employees.  The scam "work from home jobs" will always have an element of someone trying to get you to give them money and personal information like your social security number.  Scammers also create WFH jobs by copying and pretending to be a company like Google or Amazon.  Again, the best way to verify is to go directly to those companies' websites and find the same job in their career section.  

5.  Social Media Scams 

Scammers use videos and ads on all social media platforms to get you to click other links and give them personal information or money. Legitimate companies use social media to recruit, so you just have to treat each post like a job lead, go directly to their corporate website, and find the job they are advertising.