Consumer Alert
Scammers are hijacking job ads. Here’s how to spot the fakes
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Scammers are taking outdated ads from real employers, changing them, and posting them on employment websites and career-oriented platforms like Indeed or LinkedIn. The modified ads seem to be real job offers with legitimate companies. They’re not. In fact, their goal is to trick you into sharing personal information. So how do you know if you’re dealing with a scammer?
Know that some of the hijacked job postings are offers to work from home as a personal assistant or customer service representative. Then, they’ll ask you for information like your Social Security and your bank account number so they can (supposedly) deposit your salary. Sometimes, they say you got the job and send you a check to buy equipment that you have to cash (and send money to them). But these are scams.
Here are more ways to spot and avoid phony job postings:
- Verify job openings before you apply. Visit the official website for the organization or company you’re applying for. Most include a “career opportunities” or “jobs” section.
- See what others are saying. Look up the name of the company along with words like “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” The results may include the experiences of others who’ve lost money.
- Never deposit a check from someone you don’t know. An honest employer will never send you a check and then tell you to send them part of the money. That’s a scam.
See a suspicious posting? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and check out more advice to stay clear of job scams.
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I was victim of such scam, where I lost $3,000. They send me a bad check, some of it was supposed to be my salary for a driving position. And the add was posted on Indeed.com.
I did report it to the Feds.
We thank you for informing the public.
In reply to I was victim of such scam,… by Ebrima Jobe
Yes, it happened to a friends of mine whose son thought he had gotten a wonderful job in Great Britain.
It was all totally fake fake fade !!!!!
You dont need to send money to make money or get a job. They said it was a British tax law
for foreign workers. They also wanted a finder's fee.
never send money.
Facebook is home for scammers and scams. They have reporting system that doesn't let you report. And if you report they disapprove your complaint. And let the scammers get another account.
In reply to Facebook is home for… by Jimmy Mayberry
One of the main reasons I disconnected from Facebook was the lack of protection from frauds, cons, and scammers.
In reply to Facebook is home for… by Jimmy Mayberry
Exactly , facebook claimed they verify all those before it ever gets on face book . I called the guy told me he could take information. I told him to call me back or I need to get his name information how to reach him. Never ever heard from anyone . I tried to report scams who advertised on their Facebook I was told that never happens. I notice a face book charge every month after I contacted them 1,89 monthly I think that's to use service .
good sssssssstuff
I was a victim of such scam as well. Scammer mailed the fake check and wanted me to electronically transferred money to him for the purpose of buying working materials and I lost $4,730. Once I realized I was scammed, I reported it to my bank, the FTC, local police department and did everything I can to minimize my damage.
Sadly, these identity thieves are now harvesting from Linkedin... A few more dead give-aways:
They, as a "recruiter" as for information that is illegal in the US to ask for - anything with your date of birth. Examples I have seen:
Photo of driver's license
full demographics including full date of birth
The latest: a photo of your US passport (for a 100% remote job)
For me this post is very educative, useful and helpful to the society.
This is because most people are being robbed of money by these online scammers that are popularly increasingly across the web.
I was just scammed but luckily I checked with the company. Indeed.com, work at home remote job. BEWARE!!! Company was legit out of MN. They used Signal app for messaging, filled out the basic questionnaire and said I was hired and an email packet would arrive soon for me to fill out the basic I9, W4 and direct deposit. I knew right away when the email had a .buzz at the end.
I called up the company in MN and they told me they are not hiring and that other people were calling them too to verify.........and it's a scam.
Very Sad that Indeed.com is littered with these scams and they don't verify companies who are hiring.
It’s been happening to me almost daily.
Between the scammers and the regurgitated job opening the hr companies post make very hard to find authentic openings.
I am concerned if we managed to get rid of all the duplicated job openings and the scanners there wouldn’t be many real offers. Very sad.