Internet Job Search Scams

Types of Scams

Work From Home Scams

The fraudulent employer claims anyone can work from the comfort of their own home and earn a significant amount of money with no skills or experience needed.

Check | Payment Processing | Collections Scams

These scams will often include instructions to collect and deposit funds from the fraudulent company’s "clients" and then transfer money back into a third party bank account.

Shipping Scams

These fake positions require the job seeker to receive packages of goods, such as Electronics and other items, and then re-ship the packages to another location, often overseas.

Mystery Shopper Scams

The fraudulent employer claims the job seeker will be paid handsomely to shop at a variety of reputable companies. Typically these jobs will require a fee for information or certification prior to employment.

Common Job Titles

Personal Assistant | Administrative Assistant | Accounts Receivable

Be cautious when applying to jobs that have very generic titles without additional information about the potential employer. These generic types of listings can be good cover ups for fraudulent activity because the descriptions can be vague, yet look professional.

Tips:

  • Companies or agencies offering surprisingly high salaries for the promised job.
  • Companies or agencies that refuse to provide verifiable references.
  • Employers with contact email using a consumer email domain such as gmail.com or yahoo.com.
  • Never give your social security number, driver's license number, bank account numbers, or other sensitive information. Also be cautious of job postings that contain the following:
  • Poor grammar and/or misspelled words. This can be an indicator of fraudulent companies that operate overseas.
  • Positions that provide generic information or the lack of clear information on the services offered.
  • Statements that sound too good to be true. For instance, phrases like: "No experience needed," "unlimited income," "work for 1 hour ~ get paid for 8 hours."

Contact Us

For more information on common types of scams, please visit our website or call out Crime Prevention Unit at 305-948-2955.