New millennium job searching
Job searching today is not like it was for our parents. Today's search is mostly conducted via the internet. I've used internet classified ads and search engines to find employment because it's much easier than going door to door hoping to get hired.
The downside of using the web for job hunting is that criminals can prey on unsuspecting people. Identity theft is a growing problem that costs American families billions of dollars (and a lot of distress) every year. The best way to protect ourselves from on-line scams is to know the warning signs.
Spambots, scams and weird name combinations
One of the first signs to look for is incorrect grammar and spelling. If you receive correspondence from someone claiming to be interested in hiring you, check the spelling. If the letter is full of typos and incorrect grammar this is usually a sign the scam is originating from overseas. Real companies proofread and approve all communications that originate from the company.
Strange looking email addresses or website URLs (Uniform Resource Location) are another sign to watch out for. Look for addresses that have weird letters or number strings in them. If the correspondence is from a legitimate company it should include the company's URL. For example, an email from Company XYZ would typically come from a genuine email address ending in "@xyz.com", rather than a generic one offered by service providers like hotmail or yahoo.
Be wary of shady email addresses like "c87ww63xkv.com"; these are typically generated by spam robots. Verify the address contains a name or a department like sales@xyz.com or keith.banks@xyz.com). Spambots can make an address look very real even though it's junk by randomly mixing first and last names resulting in combinations like "Jack Beauregard" or "Yasmina Dokov". Be wary if a message passed your spam filter and the sender's name is some unlikely combination. Seriously, have you ever met anyone called "Akira Botticelli"?
Identity thieves are playing the field too
When you create an account and post your resume on Monster dot com, the Ladders or another job-related website, potential employers as well as scammers are able to see it. If any of them ever sends an email saying there is a problem with your account and urge you to fill out an online form or download software to fix the problem, don't. This is most likely a scam. It's called "phishing" and if you download or click any links or open any attachments or files you could infect your computer with a nasty virus. All of the personal information stored on your hard drive could be compromised. Never ever give out personal information online or through email unless you trust the person on the other end.
Be sure to conduct research into the company with whom you have an interview because this will help you avoid being taken advantage of. Before you reply to a job ad, get as much information as possible. At the very least, you need to know a company's permanent address and telephone number. Use an independent service such as the phonebook or online yellow pages to verify contact information. You can also use people search services such as Intelius or Net Detective if you really want to perform an in-depth profiling of the person you are in contact with. Online consultation of public records is usually free. However unlike most of these services advertise you'll always have to pay to download full background checks. Also keep in mind your future employer might use this resource to know more about you as well.
Your future employer is eager to know about you. Take the same approach.
Be sure to visit the company's website, particularly the "careers" section, for information about its products and services. Try an online search to look for press releases and other news. If possible, ask for references of people or companies that have worked with your potential employer. Some companies don't list their name in an ad, but that doesn't mean the position isn't legitimate. The company may have hired a recruiter, or simply wants to avoid a deluge of resumes. Reply with caution.
Be especially vigilant of companies that require your social security number and banking information before you've accepted the job. While it's normal for that information to be required for tax and direct deposit purposes, it's quite illegitimate for it to be requested before you begin working. Credit card information and personal bank account numbers are completely off-limits. And never ever pay an employer to find work for you. Employment agencies who find work for you are paid by the company that hires you. In no way is the employee expected to pay the employment agency. Also, refuse to pay for your own background check. Dealing with this kind of research is your future employer's responsibility, not yours.
Too good to be true?
Be careful of companies that promise the world. The adage "if it's too good to be true, it usually is" is good advice for avoiding any scam. Are the salary and benefits a little too good for the position or your level of experience? Are you guaranteed the perfect position? Is the employer more excited about the job than you are? Are they willing to hire you after just one interview or without an interview at all? These could also be signs of trouble ahead. Look at it this way, anyone offering $125 dollars an hour for you to sit home and stuff envelopes all day is probably out to scam you.
Be wary of all work-at-home job offers. Think about it for a second: if it were that easy to make a living by working from home we'd all be doing it. I mean really, can a human stuff envelops more efficiently and cheaply than a machine? Why of course not. A machine can stuff up to 10,000 envelops an hour, but a person can only stuff about 300 and that's if he or she's moving nonstop. Would a company be willing to pay for inefficient labor? Not likely. Many of these ads turn out to be Nigerian scams or illegal pyramid schemes.
There are plenty of opportunities out there that are completely free, legitimate, and positive when it comes to finding authentic online jobs. As long as you are careful you can prevent yourself from becoming a victim to identity theft and fraud. Good luck!
