Technology is growing rapidly, and with every passing day, we are more consumed and increasingly dependent on it. But technology is more vulnerable than protection. Most of the technology is poorly secured, giving rise to the biggest concern i.e., cyber security.
Fake Online Employment and Job Scams
Today, it has become very easy to become a victim of Cyberscams. Nowadays, the Cybercriminals are targeting College students. These criminals advertise fake employment opportunities which turn to financial loss for the participating students. Here is how these job scams work.
How do Job Scams work?
Scammers Post Jobs
The scammers post online job advertisements. These job postings solicit college students for administrative job openings.
Fake Checks
Once the student shows interest in the job opening, he\she receives a counterfeit check in the mail. This mail instructs them to deposit the check into their personal checking account.
Withdraw & Transfer Funds
The cyber-criminal further directs the employee-student to withdraw the funds from their checking account. They also direct them to send a portion to another individual via wire transfer. They often mention that the transfer of funds is to a “vendor” that is needed for equipment, materials, or software essential for the job.
Banks Confirms Fraud Checks
Consequently, the bank confirms the checks to be fraudulent. This leads to financial loss for the student. There can be adverse effects on the students’ credit, likely legal action, or identity theft for participation.
Consequences of being scammed
- Due to the fraudulent activity, the student’s bank account may be closed. Further, the bank could also file a report with a credit bureau or law enforcement agency.
- Since the student transfers the amount of the counterfeit check to the scammer, he\she would be responsible for reimbursing the same to the bank.
- There could be an adverse effect on the student’s credit record.
- With this scam, the scammers are successful in obtaining personal information from the student, which leaves the students more exposed to identity theft.
- The funds collected by the scammers via such scams could be potentially utilized to fund illegal criminal or terrorist activity.
Examples Of Employment Scam E-Mails
Below are the examples of some of the regular employment scam emails:
“I have forwarded your start-up progress report to the Personnel Dept and you will get your confirmation letter soon. They will also be facilitating your start-up funds with which you will be getting your working equipment from vendors and getting started with training.”
“You will need some software and also a time tracker to commence your job training and orientation. The funds for the software will be provided for you by the company via check. Make sure you use them as instructed for the software and I will refer you to the vendor you are to purchase them from, okay.”
“Enclosed is your first check. Please cash the check, take $500 out as your pay, and send the rest to the vendor for supplies.”
How can you avoid getting trapped in Job Scams
To avoid getting scammed when searching for remote jobs, it’s crucial to do thorough research and due diligence. Look for reputable job boards or platforms, read reviews and feedback from other users, and verify the company’s legitimacy. Additionally, never pay upfront fees or provide personal information unless you’re confident about the job’s authenticity. Stay cautious and trust your instincts.
Be Alert when the Job Demands call for Receiving Or Processing Funds
Students need to be extra cautious when accepting any online job. Never accept any job that demands depositing checks into your account. Also, if the job demands to transfer any amount to individuals or accounts, then it could be a potential scam.
A common example of a fake job offer includes generic job descriptions, such as “organize items orders” or “write detailed reports.” In some cases, scammers may not even provide a job description at all. Beware of these red flags to protect yourself from job offer scams.
Poor Use Of English In Job Mails
One important thing to note is that many of the scammers are not native English speakers; hence the messages they send may have poor use of the English language in them. Check for incorrect grammar, capitalization, and tenses in the emails they send.
Report Immediately
If you have fallen victim to an online job scam, it is crucial to act promptly. Start by filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – they will conduct an investigation. Additionally, the FTC advises reporting the incident to your state attorney general. Taking these steps will help safeguard against further scams and protect others from falling into the same trap.
College Students Swindled into Pay for Job Scams
The FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) issued a public service announcement (PSA). With this announcement, they described a scam that is precisely targeting college students looking for work.
Conclusion
Cybercriminals impact the economy and also the daily lives of every individual. Sadly, due to the lack of knowledge and awareness, many of us become easy victims. If you have been a victim of such a scam or any other Internet-related scam, contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
Read next: Most common Online and Email scams & frauds.
