Recruiting Scams Job Seekers Should Watch Out For

Let’s be honest — we all live, and work, in a day and age, where online scams are a part of our norm. And it is a sad reality and one we need to be constantly mindful of. What we do know, is that where there is success, cybersecurity breaches are not too far behind. The sophistication and elaborate measures these scammers will take fall into just about every online activity out there, including the job hunt. As if searching for the right gig wasn’t pressure enough, we now have to take into consideration the high trend of recruiting scams. The Federal Trade Commission received 21,848 reports of job and employment related scams in the third quarter of 2021, which is almost three times the number of reports received in the same quarter of 2020, which was 7,324. And at this time last year, CNBC reported that Americans had already lost nearly $68 million in job scams. All we can say is, ICK. Luckily, there are a few things we have seen and gathered that here at SkillGigs we wish to share back out to our community. And note, we have resources to help you if you are in the marketplace.

Job seekers should be aware of various recruiting scams that can target them. Here are four of the most common recruiting scams out there:

1. Job postings that require payment: If a job posting requires payment of any kind, such as application fees or training costs, it is likely a scam. Legitimate employers do not require job candidates to pay for the privilege of applying for a job.

   1. Some scams involve work-from-home opportunities that require payment upfront for training or supplies. Be cautious of any opportunity that appears too good to be true.

   2. Here’s a story from our VP of Marketing Amanda Betts: “I’ve worked for two of the world’s largest staffing companies. At at both, I heard wild stories coming from all over with scams effecting the job seeker. One notable one was when a ‘recruiter’ would require the applicant to purchase from them $1,000 worth of gift cards in order for their work equipment to be sent. It sounds like an obvious and flat out ‘no’ but sadly, many fell victim to it.”

2. Phishing scams and/or Identify theft scams: Scammers may pose as recruiters and send emails asking for personal information such as social security numbers, bank account details, or passwords. Be wary of emails that request this type of information. Things to check:
   1. Are they using a personal email extension such as @gmail.com or @yahoo.com? Legitimate companies would not require their personnel to use personal email IDs.
   2. Unless the role is executive in nature, rarely would the CEO or other c-suite personal be randomly emailing you out-of-the-blue or sending your SMS/WhatsApp messages.
   3. If something just doesn’t feel right, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask the company directly. It is better to be safe than sorry. Example of what to do:
      

3. Fake job boards: Fake job boards may advertise nonexistent or fraudulent job opportunities. Always research the company and job posting before submitting your application.

4. Overpayment scams: Some scammers may offer to pay more than the advertised salary for a job, but then ask the candidate to return the excess payment by wire transfer or check. This is a common scam and can result in the job candidate losing money.

The more you know, the safer you can be. Overall, job seekers should be cautious of any job opportunity that seems too good to be true or requires payment or personal information outside of a secure network or setting. It is always important to research the company and job posting before engaging with a recruiter or submitting your application.

Avoid Falling For False Gigs with SkillGigs

Here at SkillGigs, we want to ensure that everyone has the best experience. We want your only focus to be on how to best advocate your skills and seek out a great opportunity. When you use SkillGigs, know that:

• All of the gigs posted in the marketplace are real jobs.
• As every employer partner is vetted, there are no scammers – just talent seekers.
• No employer partner is allowed to message you unless they are ready to bid on your skills.
• Bidding means that what you see are real job opportunities.

Want to get started? Great, sign up today.