With today’s easy accessibility to the internet, new opportunities and connections are always just a click away. With so many options before us, it can be really difficult to tell the difference between what is real and what is fake. Job scams happen!

Scammers pose as an employer or recruiter in order to lure unsuspecting job seekers into their trap. They post fictitious job opportunities in the hopes of conning people out of their time and money. You do not have to be their next victim! Check out these 5 signs a job opportunity is a scam and save yourself the trouble.

Stay ahead of the game. Remember these helpful signs when on your job search and you won’t be the next victim of a job opportunity scam!

1. The Pay Offered is Too High

Yes, we would all love to make more money while doing less work. Unfortunately, this is not the norm. You should always be leery of a job offer that comes with a salary that surpasses competitive and heads straight for unrealistic. Next time you come across a Work-at-Home Customer Service Representative Opportunity with flexible hours and pay starting at $45/hr, proceed with caution! Most Customer Service Representatives make $18,000 – $37,000 a year, which translates to $8.00 – $18.00 an hour. There is no fault in seeking a larger salary, but be mindful of what a typical position in that line of work offers. Chances are, if the pay is too high, it’s a scam.

2. You Are Required to Pay Upfront

Any company promoting a valid job opportunity will provide the necessary materials to get started. If a company is seeking money upfront for things such as training materials or “safety” deposits, RUN! You should never be required to pay any sum of money to “get started” on a job opportunity. More often than not, a company will pay you during on-the-job training. Wouldn’t you prefer to be the one receiving the money rather than sending it? You should never pay a company or a job recruiter to start a job or help find you a job. If you run across a job opportunity that requires you to pay upfront, hold on to your money and actively seek another job opportunity.

3. You’re Unable to Find Valid Info on the Company

You will always be able to research a legitimate company. Anyone worth working for would be proud to tell you all about themselves! You should be able to locate information about the company offering you the job opportunity through search engines such as Google or Bing, locate valid social media pages, and find reviews from other users or employees on platforms such as Glassdoor and Indeed. You should also be able to locate a company website, current marketing materials, and contact information for a live representative that you can reach should you have any additional questions or concerns. If the job opportunity is coming from a staffing firm you may want to keep the following things in mind. Often times staffing firms cannot disclose the client that they are hiring for. If that is the case, you should always research the staffing firm to make sure they are legitimate. You can find information about valid staffing firms on sites such as ASA or Best Of Staffing. If you are unable to locate the above mentioned items when researching a company and their job opportunity, it is best that you back away and move on to the next opportunity.

4. The Recruiter Makes Unrealistic Promises

Other warning signs that should make you take heed are faulty promises from fake recruiters. If you have decided to work with a recruiter or hiring firm in your quest for new employment be mindful of the following. The, “I promise to find you a job with us if you work with me” speech is a clear warning sign that you are not in good company. Unfortunately, no one can guarantee you a job simply for working with them or their firm. A recruiter should work as a mentor and adviser in your job search. They should work to match candidates to relevant job opportunities and work closely with you to identify your long-term career path. They should support your individual growth through skills training and guidance, but they should never promise you a job offer. If this faulty promise is made to you, find another hiring firm or recruiter to aid you in your search.

5. Questionable Email Correspondence

Watch out for emails from “personal” email accounts. No legitimate company will have their HR Director or recruiters reaching out to you from their Gmail account. Any valid email correspondence will come from a verified corporate email account. In most cases, a company email will include some variation of the senders first and last name or first and last initials from the company’s email platform. For example, an email from MAU’s John Doe might look like; JDoe@mau.com or JohnDoe@mau.com or JD@mau.com. If the email correspondence is coming from a Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, or Hotmail account, you may want to think twice about who you’re really having a conversation with.

Chances are, if the job offer looks or sound too good to be true, it probably is! It is vital to keep your wits about you in your job search. Everything should add up and you should feel comfortable and confident about the job opportunity. Do not fall victim to a scam and always trust your gut! If you are on a quest for reputable job opportunities, you’re in the right place! Check out the numerous job opportunities offered from MAU below.

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