How to Spot and Avoid Employment Scams

Now more than ever, staying safe online can feel like a minefield. Scammers evolve with technological advances, finding new ways to try to dupe jobseekers into giving up personal information. Here are some signs to watch out for to keep yourself safe when job searching online.

Unconventional platforms for communication. Apps like Whatsapp and Telegram have become increasingly popular with scammers. Some scammers will also access potential victims via text message. However, legitimate employers are much more likely to make contact via phone or email, and HR representatives will only contact individuals who have applied for work with the company. If you receive unsolicited job offers from companies where you’ve not applied, the offer is not legitimate.

Inconsistent information. One red flag can be inconsistencies in the contact information, websites, or phone numbers. If you are reached by an employer who claims to be based in Banff, but their phone number does not use an Alberta area code, there may be reason to believe that the phone number is fraudulent or based in another area.

Time pressure. Scammers try to create a sense of urgency, hoping that their targets will act on their requests before they get the chance to read the information closely or second-guess the intentions of the scammer. If a potential employer responds negatively to your request to slow down and consider the offer, it may be a red flag.

Too good to be true. Companies that offer $500 per day for a job that requires 1-2 hours of work are not legitimate. These scammers try to tempt jobseekers with unusually high pay for very few hours of work. In general, if it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.

Website issues. Unfortunately, AI has made it easier than ever for scammers to create a custom website that looks believable at first glance. However, there are some tells that could point to a website being fake:

• Are there errors in spelling, punctuation, or capitalization on the site?
• Is the address of the company stated on the website, and does it match other information you know about the company?
• If there are photos of the leadership team or of the office space, are the photos consistent with one another? Do they look believable, or do they look like stock photos or AI generated images?
• When you click links, do they follow through to the pages you’d expect them to?
• If there are social media accounts linked on the website, are they active?
• If the company claims to have multiple departments (finance department, insurance department, partnerships department, etc.) are those sectors able to be reached independently? Or is there only one email address/phone number available on the website for what is allegedly a large company with many departments?

Keep Yourself Safe

Here are a few common types of scams to look out for:

Fake onboarding, particularly for remote jobs. Scammers will use job titles like “Data Entry Clerk” that are vague and sound easy to learn. This is to cast a wider net to people with many different types of work background, or those with limited skilled experience who may be more likely to fall for an employment scam. The purpose of this employment scam is to capture sensitive information such as the victim’s home address, SIN number, driver’s license, or passport under the guise of “onboarding.”

Task scams. Victims are asked to complete a series of small and easy tasks such as writing product reviews, liking and subscribing to social media pages, or watching videos. Victims will be assigned a batch of tasks to complete with a strict time limit. Payout is promised after successful completion of the tasks, and sometimes, the scammers will provide a small payout at first to build trust with the victims. Eventually, the scammer will ask for a deposit before the victim is allowed to access the funds they’ve “earned” through completing tasks. This scam is designed to grant the scammer access to victim’s banking information. Also, legitimate employers will never charge a deposit so you can access your paycheck or earned wages.

Equipment purchase. This is a classic scam, and it particularly applies to companies that promise remote work positions. The scammer will ask the jobseeker to purchase supplies using a specific link, promising that the purchase will be reimbursed later. The link to “purchase” the equipment is run by the scammer. It is an attempt to capture banking information, and there is no job available. There is also a version where the employer will provide the jobseeker with a check to purchase equipment. The employer then claims the check was mistakenly written for the incorrect amount, and asks the jobseeker to send back a partial refund. The check is fake, and the jobseeker is forced to send their own funds to the scammer.

Parcel inspection. This scam involves a victim receiving packages to their home address, then forwarding them on to another address. In extreme cases, this can be a way for scammers to transport illegal goods. Do not consent to receiving packages at your home as part of an employment offer.

If you believe you’ve encountered a scam, it’s important that you do not surrender any personal information to the scammer. If you have inadvertently disclosed banking information to a fraudulent entity, you may want to consider cancelling the compromised card or account. Scams can be reported to the Better Business Bureau or the Canada Anti-Fraud Centre.

We are proud to host a local job board where all jobs and employers are vetted by our team for legitimacy. After 27 years of business in the Bow Valley, we have a great relationship with many local employers. We meticulously examine new job listings and follow up with employers before sharing them on our website. We want to help keep you protected as you seek employment in the Bow Valley!