7 On Your Side: Dream job or scam? How to spot employment red flags
NEW YORK (WABC) -- If you're looking for work and you're looking for offers online, pump the brakes.
Job scams are on the rise, last year up 76% year to year.
Last year, the Federal Trade Commission said $367 million was lost in job opportunity scams. That's a median loss of $2,000.
Many times, the scammers post on legitimate websites.
So how can you get a job and not lose money? Here are some job scam red flags:
- Hiring managers reaching out with emails from Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, etc. instead of their business' domain name.
- Spoofed lookalike websites with job postings.
- No one asks for your banking information through email and during the hiring process.
- Promises about the position that seems too good to be true.
- The guaranteed salary is more than expected.
- They say you can work from home.
- They ask for money for supplies, phones, or computers.
- The job asks you to pay for certification or classes
7 On Your Side's Nina Pineda said never pay money to make money.
Lastly, we've seen plenty of stories where fake employers will try to hire you as a secret shopper. They'll pay you with what looks like a real check. It's fake. What happens is you cash the check and send the scammers the money. You can kiss that money goodbye.
If you think you've been pitched a fake job or got scammed, the best thing to do is report it to the FTC.
----------
SHARE YOUR STORY
Do you have an issue with a company that you haven't been able to resolve? If so, 7 On Your Side wants to help you!
Fill out the form below or email your questions, issues, or story ideas by filling out the form below or by emailing 7OnYourSideNina@abc.com. All emails MUST INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND CELLPHONE NUMBER. Without a phone number, 7 On Your Side will not be able to respond.
