Tips for Identifying Unreliable Job Offers

Over the past few months, my LinkedIn feed has been full of people open for work; I know how challenging the job market is. At the same time, my TikTok feed has been full of victims who have received job offers, only to find it was a scam after either giving them personal data or worse, having money stolen from them. For those of you in the job market, I want to offer a few tips: -- If someone reaches out to you directly about a job, do everything you can to verify that they are employed by the company or search firm they claim to be. Check their LinkedIn profile to make sure they have verified their workplace (Verifications are located directly under the summary section). Make sure the email address they provided has the correct company domain; check the domain spelling carefully. --If someone reaches out to you about an entry/mid-level role that typically has many qualified applicants, be suspicious. In this job market, those are not roles where recruiters need to actively recruit; they can find great candidates simply by posting the role. -- When applying for jobs directly, try to do so from a trusted source (e.g., the company's career site, LinkedIn.) Be wary of small career sites. If you find a job posted that looks interesting, check on the company's career site to see if the role is posted there. If it's not, walk away. -- NEVER give personal data (e.g., date of birth, driver's license/passport/social security number, etc.) over the phone or through a non-secured email exchange. --NEVER EVER transfer money or use your own funds to purchase anything needed for the role. They often "wire money" or send you a check to deposit in your Zelle account that ultimately bounces after you have transferred funds back to them. A legitimate company will ship required equipment to you directly. If you are asked to go buy it, walk away. -- If the job sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you get the sense that something is off, don't be afraid to visit the company website, find a email address for general inquiries & ask them to verify that the role is legitimate and that XX recruiter is working on it. Job scams enrage me because criminals are preying on incredibly vulnerable people who can't afford to lose money. I know the emotional toll job hunting can take on a person. To think you have finally made it to the other side only to realize it was all a con is gut wrenching. I don't usually ask this, but please share this on your feed and add additional tips that I haven't mentioned. Recruiters are a community; we have to look out for job seekers, treat them with respect, and help them find real work.

Alerts from a bank you don't have an account with. Winning a contest you never entered. These raise suspicion, and they should. Navigating multiple interviews and getting a job offer for better pay or more flexibility doesn't. But maybe it should. Why? Sadly, when people are vulnerable, that's when others take advantage. I recently heard a story from a industry peer of mine that an individual quit their job to accept an opportunity that never existed. They handed over their social security number for employment verification. They handed over their bank account for direct deposit. And the job never existed. This is recruitment fraud. Scammers prey upon the aspirations of job seekers to build a better life, and they steal their identities, their confidence, and their livelihoods. If you're on the job search... 🔎 Look for inconsistencies, be it in their outreach or the information they provide you during the interview experience. Ask questions they should know the answers to (e.g., team structure, day-in-the-life, benefits). 🤨 If something seems off, it probably is. Be wary of requests for personal identifying information, including completing a background check, too early in the interview process, or for purchasing expensive equipment prior to starting. 🖥 Research the company and those who work for it. Reach out to the company to verify the job's legitimacy. ☕ If they have local employees, request to meet for a cup of coffee. If the opportunity is legitimate and you're truly their top candidate, they likely would be open to doing so. 🤝 If it sounds too good to be true, or if something is off, talk it over with someone you trust. A second data point is always beneficial. 📧 If you're an employer, respond to people that email you, call your sales line, etc. and let them know whether they're in your applicant tracking system or if you're even recruiting for the job they're inquiring about. We've all heard that the interview process is a two-way street. You're interviewing each other to determine if there's a fit. Recruitment fraud is just one more reason to ask the questions you need answers to to make such an important decision as accepting a new job.

"Be Careful." This is something I said to my kids when they were going to cross the street. Or when they are driving home after dark. We tell people to 'be careful' when they travel, or go on a date with someone new, or even when they are handling a sharp object. Like my new puppy with his dangerously sharp baby teeth 😗 . But lately, I am cautioning job seekers to 'be careful.' Sketchy jobs. Sketchier recruiters. Requests for personal information before you even know what the job is. Most people have the sense or instinct to refuse to provide information or engage in conversations when something feels 'off.' But I am seeing these requests getting more and more sophisticated, so even the most cautious and skeptical of job seekers are getting caught up in deceit. So, be careful out there. Lots of people are willing to take advantage of job seekers who are feeling desperate, frustrated or vulnerable. HUGE Red flags.... 1. If anyone asks you to purchase equipment for a remote job, then provide your bank account so they can reimburse you....scam. 2. If more than one recruiters reaches out to you for the same job, they don't work for the hiring company, they are independent recruiters trying to use YOU to get their foot in the door....scam. 3. If you are asked for your social security number, bank statement, W-2 or any other financial information, it's a scam. 4. If you receive a note or communication and there are grammar, spelling or language errors, it's not legitimate. 5. If someone is offering an insanely high salary range right off the bat, it's a scam. 6. If you are being asked to pay a fee for training or onboarding, it's a scam. 7. If an email you receive only includes contact by email and not a phone number, probably a scam. 8. If you can't find any employees of the company on LinkedIn, they probably don't exist. 9. If you are asked to interview through a messaging app, video (with no one on the other side) or by some other tool that doesn't include real live contact, it's a scam. 10. If you get an immediate job offer after a short interview, it's not legit. So be careful out there. A job search these days can be more dangerous than driving your car down a snowy mountain with bald tires. #jobsearch #resumewriting #becareful

The hard part about job hunting is the number of scams that look real. I fell into a few of them last week. Here's how to avoid as many of them as possible. (and it's hard, because scammers are getting more and more savvy as they get more information.) 1) If they ask you to send your resume on to a second person whose company was not the company you applied to? Be really careful and look at the email domains that are sending and receiving things. Delete the email/message/etc. If they're on LinkedIn, report it. (A lot of the messages I've reported have led to those accounts getting shut down. Help out your fellow job seekers.) 2) If the job description seems too good to be true or the person posting the job description wouldn't typically be the person (CEO/Founder/etc.), do you due diligence and research. If it looks legit, proceed with caution, but if they ask you to do anything or say that you have the job without you interviewing, sorry, but not legit. 3) More due diligence - Easy Apply is super easy, but even then, double check as much as you can on the company website. Google that! (also, research is good. Use that soft skill!) If the company doesn't have the job opening listed, reach out to a recruiter to confirm OR report the listing. 4) Make sure as much of your PII (Personal Identifiable Information) is scrubbed off your resume. You'll need some things, like your name or your email, but your address, your photo, etc - keep it off of your resume, because that gets used by scammers. (Also, the photo could be used in possible EEOC violations so unless your work requires an acting headshot, keep it separate.) 5) Remember, this is a point where if it's too good to be true definitely applies. Most administrative roles don't go for $75/hr. And gang, I know it sucks hard when that dream job is right there. But also, if it's too good to be true, make sure you're thinking critically and double checking before you put your working life in the hands of a scammer. 6) Look at the person listing the job. If they have a lot of contacts and look to be active? They're probably legit. I say probably, because some scammers have been hacking into accounts and using legit, verified or older accounts to make their job listings look legitimate. Double check as much as you can. 7) MLMs are bad. If they want you to put down money to sell to your friends, it's not worth it. There's a wealth of information about MLMs, but take it from someone who grew up a kid in Amway: MLMs are bad. (Yes, I'm directly calling out Primerica, LegalShield, ProFinancial Group, etc.) I'm not going to stop you if you want to do them, but also, if you don't have the money to put down for a side hustle. . . Point is, job seekers need to be safe, and make sure that we can do something against people preying on others who are vulnerable. What are some safe job seeking hints you have in your arsenal? #jobseeking #greenbannergang #jobseeker #greenbanner

Stop Applying: 5 Job Post Red Flags That Scream SCAM Scam job listings are becoming more sophisticated. They look legit. They sound exciting. But they can cost you time, data, or even financial security. Here are 5 red flags to watch out for (with examples): 🚩 1. “No experience needed” + “Earn $5,000/week” If it sounds too good to be true… it is. 📉 Real companies don’t offer high pay for zero skills. 🚩 2. Vague job descriptions Look out for posts that don’t mention specific tasks, tools, or expectations. 📉 Example: “We’re looking for motivated individuals to join our growing team.” Doing what, exactly? If they can’t explain it, don’t apply. 🚩 3. Interviews over messaging apps Legit employers don’t conduct full interviews on Telegram or WhatsApp. 📉 If the “hiring manager” avoids video or email, it’s a red flag. 🚩 4. Asking for money or personal info early on You should never have to pay to apply, train, or “unlock” a role. 📉 Also beware of requests for banking info, SSNs, or IDs early in the process. 🚩 5. Sketchy email domains or broken websites 📉 If the job post links to a site with typos, no company info, or uses a free Gmail/Yahoo address, proceed with caution. 🚩 6. Offers made without a real interview If you get a job offer after a quick chat or email exchange, with no proper interview, that’s a huge red flag. 📉 Real companies don’t skip due diligence. Scammers want you to act fast without thinking. 🚩 7. Overuse of buzzwords without substance Phrases like “Work from anywhere!” or “Unlimited earnings!” with no mention of actual job duties often point to MLMs or scams. 📉 Real employers talk about the work, not just the hype. 🚩 8. Pressure to respond immediately Scammers will try to rush your decision, "Apply now!" or "Only a few positions left!" 📉 Any legit job will give you time to review, ask questions, and think it through. 🚩 9. Fake logos or impersonated company names Some scams clone real brands. Always check the company's actual website and job board to confirm the listing. 📉 If something feels “off” about the language or email domain, trust your gut. ✅ What to do instead: Stick with trusted platforms that vet their listings. DailyRemote is one of the few that consistently shares real remote jobs across industries, updated daily, no fluff, no scams. Your time and trust are valuable. Don’t waste either on fake opportunities. Stay sharp. Stay skeptical. And apply smart.

Today, we received another email from a jobseeker who thought they'd been offered a job at Zapier in what turned out to be a scam: 🚩 🚩 🚩 Here's a list of things that COULD be red flags 🚩 🚩 🚩 1. Domain mismatch ("zapierinc" or "zapier. biz") 2. You're contacted about a job you don't have any record of applying for. 3. The person contacting you has a new LinkedIn account with very few connections, has an unverified email, no profile picture, not connected to employees of the company they claim to work at, etc. 4. The job you're contacted about isn't posted on the company's website. 5. The interview takes place via text on an app like Teams or Skype. 6. You receive an offer for a non-entry level role after a single interview or after never meeting a real employee. 7. You're asked for private information like your social security number, bank account information, etc. 8. You're asked to pay anything up front, or told you'll be given a check and then should pay the company. 9. The communication is poorly written or creates an unnecessary level of urgency (for example, threatening to pull an offer if you don't submit the paperwork that say). 10. You receive a text or a comment on LinkedIn from a big name company sourcing you for a "too good to be true" type opportunity. Please note that I say "could" because you may experience 1-2 of these in a legitimate process (for example, you're being proactively sourced for a role that's not yet posted, or a company is leveraging recruiters abroad who are communicating in their second language resulting in weak communication). But you won't see multiple items from this list in a legitimate process. If you realize you've been the victim of a scam, steps you can take: 1. Report the account details to the FTC. 2. Report the profile to LinkedIn. 3. If you're shared your bank info, contact your bank to get support with ensuring no payments are taken from your account. 4. If you shared your social security, contact the credit bureaus as it may make sense to freeze your credit. 5. You can inform the company that someone is impersonating their employees; they may be able to help with getting domains or accounts closed. Jobseekers are vulnerable and that makes them easy targets. And in a tough market, unfortunately many want so badly to land a great opportunity that they may miss the red flags. Please try to internalize these, and share them with others in your network. If you see someone falling for one of these scams, warn them of the signs.

🚨 Alert: Rising Job Scams Targeting Students 🚨 Hey LinkedIn community, Today, I want to raise awareness about an alarming trend I've noticed recently—job scams targeting students and recent graduates. As we navigate the job market, it's crucial to stay vigilant and protect ourselves from these deceitful practices. 👺 Key Red Flags to Watch Out For: Too Good to Be True: If a job offer seems exceptionally lucrative without much effort or qualifications, it might be a scam. Unsolicited Offers: Be cautious of unsolicited job offers, especially those received via non-professional channels like social media DMs or personal emails. Immediate Job Offers: Legitimate employers typically conduct thorough interviews. Be wary of offers made without a formal interview process. Upfront Payments: No legitimate job will ask you to pay for training, equipment, or any other expenses upfront. Vague Job Descriptions: Scammers often use generic job titles and descriptions to lure unsuspecting candidates. Ensure the job details are specific and align with your expertise. ✌ Protect Yourself: Research the Company: Verify the company's legitimacy by checking their official website, LinkedIn page, and reviews on platforms like Glassdoor. Verify Contacts: Use official company channels to verify the identity of the person contacting you. Trust Your Instincts: If something feels off, it's better to walk away and double-check than to fall victim to a scam. Remember: 📢 Do not share your SSN or IDs. Always take the time to thoroughly vet job opportunities and don't hesitate to seek advice from mentors, career advisors, or peers. Let's stay informed and protect each other by sharing this message with our networks. Together, we can help create a safer job market for everyone, especially for our emerging professionals. Stay safe and vigilant, everyone! #ScamAlert #Jobs #Jobscams #JobSearch #Graduates #Students

❌ Beware of job scams on LinkedIn. Scammers are getting craftier. They're reaching out with enticing job offers that, unfortunately, are designed to steal personal information or even money. Here are some tips to help you navigate safely: 🔍 Verify the Contact: -Always ensure the person contacting you has a comprehensive LinkedIn profile. -Look for a detailed work history, connections in common, and professional endorsements. -If something feels off, it probably is. 🏢 Investigate the Company: -If you're approached by an unfamiliar company, research them. -Look them up on LinkedIn, Google, and Glassdoor. -Real companies have an online presence, including websites and social media accounts. 🔒 Secure Communication: -Legitimate recruiters and hiring managers will typically use their corporate email, not personal ones. -Be wary of any communications asking for personal information via email, especially if they don't come from a corporate domain. 💰 Too Good to Be True: -High-paying jobs for minimal experience, roles that don't require an interview, or companies offering to send checks before you start working are often scams. -Be cautious and remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. 💭 Trust Your Instincts: -If something feels wrong, don't ignore your gut feeling. -Take your time to research and never feel pressured to provide information quickly. Remember, the goal of your job search is to advance your career, not to become a victim. Stay alert and safe!

A PSA for job searchers! We've been made aware that Hook is unfortunately one of the many companies being used in a recruiting scam. This time around, there's a scammer named "Scott Riley" claiming to be a Hook recruiter who is emailing people with resumes on Indeed to set up interviews via Skype for a Freelance Photographer role. Keep in mind, this is happening to many companies, big and small, right now. They’re reaching out about full-time and freelance positions, using different names and various email domains. Job searching can be tough enough, so we’ve pulled together some tips to protect yourself from fake recruiters: - If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Plain and simple. Take your time to review the outreach closely.  - Check that email domain. Keep an eye out for the fishy ones like .store and .site or free email services like Yahoo, and always reference the official company site to check contact info. For example, Hook’s legitimate recruiters will only contact you through official @byhook.com email addresses. - Visit the careers page of the company and verify that the role and description match the recruiter's outreach, especially if their initial message is vague. - Most company career pages will have a careers@ or jobs@ email alias that you can reach out to to confirm legitimacy.  - Is the person on LinkedIn? In this day and age, ain't no way a recruiter doesn't have a LinkedIn profile. If they do, check to see if they are verified or if they have the company they claim to be working for listed and tagged as their current employer.  - If a job offer comes way too soon (before any interviews or only after one interview) and the individual is pushing you to sign immediately, this is a warning sign. Legitimate employers will respect your decision to take time to review and think about the offer.  - Do not provide any personal information to these individuals. We will never ask you for things like IDs, Passports, banking information, etc. until after you have started at our agency and during our onboarding or orientation period. #recruitingscam #fakerecruiters