Behind the Screens: Unmasking the Rise of Online Job Scams in 2023
The holiday season brings joy, but for Jamie, it also sparked a quest for a second job to make the festivities even more special. She was eager to visit family in Virginia and shower her nieces and nephews with gifts, so she embarked on the familiar journey of online job hunting.
Like many, Jamie turned to popular job boards such as Indeed and ZipRecruiter, scrolling through numerous positions to find the perfect fit. She looked for part-time work with a competitive salary, and she made sure to only apply for recently posted positions in order to avoid those dreaded “evergreen” postings. She applied even to roles that didn’t precisely align with her needs. Jamie didn’t want to admit it, but she was beginning to feel more desperate as the time went on. She was counting on the extra income so she could afford to visit family out of state for the holidays and had already started to rationalize with herself: “If not Thanksgiving, then hopefully by Christmas.”
Then, a glimmer of hope appeared in her inbox—an email from a hiring manager offering a remote administrative assistant position. The job seemed tailor-made for her, ticking all the right boxes and promising a great income. Excitement filled Jamie as she prepared for what she believed was a well-deserved break.
But it didn’t take long for her to realize that she was the victim of a job scam. The signs were there from the beginning—the odd communication, the questionable interview process, and a lingering feeling that something was amiss. After lots of questioning, it turned out the company and the job were fake.
While Jamie managed to avoid falling victim to the scam, the experience wasn’t without its toll. The scammers wasted her time and shattered her confidence, leaving her frustrated and disheartened. It’s a tale that many job seekers can relate to—a cautionary reminder of the challenges that can arise in the digital job market.
That’s because Jamie isn’t alone in her experience. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) reports a major increase in the amount of money that job seekers have lost due to employment scams. In 2022, there were 4,402 total reported scams, and in 2023, close to half of those numbers (2,177) were reported in the first three months.
Getting Help From a Career Coach
Going forward, Jamie will work with a Career Coach to help her reach her goals. A Career Coach could’ve helped Jamie avoid wasted time and emotional stress by connecting her with real jobs from real employers in her area. Her coach can be an invaluable resource for helping her avoid scams and find a quality local job.
Career coaches provide personalized guidance and support throughout the job search process, helping people:
- Update their resume
- Connect with local businesses
- Prepare for interviews
- And network for better opportunities
If you want personalized help finding a real job at no cost to you, contact an E&ES Career Coach today.
Recognizing An Employment Scam
Jamie’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the changes and challenges in the job market today. Scammers have been in overdrive since the pandemic, taking advantage of the new digital landscape in business, employment, and more.
So far in 2023, workers have lost $337.8 million to job scammers, with the median loss being around $6,000. If you’re looking for a job and you don’t have a Career Coach to send you personalized listings, here are some ways to avoid job scam traps:
Research the company before accepting a position. Do a quick online search and see what shows up. Scammers can easily create a website, so look beyond the company’s website. Check customer reviews as well as employer reviews. Do a search for the company plus the words “scam,” “review,” or “complaint” to see what others have to say about their experience.
Research the people who have contacted you. Look closely at contact details, such as email address, LinkedIn profile, or website bios. A business email address will have the company’s URL in the address with no additional numbers or letters. For example, when you receive an email from an E&ES Career Coach or other staff member, the email address will be “john.smith@eesforjobs.com.” You won’t see “john.smith.eesforjobs@gmail.com“, or “john.smith@ees4jobs,” or any other variation of the website’s URL, which is www.eesforjobs.com.
Furthermore, check their LinkedIn profile and the company’s website to verify that they are legitimately connected to the company.
Don’t pay for your job. An honest employer will never send you a check to deposit into your personal account, pay you in gift cards or cashiers’ checks, or ask you to purchase equipment.
Other types of job scams include:
- Job placement service scams involve fake temp agencies or headhunters charging a fee for access to job listings. Job placement services are free at workforce agencies like E&ES’ American Job Centers.
- Mystery Shopper scams, where you are asked to pay for a certification or job listings. Anyone who wants you to pay to get a job is likely a scammer.
- A nanny, caregiver, or virtual assistant job scam often involves being contacted by someone in your area who offers you work and sends you a check. They’ll tell you to send the remaining money from the check back after you’ve purchased supplies, only to find out that the check will bounce and you’ll never receive the supplies.
- A reshipping scam is when your “job” includes repackaging and reshipping products sent to your home.
- Government and postal scam jobs involve a fee for access to government or postal jobs. Information about job openings with the government or at a post office is always free and available to all.
Report suspected scams right away. Scammers don’t just steal money from unsuspecting workers; they steal identities. The following places can assist you if you suspect that you have been contacted by a scammer. In many cases, you can report a scam with a legitimate business name directly to the business.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or call 877-FTC-Help.
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Report the scam to the source where the fraud was initially encountered
ZipRecruiter – click the “Report Job” link at the bottom of the listing or send an email to trustandsafety@ziprecruiter.com.
