BBB Warns Students About Summer Job Scams

Summer is almost here and the extra time it affords high school and college students, they may be looking for a temporary summer job or internship. While most job postings are legitimate and appear to be promising, job seekers should beware of certain announcements as they may be scams.

Better Business Bureau serving San Diego, Orange and Imperial Counties warns students about summer job scams that could, unfortunately, result in identity theft or financial loss. Here is a common summer job scam:

Bait ads –These ads can pop up on job search engines and online job boards. These ads usually advertise alluring positions, offering a dream job with high pay and benefits. Does this sound too good to be true? Then it probably is. After you apply, you’ll be surprised to discover it was just a tactic to collect personal information. Some employment agencies use these ads for data mining, a process used to search and analyze applicant information. This information is stored in a database in which staffing agencies utilize it to look for potential candidates to fill positions. These bait ads run on multiple sites in several locations.

To avoid this kind of scam, students should consider using their school job placement office as a resource rather than responding to online job postings. In addition, students should look up the business offering the job on the internet to see what kinds of reviews are posted. Checking BBB Business Review or calling BBB at (858) 496-2131 is also suggested to see if the company is in good standing.