Fake Employment Emails

Online recruiting sites are becoming more and more popular every year. The job-searching process has made it’s way into the digital era, where those searching for a new career are able to apply to hundreds of opportunities with the simple click of a button. Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern MA, ME, RI, & VT (BBB) is warning the community to beware of employment scams if they come your way.

While this new trend is a common tactic for job-seekers and has seen to be most popular to millennials, BBB’s Scam Tracker has received reports of fake job offers sent to applicants’ emails. These scammers claim to be responding to a submitted application or viewing a resume on an online recruiting site.

“These cons often use real company names and can be very convincing,” says Paula Fleming, spokesperson for the local BBB. “It may look as though you are starting a great new career, but you are really giving personal information to scammers.”

BBB offers tips for job-seekers to avoid being scammed during the search:

Double check the contact information. An employer’s email should include a signature at the bottom with the name of the sender, their occupation, the address of the business, and a contact number. Look out for phony emails with grammar or spelling mistakes, and legitimate-looking email addresses not associated with the actual business. Double check this information with the business’s website.

You sense urgency. If a valid business has posted an open position online, chances are they will receive numerous amounts of applications and will only reach out once to those they are looking to pursue. Scammers want their emails to stand out, so they may contact applicants multiple times to offer a chance for an interview.

They ask for a payment. You shouldn’t have to pay to be considered or hired by a business. Never give out banking or credit card information, this information is not needed by a legitimate employer. A major red flag that you’re dealing with a scam are up-front fees for promises of guaranteed income.

They want you to work from home to start. Many scams have included text along the lines of, “Required to work from home for the first 15 business days while the office is under construction.” In this case, ask where the office is located. If they can’t give you that information, then there probably is no office, and also no business.

If you know of or have received any emails relating to fake employment, report the scam at bbb.org/scamtracker/boston.