Five ways you can avoid falling for a job scam

Here are some key pointers to keep in mind so that you can avoid getting trapped in a job scam:

 

1.  Look out for the obvious red flags

-     The company has no website or official social media accounts

-      Job details are sent on Whatsapp/SMS/telegram

-     The job description unclear and has many typos or grammatical mistakes

-     The focus is not on the role but more on attractive salaries, quick benefits etc.

-     You found the job through random ads on the internet or other channels

 

2.  You are asked to share personal information

Although it’s a normal practice for companies to ask for your personal information, it is usually done at later stages of recruitment once interviews are done. But be extra careful on what information they ask for, for example, you should never share your bank account details. Before signing any documents or forms, make sure you verify if that information is really required as often scammers might misuse your personal data.

 

3.  Don’t pay any money!

Scammers often ask for payments to be made in the name of application fee, deposit or in lieu of reserving a seat for you. Never pay heed to such requests to pay money. A genuine and trusted recruiter or a recruiting company will never ask for money at any stage of your recruitment process or in exchange for their services.

 

4.  If it’s too good to be true, it’s not true

If you find a job offer that is all about making quick money and other incentives – proceed with caution! Read the job details and skills requirement carefully. If you find there is less information on the actual role and more about added benefits – that’s your red flag.

 

5.  Do your research & check with credible sources

Before accepting any interview offers or sharing any information, do your background research on the company. Understand the company’s history, business field and look out for any sign that might look suspicious. When in doubt, check if the company is registered and if their contact details are legitimate. You can also discuss it with you friends or family to get second opinion on the authenticity of the company.

 

Overall, the best way to handle such situations is to simply ignore. Whenever you get some unsolicited job postings which look fishy, simply don’t respond. Such job scams require active engagement from both sides, so if you don’t act on it, it reduces the chances of falling into such traps altogether.

 

To safeguard yourself and your personal information, look for below aspects when you speak to a recruiter for a job:

-  Recruiters should be able to share their company website and email address with their company    domain   

-  Recruiters will initiate and follow a formal interview process and keep all information transparent with      you

-  They will never make any request for payments at any stage of the recruitment process

-  The conversation focus will be more on the job role and skills and capabilities required for the job

-  They will be in a good position to answer your questions about the role and the company

-   Additionally, a genuine recruiting company should be able to provide their ‘Employment Agency (EA       license number if requested.