How to Identify an Employment Scam
March 4, 2011 
5 Comments
Are you currently on a search for a new job? If you are, you may be using the internet, as well as your local newspapers, to find job openings. While these are both great way to find job openings that you are qualified for, as well as to apply for them, you need to remember to be on the lookout for employment scams.
Despite what you may believe, there are scams that are sometimes referred to as job hunting scams, career scams, or employment scams. These scams are run by those who are looking to profit from someone’s need to find a job. That is why you need to be on the lookout for scams when searching for and applying for new jobs. As a reminder, you need to remember that these employment scams not only take place online – many scams are starting to make their way to newspaper employment sections.
When it comes to avoiding job scams, it is best if you know what to be on the lookout for. One of the most common scams associated with job hunting involves the requirement of a deposit. You will find “jobs” that say you can post ads or process emails or write some kind of article and get paid per item posted. But you usually have to pay some kind of deposit to start working. This deposit may be used for supplies, training materials, or a “processing fee”. What you need to remember is that you should never have to pay to get a job. You should be paid to work, not the other way around.
Be aware that this is not the same as a “business opportunity”, or other kinds of work-at-home opportunities. These frequently require some kind of training materials, or product inventory – as in the case of companies like Avon, Party Lite, or Mary Kay Cosmetics. These are not scams, but they are not jobs, either. Unless you are looking for contract or freelance work, getting a “job” creates an employer/employee relationship between you and the hiring company. Work at home opportunities state plainly that they are not jobs. Rather,you become an independent contractor who receives a 1099 instead of a W-2 tax form at the end of the year.
Another type of scam that you will want to be on the look for is employment scams that are solely for the purpose of obtaining your personal information. These types of employment scams work by you being hired for a job that doesn’t really exist. Of course, the prospective employee does not know that the job doesn’t exist. The “employer” in question will interview you, declare you to be hired, and then ask you to fill out required working papers or provide your bank account information for direct deposit. Once the “employer” has your personal account information, you will likely never see or hear from them again. However, you may find yourself with an identity theft problem.
One of the best ways to avoid falling victim to an employment scam is by using your best judgment. If a job opportunity sounds too good to be true, chances are it is. You will want to be cautious of any job opportunity that requires paying a deposit to become an employee, or a job listing that wants your personal information before you even know exactly what you would be doing.
By keeping the above mentioned points in mind and using your best judgment, you are more likely to find a legitimate career opportunity than you are to fall victim to any of the many employment scams out there.
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My Lord!! No wonder my son is having a difficult time finding a job. The time it takes to weed though the “Real” from the BOGUS is nuts!! This article will help a lot. I’m forwarding it on to him NOW!!!!!
Companies like Avon, Party Lite, etc. sell guns to you and the only way to use them is in their army.
Do you thing this type of websites could be a scam? http://www.realtranslatorjobs.com/
I mean, here you don’t need experience in translating documents, but you’ll get easy money… weird! is it?
Avon is not a job, it is an opportunity to have a long term successful direct sales business and a great way to provide non profits fundraisers using health and beauty products. Avon is just like owning any other business. I consider myself a franchise of Avon. Meaning I pay them a small fee to get access to their product and brand, pay for my inventory if I choose to have items on hand, offer personal or direct shipment of product, pay my taxes, and have the opportunity to work from home during a time that conveniently fits my schedule. This is pretty much what owning a McDonald’s Franchise would be like. Read more about my unique approach to being an Avon Rep online at http://beauty4charity.blogspot.com/
JennHillAvonRep recently posted..Effective Fundraising Using Avon Products
Your blog is really interesting to me and your subject matter is very relevant. I was browsing around and came across something you might find interesting. I was guilty of 3 of them with my sites. “99% of website owners are guilty of these 5 mistakes”. http://bit.ly/uw1s4S You will be suprised how fast they are to fix.