Jobs and employment scams
Any employment where you have to pay to make money should be checked out. It might be fraud.
Scammers promise high-paying, low-effort jobs. However, in the end, the only person who will profit is the con artist. The job frequently doesn’t exist at all.
Scammers pose as employment representatives for well-known brands and internet retailers. They also pose as reputable employment agencies. Their intention is to take your identity and money.
They frequently need payment in order to begin the job and pay you the stated amount.
Avoid signing any contract that requires upfront payment by bank transfer, PayID, or cryptocurrency (such as USDT or Bitcoin). Receiving money that is sent in this manner is uncommon.
Warning signs it might be a scam
- A recruiter contacts you out of the blue via text message or encrypted message platforms like WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram.
- You are told you can earn a high income while working from home and with little effort.
- The hiring process is quick. There’s no interview or discussion about your qualifications, experience, and references.
- You are told to top up an account with your own money or cryptocurrency to complete tasks.
- The job involves transferring money, making purchases, or receiving packages on behalf of someone else.
- You are required to pay a ‘recruitment fee’ or pay for training materials before you begin the job and make any money.
Steps you can take to protect yourself from Jobs and employment scams.
- Don’t trust a job ad is real just because it appears on a trusted platform or website – scammers post fake ads too. If you come across a scammer, report it to the platform or agency.
- Never send money or give your personal information, credit card, online bank or cryptocurrency account details to anyone you have only met online, through email or over the phone.
- Scammers may trick you by giving you a small payment for completing a job or task. Never send your own money, you won’t get it back.
- Know who you are dealing with. Contact recruitment agency representatives via phone numbers you have sourced yourself online.
More safeguards
- Don’t be pressured to act quickly. A legitimate offer won’t require you to make a fast decision. If the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Don’t take payment or rewards to recruit other people.
- Be careful about including personal information such as your physical address or date of birth in your resume.
- Never send your passport or identity documents to an employer or recruitment firm, unless you are certain they are genuine.