Avoiding Job Scams

• You are asked to give credit card, bank, or PayPal account numbers
• You are asked to send a payment by wire service or courier, or are asked to transfer money, including via e-Bay, PayPal or Western Union money orders
• You receive an unexpectedly large check or are offered a large payment or reward in exchange for allowing the use of your bank account - often for depositing checks or transferring money
• You are asked for personal information such as your Social Security Number, or to send a photo copy of your ID, i.e., driver's license to "verify identity"
• You are asked to complete a background check before you can be considered for a position
• The posting appears to come from a legitimate company or organization, but the contact's email address doesn't match the company's website domain (i.e., jdoe@gmail.com rather than jdoe@companyname.com)
• The job posting doesn't mention the responsibilities of the job but just focuses on the amount of money you will make
• A Google search of the employer name (or name plus the word "scam") returns several scam reports
• In response to your application to a legitimate-appearing job description, you receive a marketing email to sell you job search "help"

• Be wary of postings for Mystery Shoppers, work at home, or virtual Administrative Assistants or Bookkeepers
• If you are an entry-level candidate with little experience, be wary of an offer with a salary that is above the normal range expected for your experience.
• Multiple misspellings or grammatical errors in the job notice or email communications from the employer may indicate that the position originated overseas.
• If the position listing is for an international opportunity, does it include travel expenses? Upfront program fees? Research the company and compare its program/benefits with other similar opportunities.
• Verify that a URL listed in the ad actually goes to the internet domain of the company that listed it. For example, if the ad lists "www.luc.edu/hr" but when you click on it, goes to "www.lcu.edu", it could sell be a scam.
• When using other job boards than Handshake, read their privacy policies carefully. Also read how easy it is for employers to post jobs by going through the site's employer links.
• The position initially seems to be a traditional job, but upon further research or contact, is actually an independent contractor or franchise opportunity.

• Please report your experience to Career Services at  careercenter@luc.edu or 773.508.7716 and to The Internet Crime Complaint Center
• End all communication with the employer, and if personal information was disclosed, monitor your accounts over the next few days, to be on the safe side.
• Contact the police and report the fraud or scam.
• If you have sent money to a fraud employer, contact your bank or credit card company immediately to close your account and dispute the charges.
• If the incident occurred entirely over the internet, file an incident report with the FCC at 1.877.FTC.HELP (1.877.382.4357) or at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Job Search Safety Tips

• 5+ Common Job Scams
• Job-Hunting/Job Scams—from the Federal Trade Commission
• Monster.com—A Safe Job Search
• Privacy Rights Clearinghouse—Avoiding Online Job Scams

Please visit the UISO blog for advice on how to spot a fake job posting, tips for enabling multi-factor authentication, and information on important cybersecurity terms.

For additional safety tips at work, visit our Student Employment and Work Study page.