Job scams are a common issue, and unfortunately, they’re always evolving. As a staffing agency dedicated to your success, we want to ensure our job seekers and candidates are well-informed and protected. Read on to find out what job scams look like, how to avoid them, and what to do if you think you’ve been scammed.

Fake job postings often appear on Facebook job groups, Craigslist, and other social media sites. Many of these scams are for remote jobs. Since Skill offers many legitimate remote opportunities, the best way to find them is always on our official website.

Scammers often use email addresses from free services like Gmail, Yahoo, and Hotmail. Our recruiters will only email job seekers from a legitimate @skill.com or @aquent.com email address, as Skill and Aquent are sibling companies. You should also be aware that scammers may use messaging services like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram to deliver their fraudulent messages.

Be careful of job postings that have only a few brief requirements. Legitimate jobs usually list extensive qualifications.

If you see a job on Facebook, Craigslist, or another site, always check for it on our corporate job search page first. The best way to find Skill jobs is by visiting our website directly.

Be especially careful if an interviewer tries to rush you through the hiring process.

And never provide any of the following:

• Payment for a job: This includes buying gift cards or providing card details.
• Financial details: Especially account numbers and bank routing numbers.
• Personal information: Such as your Social Security number, birth date, or driver’s license number.

If you believe you’ve been scammed by any job posting, the best thing to do is contact the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. If you gave your bank account information to a scammer, you should also contact your financial institution right away.

To learn more about job scams, visit:

• https://www.bbb.org/all/scamstudies/jobscams/jobscamsfullstudy
• https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams
• https://consumer.gov/scams-identity-theft/job-scams-explained