Job scams

Job scams are becoming more common. The perpetrators are very daring, convincing and aggressive if not intentional about their motives.

Let's focus on one area where vulnerable job seekers are preyed upon by ingenious scammers who appear to have perfected their trade. Remote jobs!

During the pandemic, a seizable number of organizations gave their employees an option to work remotely to conform to health requirements. There could have been a red flag at this time. Such organizations needed to invest in some form of cybersecurity since some sensitive information could be intercepted by scammers.

Similarly, some organizations advertised for remote workers. This opened a pandoras box and gave scammers a bright idea. How does it work?

Scammers create a link which if you open leads you to an advertised job which appears genuine. It is a temporary job with a stipulated hourly rate and position. You are invited to apply.

A few hours or one day after the application, you are informed you have been successful! That should be the first red flag because they don't ask for a cover letter, resume or references.

To appear genuine, the scammers offer you the position, and require you to respond and sign a letter of employment. This they do after sending you details of the job offer. At this point, they use a fraudulent letterhead of an existing and legitimate organization so that even if you do a search on the Internet, it appears genuine.

Satisfied that this is a genuine offer, you are asked to sign and send back the acceptance letter together with the name of your bank (the second red flag). Most of the communication is via text messages and there appears to be an urgency in ensuring each step is followed (third red flag). So, the text would be something like: "Have you checked your email? Signed the acceptance letter? Sent back the name of your bank?"

When the application is signed, you are sent an email that stipulates your duties. In this case, the employer has a busy executive so your job designation "administrative assistant" shall require you to take off the load off this busy executive by performing some simple tasks. "We often donate money to charities. So we shall send you a check which you will deposit in your account, withdraw and purchase stuff such as toys to send to designated recipients."

Your new employer sends a check. It looks genuine and since they had asked whether you are familiar with depositing a check virtually, you are asked to deposit the check "and send a screen shot of the deposit for their records" which is another red flag because banks don't allow you to screen shoot a deposit!

After the deposit, you are asked to send withdraw and send the "donation" to a beneficiary by using one of the apps! Almost immediately, the busy executive asks you to wire the money by using zelle instead! It becomes tricky at this moment because of the apparent speed at which you are required to do this (which should raise more red flags).

To cut the long story short, the check was not genuine! Technically, the reason the scammer wanted you to do the transaction very fast without checking is to deposit a bad check (which was going to bounce), withdraw and send them your own money! See the trick?

What I forgot to mention is that perhaps you feel uncomfortable and opt out of the job because it does not sound right? Under such circumstances, the honest thing would be to return the money (the check you had deposited in the account). Remember, this was a bad check so if you return it, you will be returning - you guessed right - your own money!

Guess what, the threats begin to come: We have offered you a job (which you accepted by signing a letter); Sent you a check (which you have deposited); You have not done what was expected (donate the money to a cause). You have also not refunded the money so the matter shall be forwarded to our legal team for the recovery!

At this point, block the "employer" talk to your banker about the suspicious activity and text the "employer" to tell them the police and bank are handling the matter. Warning! You should not give your bank or any personal details to the scammer at any time!

When the deal looks good, think twice. Be safe out there.