

10 Effective Ways To Spot A Job Scam
With any global disaster, challenge or crisis comes gaps that allow fraudsters to do what they do best: take advantage of security lapses and people who are rebounding from hardship. In fact, job scams have indeed increased during the pandemic, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting cases of fraud on the uptick since COVID-19 was first declared a pandemic. As if trying to find a new job isn't stressful enough, you definitely don't want to add to that the utter disaster of becoming a victim of identity theft or fraud, losing money and time in the process.
Here are 10 red flags to look out for to avoid job scams or fraudulent employment opportunities:
1. You can't verify the company's background.
Sis, if you can't verify the company's headquarters, email address, staff list, or phone number, the company more than likely does not exist or it isn't one you want to work for. Major companies correspond via email addresses with their own unique domain (so no Gmail, Yahoo, or personal accounts) and they certainly don't send messages that are full of weird spacing, choppy wording, or misspellings, so pay attention to those details. Also, reputable companies have their own websites (with a year at the bottom of the Home or About pages that states when the site was last updated or how long its copyrights are valid.)
If a company doesn't have a website that provides detailed and up-to-date information, ask the recruitment manager to verify where you can find this information. You can also search via LinkedIn or another social media site.
2. They offer you the job with no interview.
Experts advise that if a recruiter claims they randomly found your resume via a website or through a "search" and wants to immediately offer you a gig, you should raise an eyebrow. Most recruiters will let you know about an open position that actually fits your qualifications and will schedule a real interview with you before anything remotely related to an offer happens.
3. The job description and pay is inaccurate or too good to be true.
So, let's say you're up for an entry-level assistant position, and the description says you only have to work 20 hours a week, with very minimal duties. Then, you make it to the initial interview phase and find out you'll earn a yearly salary $80,000. That amount of pay is clearly not the norm for a starter job and the duties of an assistant in any industry is far from minimal. Trust me, the job listing is fake. Look out for details about the job that just seem outright outrageous.
4. They ask you for money to "confirm" your applicant spot or take the job itself.
This one brings me back to my pre-teen days in Manhattan, where modeling agents would walk up to me, give me their card, and say, "Hey, you're tall and beautiful. We can represent you. Give us a call." I'd call (being the fast-tail, wannabe-city-wise kid I was) and they'd say, "Just bring $59.99 to the casting and we'll have you in magazines and on commercials." Yep, it's the same type of con, except it involves a regular nine-to-five. When I finally started doing commercials and plays, my mother never had to pay anyone except dance teachers, beauticians, and others who prepped me for gigs.
A job search is free, and there are too many free resources out there for you to spend your money on trying to get a gig. When a company wants a great candidate, they cover the costs of getting one, not the other way around. (Oh, and hiring a headhunter is a totally different thing, and even then, you'd still need to vet the professional or company.)
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5. They want private information about you before giving an offer.
Any time someone is asking you for your social security number, birth date, and bank account numbers before salary negotiations are being discussed, you should run and never look back. It's never a good idea to just give out your private information for a job interview. Typically companies will not need this sort of information until it's time to put you on the payroll, and even then, you'll need to be sure that the company you're signing contracts with is on the up-and-up. (See tip No. 1 on how to research this.)
6. They ask you to buy equipment or technology before an offer has been made.
Reputable companies either offer the technology needed to do the job, or they will fund the purchase of those items. This is key to remember, especially now that remote work is so popular and so many companies are offering job opportunities that require you to use technology to communicate. And even if it's a regular nine-to-five, this conversation should be part of the benefits negotiations anyway. You really shouldn't be using your own computer and technology to do business on behalf of another company, especially if there's proprietary or private information being shared such as customer contact information, confidential emails, contracts, and money transfers.
7. The recruiter is overzealous or promising too much up front.
It's great to get a job offer especially if you've been struggling for months to get a new one, but any recruiter promising you the world is probably a fraudster or just not being quite upfront about what the opportunity really demands. Be sure to research benefits and perks typically offered for the particular job or for your industry and compare that to what the recruiter is offering.
Ask additional questions about the companies they work with to provide benefits, who will handle payroll, how vacation days are set, and what banks the company uses for things like retirement accounts. The more supporting information, the better.
8. The company isn't doing well enough to even afford to hire new people.
If you're not looking into how a company is doing financially before signing on to work for them, sis, you're missing a key step in the job search process. Many major companies have listings via business publications (and if you don't know about popular "top companies" lists, just do a quick Google search.) Also, some companies are listed via the Better Business Bureau, or the local papers where they're headquartered cover their successes and failures quite often.
Whatever the case may be, step your research skills up and start looking into their business practices and latest news updates such as layoffs, closures, or takeovers, and proceed with caution.
If a company is basically having too many money or personnel problems, they might not actually be hiring and some phony might be contacting you fraudulently "on their behalf."
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9. The job description is too vague.
Experts have said that long job descriptions can be red flags for a position that's either hard to fill or that has a manager who's hard to please. Well, there are indeed red flags for job descriptions that don't provide much elaboration on duties, expectations, or qualifications at all. Be especially leery of those that only state "high school diploma acceptable," or "little to no experience needed." (Hey, Craigslist.) It's a good chance that the job is not real or is simply not worth your time.
10. You can't verify their methods of reliable payment.
As a freelancer, I'm big on this, because people will play with your money if you let them. When you're going through the job search process, it's good to ask the HR managers or interviewers (before or during the interview) what company they use to handle payroll or what banks they work with in handling accounts payables.
Ask them to give you a point of contact for payment issues and then do your research on that person, department, or company via a simple online search. You can also talk with a rep at your own bank and ask them whether the companies or payment methods are legit.
If a prospective employer is offering a limited or inconvenient method of being paid, asking to only do non-traditional wire transfers, or being vague in answering your questions, rethink continuing the process of interviewing. (And again, never, ever, ever, give them your personal banking information or social for payment options until you've done your research and feel comfortable doing so.)
There should always be an option to be paid through an FDIC-insured method or through a traditional direct deposit. And if you don't trust the banking method, just don't bother signing on to that job. Nobody wants a problem when it's time to get paid, and you'd hate to have no one to contact about a grievance over a missed paycheck or a discrepancy, or worse: about not getting paid at all.
Just remember, if a situation during your job search doesn't feel right, it probably isn't, and what sounds too good to be true probably is a nightmare. Tap into your network, use online searches as a guide to make sound decisions, ask lots of questions before even agreeing to be interviewed,and be diligent.
For more job search tips, career advice and profiles, check out the xoNecole Workin Girl section here.
Featured image by Getty Images
Exclusive: Gabrielle Union On Radical Transparency, Being Diagnosed With Perimenopause And Embracing What’s Next
Whenever Gabrielle Union graces the movie screen, she immediately commands attention. From her unforgettable scenes in films like Bring It On and Two Can Play That Game to her most recent film, in which she stars and produces Netflix’s The Perfect Find, there’s no denying that she is that girl.
Off-screen, she uses that power for good by sharing her trials and tribulations with other women in hopes of helping those who may be going through the same things or preventing them from experiencing them altogether. Recently, the Flawless by Gabrielle Union founder partnered with Clearblue to speak at the launch of their Menopause Stage Indicator, where she also shared her experience with being perimenopausal.
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
Victoria Monét Opens Up About Feeling ‘Validated’ Months After VMAs Turned Her Down To Perform
Victoria Monét has had an incredible year. Thanks to the success of the widely popular “On My Mama” that went viral, the singer/ songwriter’s Jaguar II album debuted in the top 10 of Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart. She also went on to headline her own sold-out tour. So, when the MTV VMAs happened in September, everyone was surprised to learn that Victoria’s team was told that it was “too early” for the “Smoke” artist to perform at the award show. However, a couple of months later, the mom of one received seven Grammy nominations, including “Best R&B Album” and “Record Of The Year.”
Victoria is currently in London and stopped by The Dotty Show on Apple Music and shared how she feels “validated” after being dismissed by the VMAs.
“It really does feel nice and validating because, in my head, the reason why I wanted to be a performer at the VMAs or award ceremonies like that is because I felt like I am at the place where I should. I would work really hard to put on the best show that I could, and I was excited to do so,” she said.
“And I guess the best way to describe it for me is like when you're like on a sports team, and the coach is like, ‘No, you gotta sit this one out.’ When they finally put you in, and then you score all these points, and it feels like that feeling. You're like, yes, I knew it wasn't tripping, but I knew I worked hard for this, and so it's been super validating to just have these accolades come after a moment like that, and I know the fans feel vindicated for me.
While her fans called the VMAs out on their decision, the “Moment” singer kept it cute and is still open to performing at the iconic award show. “I feel no ill towards them because it's just maybe that's just truly how they felt at the time, but I hope their mind has changed,” she admitted.
Aside from recognition from the Grammys, she has also received praise from legendary artists such as Janet Jackson, Kelly Rowland, and Usher.
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Feature image by Amy Sussman/WireImage for Parkwood