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
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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The Power Of Your Big 3: Understanding The Astrological Significance You Hold
Explore your sign’s 2024 horoscope predictions to learn what is in store for you this year in love, career, and more. Check out the love compatibility of each sign to learn more about zodiac pairings and all things compatibility.
Astrology has become even more mainstream and a phenomenon than it ever has in the past. We have gone beyond the, “What’s your sign?” and have moved into “What’s your big 3?” seemingly overnight, and rightly so due to the significance of knowing these important details. Your Big 3 in Astrology represents your sun sign, your moon sign, and your rising sign.
This trifecta is thought to be one of the most significant details of your birth chart and gives you and others more of a full-picture look at who you are beyond just your sun sign.
What Does Your Big 3 In Astrology Say About You?
Knowing your big 3 is important, especially if you are someone who has never really resonated with your sun sign. You read about what it means to be an Aries, but may not align with what you see or your experience with other Aries. Meanwhile, the whole time, you have a Libra rising, the complete opposite sign of Aries, and this is why you have always seen yourself as a more laid-back and less confrontational Aries.
Elements hold a key role in your birth chart and having a big 3 where the elements are all compatible or the same often signifies someone who knows who they are and is comfortable in their skin. Whereas someone with a different element for each part of their big 3 may have challenges with identity or defining who they are or how they want to present themselves. It’s a different type of perspective when looking into your big 3, and it helps you see where your strengths and needs are in life, and how to tap more into this potential.
Your Big 3 In Astrology Explained
Your big 3 can help you navigate life by understanding which part of you comes out more in different circumstances. At home, you are most like your moon sign, when you are out and about, you are most like your rising sign. Whether you are at home or out and about, your goals, purpose, and interests are most like your sun sign.
You can find out what your big 3 is by looking up a ‘Birth Chart Calculator’ on your search engine, typing in your birthday details (you will need to know your birth date, location, and the exact time you were born), and generating your birth chart.
Read below for your sun, moon, and rising signs.
YOUR SUN SIGN
Your sun sign represents the core of you and what motivates you to shine and be your best self. This is your personality, goals, purpose, identity, ego, interests, direction, and where you light up in life.
FIRE SUN (Aries Sun, Leo Sun, Sagittarius Sun)
If you are an Aries sun, a Leo sun, or a Sagittarius sun, you are outgoing, confident, fearless, and in tune with yourself and your personal goals and desires in life. You go after the things you want, and you are not afraid to take up space. You are someone who prefers to be more independent, and you are often in more leadership roles in life.
EARTH SUN (Taurus Sun, Virgo Sun, Capricorn Sun)
If you are a Taurus sun, a Virgo sun, or a Capricorn sun, you are grounded, dependable, loyal, hard-working, and logical. You prefer the finer things in life but also work hard to get where you are. You are someone others feel they can rely on, and you are often a support for other people in your life. You are very connected to the material sides of life, and have a gift for manifesting.
AIR SUN (Gemini Sun, Libra Sun, Aquarius Sun)
If you are a Gemini sun, a Libra sun, or an Aquarius sun, you are light-hearted, free-flowing, intelligent, and communicative. You speak what is on your mind, and you love to connect and communicate with others. People know you for the things you say and your out-of-the-box ideas, and you are someone who is open-minded and provides a safe space for people to be authentically themselves.
WATER SUN (Cancer Sun, Scorpio Sun, Pisces Sun)
If you are a Cancer sun, a Scorpio sun, or a Pisces sun, you are thoughtful, generous, emotional, loving, and compassionate. You care deeply about the people you love, and you are always there for others. You may be more emotional than most, and this is due to your strong intuition and open heart. You are creative, inspiring, and motivated towards connection in life.
YOUR MOON SIGN
Your moon sign represents your emotions. This is the way you express yourself emotionally, how you process your emotions, what you need in love, what makes you feel safe and nurtured, your desires, intuition, your inner world, and what’s going on beneath the surface.
FIRE MOON (Aries Moon, Leo Moon, Sagittarius Moon)
If you are an Aries moon, a Leo moon, or a Sagittarius moon, you are someone who is not afraid to communicate your emotions or how you are feeling, and you can feel your emotions from a mile away. You are confident in yourself and are someone who stands up for what you feel is right. You have a strong need to be seen and heard in your relationships, and a certain type of understanding is needed for you to emotionally thrive. You may have some challenges with anger or high energy and are working through emotional impulses in this lifetime.
EARTH MOON (Taurus Moon, Virgo Moon, Capricorn Moon)
If you are a Taurus moon, a Virgo moon, or a Capricorn moon, you are someone who is emotionally grounded, safe, comforting, and logical. You aren’t overly emotional and may not show your emotions to people much at all, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have them. You think before you speak, and you process your emotions before acting on them, and you tend to be more down-to-earth and understanding when it comes to other people’s emotional worlds as well. You are someone people go to when they need someone to talk to you as you are a very good listener.
AIR MOON (Gemini Moon, Libra Moon, Aquarius Moon)
If you are a Gemini moon, a Libra moon, or an Aquarius moon, you are someone who is fun, outgoing, and emotionally open-minded. You don’t like heavy emotions or too much emotional drama, and you tend to be more go-with-the-flow in this area of your life. Good conversation and mutual understanding are very important to you in your relationships and you want funny banter and inspiration in your connections with others.
WATER MOON (Cancer Moon, Scorpio Moon, Pisces Moon)
If you are a Cancer moon, a Scorpio moon, or a Pisces moon, you are someone who lives by their heart and values your emotional world deeply. You crave a deep type of intimacy in your partnerships and you need a partner who is going to give you that type of emotional connection. You are more private with your emotional world and you tend to hold a lot in, but this can often lead to sudden outbursts as well. Overall, you are the definition of emotion and others learn a lot from you on what it means to love and to feel.
YOUR ASCENDANT (RISING SIGN)
Your ascendant sign represents your perception and the energy you put out into the world. This is the way you come across to others, the way you express yourself, your physical traits and aesthetics, how you manifest, society, and what you expect from the world around you.
FIRE ASCENDANT (Aries Rising, Leo Rising, Sagittarius Rising)
If you are an Aries rising, a Leo rising, or a Sagittarius rising, you come across to others as confident, bold, and stylish. You are known for the way you look or the way you present yourself, and you are usually adorned in bright colors or wearing something that others take a lot of notice of. You are someone who walks into a room, and all eyes are on you, and you love that. You want to be on the move and on the go, and you love to show up in the world exactly as you are today. You see the world with a lot of possibilities and like it's yours to have fun and enjoy yourself in.
EARTH ASCENDANT (Taurus Rising, Virgo Rising, Capricorn Rising)
If you are a Taurus rising, a Virgo rising, or a Capricorn rising, you come across to others as responsible, beautiful, natural, and dependable. You are a hard worker, and you may be known for your career or the work that you do. You are someone who walks into a room and people feel an immediate sense of comfort and like you are someone they can trust. You have strong values and goals, and you are someone who knows what they want. People love to be around your down-to-earth energy, and you make others feel safe and grounded.
AIR ASCENDANT (Gemini Rising, Libra Rising, Aquarius Rising)
If you are a Gemini rising, a Libra rising, or an Aquarius rising, you come across to others as outgoing, friendly, and talkative. You see the world as a place to learn, connect, and be inspired, and you are on a quest for knowledge and understanding. You connect with people from all walks of life, and you tend to have a pretty open-minded and unique friend group. You care a lot about your style and aesthetic and always strive to be authentically you wherever you are. You can talk to people for hours and are often meeting new people and making new friends wherever you go.
WATER ASCENDANT (Cancer Rising, Scorpio Rising, Pisces Rising)
If you are a Cancer rising, a Scorpio rising, or a Pisces rising, you navigate life through the lens of your emotions, and you are deeply connected to the undercurrents of life. You are ruled by your emotions, and this side of you is not something you can keep hidden away easily. You get emotional when you think about society and others at large, and you want to be known for the kind and sincere person you are. When you walk into a room, you feel other people's energy right away and are highly empathic and intuitive.
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