Safety and security during the job search process are of utmost importance to Career Services at UW-Madison. Job scams and fraudulent employers do exist and you need to exercise caution when searching for jobs and receiving emails from prospective employers. If you are ever questioning the legitimacy of an employer or job posting, please contact your career services office to confirm. We are more than happy to help and answer any questions you have!
Indicators of Fraudulent Employers
- You are asked to provide your social security number, credit card, bank account numbers, or other personal financial documentation, or the position requires an initial investment, such as a payment or deposit of a mailed check by wire service or courier.
- The employer uses a personal account like gmail, live, or yahoo or provides very little contact information. Legitimate employers will always provide a valid phone number, email address, or website.
- The employer seems to be legitimate, but when you look closely, the email address is just slightly different. For example, @bankofamerica.com may read @bankofamerca.com. Always check the company’s website to verify job postings.
- The employer suggests communicating primarily through text messaging.
- The employer contacts you by phone but there is no way to call them back. The number is not available.
- The employer offers you a job without ever interacting with you or offers to send you a check before you do any work.
- The company has a generic name such as Finance or Insurance Company.
- You receive an email that says the employer received your application when you haven’t sent one or you receive an email that says the employer received your information from you career office. While some employers may legitimately contact you through your career office, an email from a legitimate employer would be more detailed. If you receive a very general email that says they found your resume through your career office, please check with your career office before responding.
Indicators of Job Scams & Fraudulent Postings
- You are offered a job without interviewing.
- The job posting includes many spelling and grammatical errors.
- If it is difficult to find an address, actual contact information, or company name, proceed with caution. Fraud postings are illegal, so scammers will try to keep themselves well-hidden.
- The position indicates a “first year compensation” that is excessively higher than the average compensation for that position type or lists a very wide range (i.e. “employees can earn from $40K – $80K the first year!”).
- Be wary of emails that have very little information and request you to click a link to learn more.
- The posting neglects to mention the responsibilities of the job. Instead, the description focuses on the amount of money to be made.
- The job requirements seem very easy or there aren’t any listed. Many of these types of scams are recruiting for an Administrative Assistant, Personal Assistant, or Office Assistant position.
- You are asked to provide your social security and driver’s license information in the initial application. Personal information should never be asked during the initial application process.
- You are offered a large payment for allowing the use of your bank account— often for depositing checks or transferring money.
- The employer asks you to pay for something like software or a credit report.
- The employer tells you that they do not have an office set up in your area and will need you to help them get it up and running.
If You are Already Involved in a Scam
- Immediately contact the local police. The police are responsible for conducting an investigation (regardless of whether the scam artist is local or in another state).
- End all contact with the employer.
- If it is a situation where you have sent money to a fraud employer, contact your bank or credit card company immediately to close the account and dispute the charges.
- Consider reporting the scam to the Federal Trade Commission.
- Notify your career office immediately so the job can be taken down and the employer blocked to prevent more students from applying.
Effectively Researching Employers
- Visit the organization’s website and note the professionalism of the website. Is there specific contact information? Are jobs and career information actually posted on the site? Lack of pertinent information is a red flag.
- Check for a physical address associated with the company. Use Google Maps to verify the location. Exercise caution and consider your own safety when considering employers who utilize a residential address.
- Research the company on Handshake or Glassdoor.com for feedback and complaints.
- Google the company name and the word “scam” (i.e. Acme Company Scam), the results will show several scam reports concerning this company. Another source for scam reports is: spam-detector.com
- You can also check to see if a company is legitimate through various websites like Hoover’s, the US Chamber of Commerce, or the Better Business Bureau