How to Spot a Craigslist Job Scam | Telecommute Blog

Craigslist has become the ?go-to? place for people looking for everything from furniture to apartments to jobs. While the job listings on Craigslist can be a great way to find a position, telecommuters need to be cautious because many of the job posts on Craigslist are scams.

To avoid wasting your time and money, follow these tips for safe Craigslist job hunting:

Don?t Give Out All Your Personal Details
Craigslist scammers use information from resumes, job applications, and cover letters to commit identity theft. If a Craigslist job ad does not identify the employer, be very cautious about what you send in response, particularly if the employer uses Craigslist?s anonymous email service.

If you do respond to an ad that does not reveal the name of the company, don?t send your regular resume or cover letter. Instead, write an email that politely explains your concerns about security. Describe your job and educational history, without giving out your phone number, address or the names of schools you attended or businesses you worked for.

Hiring managers for legitimate companies will understand your caution. If she is interested in you, she will write back, identify the business, and you can submit your actual resume at that time.

Verify the Company
Make sure that the employer is legitimate. If the company is named in the ad, search for the company online. If the company doesn?t have a website, be suspicious, but don?t assume that a professional site means the company is legitimate.

Instead, check the business out on Yelp, the Better Business Bureau, and Linkedin. If you can?t find evidence that the business exists, give it a pass.

Some independent professionals or small business don?t have websites (crazy concept, we know). Since it can be difficult to determine their legitimacy by conducting an Internet search, they may have a Linkedin profile you can check out. If the person is local try to arrange an in-person interview in a public place, not in their home.

Don?t Ever Pay for a Job
Legitimate employers never require you to pay for a job. Ever. If you have to pay an application fee, it is a scam. If you have to pay for ?training,? it?s a scam. If you have to pay for a credit check, even through a third-party service, it is a scam.

Don?t Cash Checks or Money Orders
There are many variations on the fake money order/check scam, but the essence of the scam is this: The scammer will send you a check or money order for your ?salary,? only the check/money order is for more than you are actually owed. You?ll be asked to deposit the check or money order in your own bank account and then send the balance to another account.

Unfortunately, the check or money order is always fake. Your bank will eventually identify this problem and will deduct the full amount of the fake money order from your account. You?ll be out the money that you sent to the scammers as well as any insufficient funds fees caused by the bank taking the money out of your account.

Hint: Look out for job ads that specify that you must have a U.S. bank account to qualify for the job; they are likely posted by money order scammers. You don?t need a bank account to work or even to get paid (there are debit cards that allow for direct deposit).

Don?t Give Out Freebies
Freelance writers and designers beware: Some scammers want to steal your work. They do this by running ads looking for freelancers. Once you reply to the ad, they ask you to write/create a custom sample for them. After you send them your sample, you never hear from them again. Develop an online portfolio and provide potential clients with a link. If they ask for a sample anyway, politely explain that you don?t give away your work.

Editor?s note: Any respectable company looking for freelances will provide you with a Sample Product contract. If they currently do not have a contract, request one. If they are not willing to give you a contract, walk away.

Looking for a job is hard work, particularly if you?ve been unemployed for awhile or are strapped for cash. This can make you desperate. Don?t let your current situation cloud your judgment. Investigate potential employers and don?t participate in a job that seems ?too good to be true.? You and your finances will suffer.

Have you ever encountered an online job scam?

image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Source: http://www.virtualvocations.com/blog/articles/recent/how-to-spot-a-craigslist-job-scam/

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