You will find a ton of information on avoiding scams all over the internet, yet people fall for them all the time.
I wanted to share some tips that will help you identify a scam. In reality, a scam is usually pretty obvious. It looks like a great opportunity that you can’t believe you have actually come across something this great! However, there is always a little something that tugs at your conscious like paying for information, giving them money for a background check, or cashing a check and transferring funds.
EMAIL JOB OFFERS
SCENARIO 1:
You get an email in your inbox. Now, ask yourself, did you post your resume on a website recently? If so, go ahead and read it. If not, delete it. Unsolicited job offers are 99.9999% scams.
One of the most common types of scams you will find in your email box involve depositing money for someone else and is always from a foreign country. L Robbins covered this in depth in her blog. Click here for more info.
SCENARIO 2:
You get a job offer, but they ask you to pay for either:
–information
–background check (now some companies do require this. However, a search online for the company name will let you know it is OK. Plus, you will most likely pay the FBI directly or the company doing the background check. Be sure to Google both the company hiring you and the company doing the background check before sending money.)
–application processing fee
–training
Move on. A legit job will hire you. If you are an independent contractor, you may have some expenses. Read about the different types of work form home jobs here.
SCENARIO 3:
They promise you $1000 a week (or some amazingly “I can’t believe it’s true” amount of cash.) Delete. Often times, this is an “opportunity” that is focusing on hype. The only job that will hire you at a certain amount of money is one where you have applied, been interviewed, and will have a lot of responsibility You often need an MBA and about 10 years in the field experience. Getting $1000 for typing emails, going to the bank, or other “easy” jobs is definitely a sign of a scam. Of course your warning bells should have gone off already when they asked you for money.
SCENARIO 4:
As Seen On Oprah, or any version of a chain mail letter. Turn $5 into $5000. These scams either email you or are posted on message boards and ask you to Paypal $1 to 5 different email addresses, and in turn post the same letter all over the place. They often say “I didn’t think it would work! I thought it was a scam! I can’t believe it’s legit!”.
Not only is it a scam, but chain letters are also illegal, the letter is deceptive, and it is focusing on spamming others – all which can get you in trouble.
Look for more tips in the near future!