Don’t Get Hired by a Scammer! Watch Out for Employment Scams.

“Make money from home with simple tasks!”

“No experience required! Start earning money from anywhere today.”

“Flexible remote job opportunities with fast pay and minimal training!”

Employment scams are more common than many job seekers realize. Scammers advertise fake opportunities on job boards, social media, email, and other channels, often making them look identical to legitimate job postings. While they promise flexible work, high pay, or quick hiring processes, their real goal is to steal your money, personal information, or both.

How do employment scams work?

Employment scams often begin with what appears to be a legitimate job opportunity. Scammers may post fake job listings, contact candidates directly, or impersonate real companies. They frequently advertise work-from-home positions, virtual assistant roles, mystery shopper opportunities, caregiving positions, or reshipping jobs. A reshipping job scam happens when a fake employer hires you to receive packages at your home, remove the original packaging, and ship the items to another address. The goods are often purchased with stolen credit cards, and workers typically never receive the promised paycheck.

In other employment scams, once the scammer “hires” you, they may ask you to pay for training, certifications, starter kits, or placement services before you begin work. Or, fraudsters may send a check, instruct you to deposit it, keep a portion as payment, and send the rest elsewhere. The check is fraudulent and eventually bounces, leaving you responsible for the money you sent. Some scams are designed to collect sensitive information such as your Social Security number, bank account details, or other personal data that can be used for identity theft.

What are the risks?

Falling victim to an employment scam can have a significant impact on your finances and personal information. Here’s what can happen:

• Financial loss: Paying for fake training, certifications, starter kits, or placement services that provide no real employment opportunity.
• Fraudulent check losses: Depositing a fraudulent check and sending money to a scammer before the bank discovers the check is phony. Remember, if a check you deposit is returned, you may be liable, even if the bank initially makes the funds available.
• Identity theft: Sharing sensitive personal information that can be used to open accounts or commit fraud in your name.
• Account compromise: Providing banking or financial information to someone posing as an employer.
• Lost time and emotional stress: Spending valuable time pursuing a fictitious opportunity and dealing with the consequences afterward.

How can you protect yourself?

• Research the company. Search the company name and recruiter online along with terms like “scam,” “review,” or “complaint” to see if others have reported problems.
• Talk to someone you trust. Getting a second opinion can help you spot red flags and avoid making rushed decisions.
• Never pay for a job. Legitimate employers will not require payment for the promise of employment.
• Be wary of checks from employers. No legitimate employer will send you a check and ask you to forward money, purchase gift cards, or send funds elsewhere.
• Question unrealistic offers. Jobs that promise large earnings for very little work are often scams.
• Protect your personal information. Do not share sensitive information until you have verified the employer and confirmed the opportunity is legitimate.
• Use trusted job search resources. Rely on reputable job boards, official company websites, and government employment resources when searching for opportunities.
• Trust your instincts. If something feels off, such as pressure to act quickly or requests for money, walk away and investigate further.

bankHometown is here to help!

We’re committed to helping you stay informed and protecting you from emerging fraud threats. That’s why we’ve partnered with Equifax to offer ID Watchdog^®, an award-winning identity theft protection service, to provide greater peace of mind by helping you better protect the personal and financial information of you and your family. Visit us in-person at one of our offices or call Customer Care at 888.307.5887 to enroll today! Click here to learn more.

If you ever suspect a scam or notice unusual activity, contact Customer Care. For more tips and resources, visit our fraud prevention center or visit your local office.