Scam alert: Employer job scam
A graduating international student reported the following fake job offer scam--
The student was approached and interviewed by a person who represented himself from the company's recruiting team. After the interview, the student was offered a job and sent an appointment letter to sign. After a discussion with the Hiring Manager, the student signed the offer letter and was asked to provide their passport. They were also sent a digital check and asked to deposit the money in their bank account to purchase work equipment.
How To Avoid a Job Scam
Before you accept a job offer, take these steps to avoid common job scams:
- Search online. Look up the name of the company or the person who’s hiring you, plus the words “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” See if others say they’ve been scammed by that company or person. No complaints? It doesn’t guarantee that a company is honest, but complaints can tip you off to possible problems.
- Talk to someone you trust. Describe the offer to them. What do they think? This also helps give you vital time to think about the offer.
- Don't pay for the promise of a job. Honest employers, including the federal government, will never ask you to pay to get a job. Anyone who does is a scammer.
- Never bank on a “cleared” check. No honest potential employer will ever send you a check to deposit and then tell you to send on part of the money, or buy with it. That’s a . The check will bounce, and the bank will want you to repay the amount of the fake check.
What To Do if You Paid a Scammer
No matter how you paid — , or , , cash reload card, or — immediately contact the company you used to send the money, report the fraud, and ask to have the transaction reversed, if possible. For specific advice on how to reverse different types of payments, read .