The internet is full of scammers and the next dream online job you have leads on could be a potential scam. You need to be very careful and update yourself so as not to fall into the traps of these scammers.
Photo credit: Hassan
The rise in popularity of the gig economy has given birth to a society where working online as a job is a normal occurrence. Online jobs have increased in the recent past with most people taking up online jobs and building careers around it. Unfortunately, the digital space is also a haven for scams. The internet is full of scammers and the next dream online job you have leads on could be a potential scam. To protect yourself, here is a list of red flags that will help you identify fake online jobs and stay safe from job scams.
1. Job offer without application or interview for the job
Most reputable employers do not go fishing for employees. They have many people seeking jobs from them instead. It is, therefore, a warning sign when an employer directly contacts you without any initial contact with them, unless it is a credible headhunter. Do not click on links they send you as these links may lead you to websites that have viruses. Legitimate organizations usually give good interview experience that seek to determine if you are capable of the job. These interviews are usually done formally.
2. No contact details
If the website or email of the company or does not include its contacts, the opportunity is highly likely to be a fraud. The use of personal emails by the interviewer is also a sign that the job is not legit.
3. High pay for simple work and unclear wages.
A company that offers a lot of money for little or very simple work is likely to be a scam, be careful if an online job offer seems too good to be true. Lack of clear discussion about the payment is another telltale sign of fraud.
5. Request for initial payments
Be wary of an employer who requires you to send any amount of money to the company in any form. An example of these include companies which ask for registration fees or training fees. They will run off with your money and you won’t be able to contact them.
4. They seek to know your security codes and bank details
Online companies should not ask for personal information such as security codes, bank information, and credit card details. You may only give this information once they officially employ you and this should be done through a secure channel. These might be the biggest warning sign because if you make the mistake of carelessly giving these details, fraudsters will have access to your savings.
Conclusion
Fraudsters are always coming up with new methods to scam people online with enticing job offers. Other signs to look out for include; unprofessional communication, unclear description of the job offer, and errors in their emails. You need to be very careful and update yourself so as not to fall into the traps of these scammers.
