Photo credit: Katemangostar
Somewhere between March to September 2020, John, a close friend, experienced the coldness of life. Covid-19 unprecedentedly struck with its bare claws forcing businesses, companies, and organizations to create room for it. As a result, John together with millions of other people lost their jobs. This was a hostile takeover.
Being laid off not only exerted pressure on the pre-existing unemployment rates, but also spiked job desperation amongst many. While people like John desperately thought of how to meet their day-to-day expenses without depleting their savings, scammers found a ready market thirsting for opportunities. And John stumbled upon one while browsing for a job through different career sites.
He submitted his application via email, and within two days, there was an interview scheduled. But before the interview, he was required to pay some amount of money for designing his job ID, insurance cover and all those nitty gritties that a scammer would ask you to pay. Well, guess what? John jumped into his savings account and sent the required money. Needless to mention that it was the last dollar in his account.
In the end, the alleged company went silent. Days later, John visited the location of the interview only to find an abandoned office space that has been dysfunctional for quite some time. In that moment, it dawned on him that he had been SCAMMED.
John could be one in ten adults who fall victim to scams or fraud every year. That could have been you. The good news is that this article objectively seeks to remove the blindfold in your eyes, so you may detect a scammer when you see one. Read on, this could change your fate.
1. Calls/emails from an unsolicited job offer
Unsolicited job offers might come through a phone call or through a job scam email. Scammers harvest people's details and use the information to scam their targets. Once you get such offers, it's advisable not to engage the caller to avoid giving out more details of yourself.
Example:
Good (Time of the day) Mr/Ms/Mrs(your name.)Thank you for applying for(position) at our company. We are happy to inform you that on Monday come carrying your CV, cover letter and all the certificates you possess. But before then, give us your ID Number to fill the interview form, then the Account Number, branch and name of the bank, where we will be sending you money. Finally, tell us your location and area of residence.
2. Being promised a high pay that seems too good to be true
A legit company often gives reasonable salaries and signs deals that it can’t keep. Scammers will try and give you figures that will try to whet your appetite.
Example:
We will pay you a full salary during your probation period which is Kshs 100,000 and in the mid-month, you will be receiving a welcome voucher equal to three-quarters of your salary.
3. Being offered the job without assessment
For every job one applies, there is a team of administrators assigned to check your job experience and assess you. On the other hand, the scammer hurriedly gives you the job without the hiring process being followed. For instance, Immediately after the interview, you are told by the interviewer to report to work the following day or start working right away.
4. When the employer entices you for the job
A company always has options and even better replacements for employees. The management cannot hesitate to give another candidate a chance instead of begging one to stay. That should be a red flag.
Example:
If I were you I would take this job because you will get prosperity in your career. We have a very good team and well-organized management, with a stress-free policy. This is the best working environment if you want to flourish in your future endeavors if you take this job. I will personally make sure you are comfortable enough to work in harmony with the rest of the team. You just need to say yes and sign these papers.
5. You are asked to pay for an internship, orientation or working gadgets
Every company is equipped with working tools and gadgets to run its operation. If you are asked to pay to be taken on board, you should reconsider first if you are willing to join a team that's not supportive. This should ring your alarm and know it's a scam. There is no job waiting.
Example:
The company policy states that every new employee should pay for the bill of the gadgets the company will provide and pay for their internship.
6. Unprofessional emails with typos
Employers are usually keen on details. Such firms guard their reputation with any information that goes out to the public, hence chances of spelling and grammatical errors in emails are rare.
Legit companies take their time to go through your credentials. There is a high possibility that the individuals sending you an email without mentioning your name are scammers. An ambiguous “hello” could mean that they are randomly sending the same email to multiple people.
7. Weak social media presence
Does the company have a social media presence? Website? What is their employee review like? Do they have a good number of followers? How many employees do they have? Does anyone you know about it? If you cannot answer most of these questions, that should be a red flag.
You should conduct your own research before applying for a job in any company. Also check whether the company is a start-up, who is just getting started on setting its social media presence. Do not shy away from applying to a legitimate start-up.
8. The Job post has been advertised for months
Job openings can remain unfilled for some time. But with the spiked unemployment rate and limited opportunity, it will be rare for a post to remain that long unfilled. Such a job is either unfilled because of the rare specific skills required, or it's just a scam.
Conclusion
If a job offer sounds too good to be true, chances are that it is a scam. But not always. Therefore, the above-mentioned red flags can help you weed out scam ads from legitimate listings.
On the other hand, after the terrible ordeal, John decided to visit his family living in the upcountry for his mental wellness and also to realign his options. He got introduced to Fuzu, where he regained the confidence needed to jump-start his career.
Have you ever been scammed before? Share your experience with us in the comments.