10 Tips to Spot an Online Job Scam

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Have you ever received a job offer out of the blue? Have you ever wondered if it is real or a scam? You may have good reason to be wary. Online fraud has become the new reality in this tech-obsessed, always-on world. Scammers keep looking for soft targets and job seekers are also vulnerable to their ploys.

So how do you differentiate genuine offers from sham ones? Below is a list of tips to help you avoid falling into the trap of an online fraud.

1. The surprise offer letter
There are no hidden powers working mysteriously to get you an offer letter even when you have not applied for a job. So, if you come across an extremely simple recruitment process wherein the job offers lands in your inbox, without your seeking it, it is most probably a case of fraud. Another variant of such a scam is when a job portal contacts you to inform you that your resume was found online and only a brief telephonic interview is required for securing the job offer. This is a clear case of an accident waiting to happen.

2. Data relating to your finances
Job sites don’t usually ask for your credit card information, at least not till you opt for their premium/paid services. If such information is made mandatory even while registering yourself, know that you are being cheated. Never give out such information and ensure you leave the site as well.

3. Private information
Confidential information such as social security number, bank account details or other personal details is not required by job search sites. Therefore, if the site is asking for such information, then you should exercise caution, it might be a scam.

4. Ambiguous content
Vague job descriptions and job requirements are yet another sign of a scam. In case of a legitimate site, such content is very clearly specified and is fairly simple as well. Any divergence from this format, and you should be wary.

5. Pay and work imbalance
There are no free lunches in this world and the same holds true for any job as well. If you are being made an offer that requires less work from you and yet offers you pay that is unbelievably high, then it's too good to be true. Thus, you should research all aspects of the job before going any further.

6. When a payment is involved
Companies usually outsource the candidate identification process to third party companies. For this, such companies are paid a service fee as well. However, no company pays individuals for assured placements of candidates, that too without the interview process. Such a scam is common occurrence for overseas placements.

7. Mismatch
All legitimate companies have a presence online in the form of their websites, social media accounts or even as features in news portals. In case you are being interviewed by a company that you cannot find online, you should be wary of such a company.

8. Emails full of errors
Though this may not be a fool proof way to judge a scam, it still works quite effectively. Emails from scammers/bots are usually not well-written. If you spot spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, wrong use of punctuation or capitalisation, more than usual, then there is a high chance that it is a phishing process.

9. No contact details
If the emails you receive are missing important elements such as the sender’s signature, the company’s address or phone number, then there is a good chance that all the play is a scam.

10. Heed your instinct
Finally, you can always count on your gut feeling to let you know when something is wrong. This is true for judging the veracity of the job opportunity as well. Even if all else checks out, if you get the feeling that everything is not proceeding as it should, then you must strongly consider walking away from the deal. Keep these tips in mind and stay safe from online scammers.

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