The increasing unemployment and crime rate in South Africa has unfortunately created the perfect storm for scams to flourish.
Over the years the rise of fake job opportunities pretending to be the real deal has been quite concerning. We often hear stories of job seekers being victims of being scammed of their hopes, time and money that they have spent.
Scammers have found new ways to impersonate real job openings, they pose as recruiters or other representatives of well-known companies, and prey on unsuspecting people looking for jobs during a vulnerable time.
If you are on the job market or are planning on looking for a job soon, you need to equip yourself with the right knowledge in order to avoid employment scams.
But how do you know the difference between a real job opportunity and a scam? We’ve compiled a list of red flags by Signature Consultants to help you stay a few steps ahead of scammers.
You’re being offered, or asked for, money upfront
No real job will ask you for money up front. Common employment scams entail requiring job seekers compensation for the job, this is a huge red flag.
You’re asked for personal information right away
This may include Social Security information, bank account numbers, online account information, or personal addresses. While HR will have you fill out personal and identifiable information upon hire for tax purposes, this request should still be vetted thoroughly, and it doesn’t happen during the interview process. Scammers may ask for your login credentials for a website they don’t control in order to gain access to your accounts.
Things seem a little too perfect or move too fast
If someone is offering you a job right away, either without an interview or upon initial solicitation through email or other means, it’s a big red flag.
Unclear or questionable methods of contact
Any legitimate recruiter or employer will communicate via email, phone, video, and in person. Even through these channels, scammers can still be persistant. Professional recruiters won’t conduct interviews through email or instant message platforms. If a recruiter is using an email address not tied to the official company domain, that’s likely a sign to move on.
Also see: Steps to take before leaving your 9-5 to pursue your passion
