Did you ever see a job advert on the internet and thought that it was too good to be true? Well, chances are, it is…..
Vicky Kingston, Juice’s MD recently appeared on ITV West Country to discuss the recent scams candidates are facing in association with people impersonating recruitment agencies. Scammers have always existed, but the ever-increasing use of technology has enabled them to get creative and affect more people.
Continue reading to find out about job scams and how to avoid them…..
RESEARCH THE EMPLOYER ONLINE BEFORE APPLYING
Does the company exist? Does the recruiter or hiring manager work for that company? Is the company hiring for this job? Verify this information on the company’s website. Does the job posting link to a secure web address that starts with https://? Hover your mouse over the link to reveal the true URL.
VERIFY POSTINGS FOUND ON NETWORKING AND JOB SITES
If you found the job posting on a third-party job board such as indeed.com or LinkedIn, check whether that job is listed on the company’s website. Not every employer hosts a page with job postings, but many do. If you don’t see a position listed there that you saw elsewhere, take it as a red flag and continue looking for others.
DON’T PROVIDE BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION UNTIL YOU ARE HIRED
Scammers may ask for money or bank account information during the interview. A legitimate employer won’t ask for your banking details until you’ve signed a contract and are setting up direct deposit. They will never ask for your online banking username and password.
CONFIRM THE EMPLOYER’S IDENTITY
Do not accept a job solely through email, over the phone, or via a chat app. Insist on an in-person interview or video call.
NEVER SEND MONEY TO ANYONE YOU MEET ONLINE
Again, scammers may try to get you to pay for supposed training fees or background checks. A legitimate company or employer will not make these kinds of requests. Registering with an agency is free as per the Employment Agencies Act 1973.
DON’T SHARE PERSONAL DATA WITH JOB SEARCH APPS OR NETWORKING SITES
Do not enter your National Insurance number or other personal identification information into online web forms on third-party job search sites. Save that for the HR department or hiring manager of the prospective company.
IF YOU MUST ENTER PERSONAL INFORMATION, MAKE SURE THE SITE IS SECURE
Check the web address for https:// and only enter your information after you’ve been in contact with a human in person or via video call.
Click the link to watch our ITV coverage….
Juice On ITV News