Summer jobs scam warning as fake employment offers soar: Internet Scambusters #1,123
Summer jobs provide essential employment for students and others who are away from normal employment at this time of year.
Scammers know that, so they prowl around social media and flood potential jobs hunters with offers that are really part of financial and identity theft.
But there are a number of red flags that should put you on your guard if you’re looking for seasonal work this summer, as we explain in this week’s issue.
Let's get started…
10 Warning Signs of a Summer Job Scam
Employment scams more than doubled last year. And temporary seasonal work, like summer jobs, is among the top targets for fraudsters.
With this in mind, the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) has reissued a warning to people, notably students, teachers, and school bus drivers looking to make some extra money this summer.
“Identity criminals prey on people looking for flexibility, significant income, and easy work that will not conflict with other jobs,” ITRC says. “(We) saw a 118% increase in job scam victims in 2023 compared to the previous year.”
Common Summer Job Scams
You can be sure the scammers are active right now trying to lure in and take money from people looking for summer jobs. The fraudsters are either looking for personal information that can be used for identity theft or demanding upfront payment for fees or supplies.
So, they create listings for non-existent jobs that appeal to temporary workers, such as work-from-home employment like data entry, online surveys, house or pet sitters, modeling, mystery shoppers, internships, and resort or hotel employment.
Red Flags
The trouble is that all of these types of jobs may also genuinely be available. So, it’s down to you to spot the suspicious offers. Here are 10 tell-tale signs that all may not be as it seems:
- High pay. There’s a going rate for most jobs. Find out what it is and be suspicious of any job that offers to pay significantly more.
- Little or no experience required. It’s true that some jobs don’t call for previous experience, but if the work seems like it would need knowledge or skills and the job offer says it doesn’t, beware.
- Easy work. Most jobs are not easy – fact. So, if a supposed employer makes a point of saying it is, that could signal a scam.
- Flexible hours to suit you. As above, watch out for this piece of bait. If a potential employer says hours are flexible, find out exactly what they mean.
- Upfront fees or other payments. Scammers typically say they want money upfront, perhaps for a background check, uniform, training materials or other supplies – or simply for giving you the job. That’s not how genuine employers operate.
- Urgency. The trick here is to try to force you into committing to the job on the pretext that other potential hires are lined up. But what scammers are really trying to do is to get you to give them what they want without doing your research.
- Requests for personal information. No legitimate employer should ask for personal information like your bank account or Social Security number until you start working for them (after you’ve checked them out).
- Unsolicited job offers. These arrive by email or text, usually saying the sender has somehow become aware that you’re a good fit for a job they have. Where did they get their information from? How do they know?
- No interview. Scammers are known to offer jobs without ever speaking to you, let alone conducting an interview. If they do, that is definitely a no-no.
- Poor spelling, unusual language usage and grammar in ads and communications. Despite their best efforts and even the use of artificial intelligence, scammers, who are often based overseas, still fall down in their use of English. Of course, English is sometimes not a first language for some potential employers but just be on your guard.
How to Avoid a Summer Job Scam
If you spot any of the above behaviors, there’s a strong chance they could point to a scam. First and foremost, it’s important to do your research on any potential employer. Don’t follow any links they provide but do your own digging.
And never pay upfront fees no matter how plausible they sound; never forward money or packages on someone else’s behalf; never provide personal, confidential information including bank account details until you know you’ve secured a genuine job; and never yield to pressure to accept a job urgently.
If you think you might be being targeted by a scammer, the best action is simply to stop communication with them. But if you suspect you’ve already fallen victim, report it to law enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission.
More Summer Scams
In its alert, the ITRC also warns of other summer scams, including:
- Moving scams. Summer is a popular relocation time. Tricks include hidden fees, companies that frequently change their names to avoid bad online reviews, and final bills that are way above original estimates.
- Ticket scams. Outdoor concerts are so popular at this time of year. "The internet is flooded with everything from scalpers who overcharge for a legitimate ticket to bogus sites that steal your personal information and sell you a non-existent ticket," the ITRC warns.
- Ticket, vacation, and travel scams. We'll be taking a closer look at these tricks in next week's issue. Watch this space!
This Week’s Alerts
Sextortion explosion: Male teenagers are the latest targets for sextortion – persuading victims to send explicit photos of themselves and then blackmailing them with the threat of publishing them online. Even worse, according to security experts at Malwarebytes, crooks are using artificial intelligence to manipulate otherwise innocent social media photos of young men into explicit graphic content. Male victims between the ages of 14 and 17 are the most frequently targeted, the company says. Never yield to blackmail; report it to police.
Face the music: Want a free piano? It may sound hard to believe but tens of thousands of emails are currently circulating offering just that, mainly to schools and community organizations but it has also been spotted in social media posts. All you’re asked to pay is the shipping cost. But, of course, there’s no piano. Yet one Bitcoin account associated with the scam was recently found to hold $900,000 of stolen money. The scam uses emotional appeal by claiming the instrument was owned and beloved by someone who recently passed away.
That's it for today - we hope you enjoy your week!