As the number of remote jobs increases, so do the number of scammers taking advantage of unsuspecting job seekers. It's important to be aware of the potential for fraud when using online job search websites, and to take steps to protect yourself from becoming a victim of a financial scam. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns that one common scam involves a person receiving a message from an alleged recruiter on LinkedIn. The recruiter encourages the potential victim to apply for a job, and then requests personal information such as their address and social security number.
It's important to be aware that company names and logos can be stolen, so it's best to look up the person's name on LinkedIn and check first-degree connections to see if they're related to other company employees. Another red flag is if the job offer has an unusually long list of benefits. If the salary is much higher than you'd expect, it's likely that you've discovered one of the many fake jobs on LinkedIn. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also warns that one of the main signs of an online employment scam is being asked to pay money in order to start work.
If you're applying for remote jobs where you won't be visiting employers face-to-face, it's best not to provide direct deposit information until you've signed a job offer. When searching for jobs on LinkedIn, it's important to be aware of the potential for scams and take steps to protect yourself. Look up the person's name on LinkedIn and check first-degree connections to see if they're related to other company employees. Be wary of job offers with an unusually long list of benefits or salaries that are much higher than expected.
Finally, don't provide direct deposit information until you've signed a job offer.
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