A CLOSE LOOK AT JOB AD SCAMS

 

There’s no doubt that conducting your job search online is faster, easier, and more convenient than the old, conventional methods. Unfortunately, cyberspace dealings have a drawback: job offer scammers are out there, waiting for you to fall into their carefully laid out traps and mess up your career objective. Scammers create bogus job vacancies in Singapore, all designed to separate you from your money. Some scams are so obvious that they’re not likely to succeed in fooling you. Others, though, are more subtle, and you would do well to be wary of these. Don’t fall victim to online swindlers. Put these practical safety tips into practice. Don’t submit personal and account information. No legitimate employer would require applicants to submit information like bank account number, social security number, and taxpayer’s identification number online. Information of this nature is normally asked only after you’ve gotten the job. When an ad asks you to provide these at the application stage, it’s almost sure to be a scam. Also, when you see a job ad that requires you to download software to fill up a form, don’t click on the link. This is likely to be malware that will give the scammer access to sensitive information stored in your computer’s hard drive. 

Don’t entertain job offers that require you to pay a fee. Some job scammers require applicants to pay what they call an “application processing fee.” They typically instruct the applicant to pay via money transfer, online credit card payment, or bank deposit. When you see this requirement, let this serve as a warning. There’s no such thing as an application processing fee. 

Don’t entertain companies that require you to buy products or avail of services beforehand. This type of requirement can be legitimate for companies in sales, merchandising, or franchising, but not during the job application process. If you’re asked to shell out money for products or services as a prerequisite for employment, stop right there. Don’t proceed with your application.

Don’t accept a job that’s given to you without so much as an interview. Any legitimate employer will tell you that the interview is a vital step in the hiring process. If a company expresses interest in employing you with unusual haste, skipping this very basic step, there’s good reason to be suspicious. 

Many of these bogus job ads come with very enticing offers, like high salaries, unusually generous commission packages, and get-rich-quick schemes. The cardinal rule in avoiding being scammed is, if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. Trust your better judgment. Stay vigilant, keep your guard up, and no scammer will be able to take advantage of you.

Image source: 
http://www.wordspin.dk/2011/08/11/does-nothing-matter-in-danish/