South Snohomish County Crime Watch Hot Sheet: JOB SCAMS

At some point in our lives, we all have to look for a job. Scammers try to take advantage of that fact. In fact, job scammers are taking advantage of job searchers more frequently according to the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) which observed an 118% increase in the scam in 2023.

Job scammers can be difficult to detect. They advertise their scam jobs in the same places as honest employers in online ads, job sites, social media, in newspapers, and sometimes on TV and radio. Scammers may also reach out directly through a text message.

Of course, like most scammers, all they are after is your money and identity instead of a good worker.

Some fake jobs that scammers offer often include:

· Work-from-home scams- While many of us like to work at home, scammers use the lure of working at home to take advantage of the victim. Reshipping scams and reselling merchandise scams are popular with scammers. Some of these scams could be tied to other crimes such as credit card fraud or even shoplifting. Also, at home jobs that asks the “employee” to move money around could make the “employee” into a money mule, an accomplice to a money laundering scheme. A key red flag is if the “employer” sends you a check to reimburse you for equipment. Instead of making the check out for an agreed amount, they overpay you and ask you to send back the difference. If this happens, stop communicating with this scammer. The check will bounce, and you will be on the hook with your bank for the whole amount.

· Nanny, caregiver virtual assistant scams- To gain credibility, the scammer may claim to be a member of your community or from an organization that you know. A variation of the work at home check scheme is to send you a check. You are told to keep some of the money for your services then send the rest to someone else. This check will also bounce, putting you on the hook with your bank. If you hear any talk of a check being sent to you, and you sending part of it back or to someone else, walk away.

· Job placement service scams- Honest job search services charge the hiring company for their services. They do not charge job candidates. If a job placement service approaches you and wants to charge you for helping you find employment, walk away.

· Government and postal jobs scams- Some scammers will post ads offering to help in finding a government job for a fee. Finding job listings for the federal government or the postal service is free. All you have to do is to go to https://www.usajobs.gov/ or https://about.usps.com/careers/welcome.htm to find jobs that are being advertised. Do not pay someone to find a job for you!

Tips to avoid a job scam,

· Research online- Do a search online of the company that wants to hire you with the words “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.”

· Talk to someone you trust- Talk to a family member or friend to get their opinion of the offer.

· Do not pay for a promise of a job- Employers do not charge prospective employees. Scammers charge prospective employees!

· Stay away from fake check scams- If a “potential employer” sends you a check and asks for part of it back, or sent to someone else, or put into gift cards, walk away from the job. The check will bounce, and the bank will want you to pay the full amount of the check. Honest employers will not send a check and ask for part of it back.

If you do pay a job scammer, contact the company that you used to send the money- debit/credit card, mobile payment app, wire transfer, gift card, reload card, or cryptocurrency- report the fraud, ask to have the transaction reversed if possible.

Also, report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ and to the Washington State Attorney General at https://www.atg.wa.gov/.