Avoid Employment Scams by Asking These 3 Questions

Avoid Employment Scams by Asking These 3 QuestionsAvoid Employment Scams by Asking These 3 QuestionsWhen youre looking for work, youre likely eager to find an opportunity- and scammers may take advantage of your vulnerability. Because job searching primarily takes place ansprechbar these days, job hunters are at particular risk for falling prey to the employment scams placed by cyber criminals.Fortunately, there are ways to avoid many types of common online employment scams if you know which red flags to notice.Here are three important questions to avoid employment scamsbefore applying to a job online1. Is the job ad asking you to pay a fee to apply? According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), no employer or employment firm should ever ask you to pay a fee in exchange for the promise of a job.That means that if the job ad stipulates that you must submit payment for the guarantee of job placement- or for training materials, certification, or reimbursement for expenses in placing you with an employer- be alert that youre probably dealing with a job scam.2. Are you being asked for financial or personal information? Similarly, if youre asked to supply bank account or credit card information either over the phone or online in relation to a promised job, dont give it out. Legitimate employers dont require this information to apply for a job.The same goes for other types of sensitive personal data, such as your social security number or drivers license number. While honest employers may require this type of personal information after you are officially extended a job offer, dont provide it without having a contract in writing that verifies you have a job from a confirmed company.3. Are you being offered a previously undisclosed federal job? If you see an ad that uses the term previously undisclosed in relation to a federal job posting, be wary of a scam. The FTC notes that fake postal jobs are often promised by scammers who advertise onlineandin newspaper classif ied sections. Cyber crooks will often require a fee to apply for these false listings, so if you see such an offer, steer clear.You can find out about all legitimate federal positions at USAJobs.gov, where they are announced to the public free of charge, or by checking out the Federal Government jobs category on.Job searching can be stressful enough without having to worry about false employment ads, but knowing what to watch out for can help keep you safe from cyber scams. When you come across a shady company or job listing, keep these critical questions handy and review them thoroughly before you proceed.Readers, do you think youve ever encountered employmentscams? Tell us your experience by leaving a comment