Fraud Awareness
How Can You Safely Navigate Your Job Search?
At My Perfect Resume, we’re dedicated to helping you secure the job you want safely. Unfortunately, job scams targeting job seekers are becoming more common and harder to spot. To support your career journey, we’ve put together essential tips to help you identify scams, understand how we communicate, and know how to report suspicious activity to us and the authorities.
What Is Our Approach to Communicating With Job Seekers?
Remember: Real employers will only contact you through their official email, your site or your account. We won’t message you via third-party messaging platforms like WhatsApp or Telegram. If you encounter a message on an informal channel, it’s likely fraudulent — please report it.
How Can You Recognize Common Job Search Scams?
Job ad phishing emails:
- Phishing emails often come from addresses that look legitimate at first glance but include minor misspellings or irregular domains.
- Be cautious if you’re invited to an interview through a personal email address or a non-company platform.
Vague job postings
- If a job listing seems intentionally light on details, it’s best to exercise caution.
- Watch for vague or overly generic job descriptions and offers sent through messaging apps like Telegram or WhatsApp.
Request for payment
- Real employers don’t ask you to cover equipment, training or fees.
- Reputable employers don’t charge fees or request payment through Zelle, PayPal, etc.
Out-of-proportion offers
- High salaries for minimal effort may sound attractive, but they’re often a major red flag.
- Real employers or company offers align with industry norms and qualifications. Be wary if it feels too good to be true.
“Act now” pressure
- Scammers may use high-pressure tactics to rush your decision. Real companies provide a structured hiring process with time to consider your options.
- If you’re asked to make an immediate decision without an interview, take a breather and evaluate.
Headhunter scams
- Scammers may try to pose as headhunters or claim to work with job placement companies. They may promote outdated job postings and charge for services.
- Be wary of recruiters or prospective employers contacting you for jobs you did not apply for.
What Steps Can Help Keep You Safe During Your Job Search?
- Never pay for a job: Any requests for payments related to interview reservations, placement fees or similar costs should be avoided at all costs. Real employers will not ask for such payments.
- Keep your information private: Be cautious about sharing personal information such as your bank details, social security number, or ID until you’re confident the job is legitimate. Recruiters won’t need this information immediately, and genuine employers won’t push for it early on.
- Be cautious of lack of professionalism: Emails sent with poor grammar or unusual formatting are often a giveaway of fraud. Scammers usually don’t pay attention to the details, so look closely at the quality of the message.
- Verify the employer: Take a few minutes to look up the company name alongside words like “scam” or “complaint.” Verify the recruiter’s LinkedIn profile. Check the company’s credibility on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Verify the company’s website or call it directly at their phone number to verify its legitimacy.
How Should You Report Suspicious Activity?
We will always communicate with you through our official email domain. If you encounter any suspicious activity or believe you’ve encountered a potential job scam, report it immediately. You can start by notifying the job board where you found the opportunity, then report the fraudulent activity to your consumer protection agency or local authorities. If you’ve shared any financial information with the scammer, immediately contact your bank or financial institution and closely monitor your account for any unusual or suspicious transactions.
