It’s already challenging to find work. But fake job ads and offers steal even more of your precious time and energy if you allow them to.
Fortunately, you can train yourself to spot these scams. Just be on the lookout for the biggest type of warning sign: missing information.
Fake job ads and offers are usually made in a rush so they can be immediately published or sent, increasing the chances that someone will fall for the trick out of desperation. And we all know that when you rush something, there will be mistakes. Here are the blanks, gaps, and errors in information that you need to watch for.
INCOMPLETE OR INCORRECT GRAMMAR
Scammers will frequently misspell words or leave important parts out of a sentence in their fake job ads or offers. In combination with the risks of rushing these out as quickly as possible, scammers are also commonly not properly trained to write job ads or offers in the first place.
If you spot lots of missing letters, or incorrect word usage, or if the sentences just don’t make much sense, chances are you’re dealing with a fake job ad or offer that will lead you nowhere. Close the browser tab or throw away the flyer, and continue your search for real jobs.
INCOMPLETE JOB INFORMATION
If the job being advertised or offered sounds very generic, be careful. There will usually be a list of qualifications that everyone will fit, but not much description of the actual responsibilities.
There might also be excessive focus on the benefits or perks of the position, to try to draw you in without explaining exactly what it is you have to do. Don’t fall for this trick. No job is all fun and no work. If it sounds too good to be true, but you have no idea what you’ll be doing, it’s a job that doesn’t exist.
INCOMPLETE OR NON-EXISTENT COMPANY INFORMATION
A scammer that’s advertising or offering a fake job only wants career-seekers to follow the steps outline in the ad or offer. They don’t actually want victims to try contacting or visiting them, because that would immediately expose the lie.
They will not put their company’s “actual” contact information in the fake ad or offer. The only information there will be numbers, email addresses, or account numbers that the will instruct you to call, send something to, or make a deposit in. Of course, there will be no response if you actually do any of these things and the scam will be complete. So when you see this is the case, back away and look for a job elsewhere.
Be on the lookout for these major warning signs, and protect yourself from fake job ads and offers. Trust us, that’ll give you more time and energy to pursue real opportunities.