Can You Spot A Fake Job Advert?
Job scams have been rising over the years, there have been a major increase in recruitment related fraud. Some advertised jobs don’t actually exist! Its been said that 18 to 24-year olds are the most targeted people when being scammed by fake job adverts.
Typical Scams Include:
– Collecting personal data, for example CVs contain a lot of personal information, companies have to obey GDRR policies when processing this data. However, if you have applied for a fake job your data can be misused. It is advised you do not include your date of birth on your CV.
– Asking for you to call a phone number that is of a premium rate. You could be charged up to £3.60 per minuet for these types of calls. If you have a telephone interview the employer must always call you as you are the one being chosen for the interview.
How can you spot fraud?
Bad spelling and grammar- You must check for mistakes, if there is then it’s the perfect indicator that the company is fake. Genuine companies will be proof-read before hand to make sure that there are no mistakes before publishing.
The company can not be found- If you see a job ad and are interested its always best to search up the company you are applying for. It is advised to do this so you can research the company and see its history. If you google them and get no results then it might be because they don’t exist. UK companies will always be registered with Companies House, so check with them in you are unsure.
Dishonest domain name or email address- Fraudsters can create believable websites, they may use a domain name and logo that is similar to a well-known company or brand. Make sure to check that they are who they say they are by double-checking the domain name.
Only provide a personal email address- If their email ends in something like @Gmail or @yahoo be very careful. Companies should all have a professional email address.
They are asking for a fee- If you are applying for a company that is overseas and they ask for a fee, this can include: visas flights and accommodation. Make sure that it is the right price and contact the organisation to confirm the job offer is genuine. You could also avoid giving them the fee by telling them you will make your own travel arrangements.
If something doesn’t feel right it normally isn’t, be cautious if a company states ‘no experience necessary’, sometimes this opportunity is unlikely. If something looks too good to be true then there is probably a catch. The best thing to do is look at the company reviews as this can really help you decide if they are genuine or not.
If you see a job that you think may be fraud REPORT IT!
