With the end of the term approaching, a time when many students are looking for work, a word of caution is warranted. Malicious individuals will take advantage of this to post fraudulent job offers that specifically target students.
These scammers use various techniques to lure their prey: flashy job postings, promises of high pay, and supposedly unique career opportunities. However, these offers mask attempts at financial scamming and a form identity theft commonly known as phishing.
How to recognize a sketchy offer
- Big promises: A work environment that seems too good to be true or enormous salaries should raise suspicion.
- Intrusive asks: A legitimate job posting would never require you to give personal information before a formal interview.
- Errors and inconsistencies: Typos, grammar mistakes and contradictory information usually signal a scam.
- Pressure and urgency: Scammers try to rush you to prevent you from stopping to think it through and from double-checking the information.
What can you do?
- Check who’s posting: Take the time to confirm the authenticity of the offer by directly contacting the person who posted it.
- Protect your personal information: Never give out personal information, such as your social security number or your banking details, before you are sure the job offer is authentic.
- Report fraudulent emails: If you see a suspicious email, use the Report Message button in Outlook to flag it.
By staying alert and taking the appropriate actions, you can protect your identity and finances. Remember, your best bet is to be as careful as possible.