Beware of Job Scams!

Job offers nowadays are aplenty in the market. From jobs that promises high salary and considerably less working hours are becoming more prevalent in recent times. There are numerous scam companies out there which are heartless and yearning to earn fast cash from you. Therefore, beware of the job scams trend. Below are just some of the common examples of the illegitimate advertisements and some suggested ways to beat these scams. Take serious note, job seekers!

1. Jobs that require a processing/administration fee
This is the most common tactic used by con jobs. Jobs like these include typist, copywriter, data entry clerk and many home-based jobs. The particular company will do almost anything to secure your trust; for eg. by emailing applicants directly and taking desperate measures to explain in great detail why they are legitimate. Once the deposit is paid, the contact person becomes very difficult to reach on the phone. Another worst-case-scenario situation that an employer will typically confirms and calls applicants in for an interview but will request a head start payment for administration or consultation fee (or so it seems). Once applicants have signed the "job agreement" and payment is made, the company will give excuses on why the applicant cannot be hired. Excuses such as how the client's company has not made their selection or how they have been robbed and are under police investigation are not uncommon excuses.

2. Jobs that has a formal letterhead/signature to trick you
This is another way to convince applicants that the company they are applying for is legitimate. By using an "official" letterhead, the job seeker is informed formally that he or she may start the job any time. But before that, job seekers are requested to pay for the processing, procurement and acquisition of proper working permit. The employer will of course mention in the letter that all these fees will be "reimbursed later". To seal the deal, the letterhead also includes an "official' signature by a legal advisor. This way, most people will be convinced that the company seem real and will not hesitate to make any upfront payment.

Solution #1. Check for the real person, address, contact number, etc physically and on the Internet.
By going the extra mile to find out who we are dealing with will go a long way. With the Internet easily accessible nowadays, please check for the legitimacy of the address and the person you are speaking to on the other end. If the particular company is not online, chances are they are NOT real! It’s the truth considering that most companies are already online given the fact that social media is on the rise at the moment. To double check, go directly to the address provided to see if it’s a fake and what not.

Solution #2. Get advice from friends, colleagues and professionals.
Without a doubt, the simplest and smartest thing to do. Call up a friend (it will be a bonus if he/she is involved in recruitment industry) and seek help regarding this problem of yours. Get colleagues or ex-colleagues for valuable advice. Seek professional head hunters and recruitment industry specialist to access the legitimacy of the job. This will ensure you will not fall under the scam jobs category any longer. Else, you will be left depressed, jobless and poorer by a few hundred ringgit!