Beware of This Increasingly Common Job Scam Using FlexJobs Name

Beware of This Increasingly Common Job Scam Using FlexJobs NameBeware of This Increasingly Common Job Scam Using NameWhile we typically try to write about more optimistic job search topics, we need to inform our readers about a common job scam that has unfortunately been using nameas well as other sites, including ZipRecruiter, Indeed, and Upwork- as part of the scam.As you may know, we regularly write about a variety of job scams and related topics for job seekers know about.Most of our members use along with other job sites, such as Indeed, LinkedIn, or Monster, and we believe its important for everyone to be aware of common scam tactics- some easily identifiable, and some much more sophisticated.We advise you to NOT respond to any email or facebook inc message from anyone claiming to be from in any way. Learn to recognize some of the steps a scammer may take The scammer reaches out over email or Facebook Messenger. They ask you to do a job interview over Google Hangouts, Facebook Messenger, or Skype (more on that later).They say theyre an employer and found you via or that they work for- or other common job sites such as Indeed or ZipRecruiter. The scammers intentionally mention trusted job sites to get you to let your guard down by associating with sites you might already be using and are familiar with.The scammer sometimes sends a link to the real BBB rating site and/or to our homepage to verify that they are not a scam. But anyone can send a link to pages such as thosethis is not proof that something is not a scamThe scammers email address is a generic email such as fakenamegmail.com, rather than using an email associated with the company they claim to be representing, such as realnamecompany.com. Keep in mind that sometimes the company they say they represent is entirely fake, and other times they will falsely say they are with a legitimate company (so if you google the company, you can find the company and it appears more likely to be legitimate).They a sk you to interview on Google Hangouts, Facebook Messenger, or Skype. This is a red flag because most legitimate employers will use a regular phone call, a personalized recruiting platform, an internal video/phone conference system, or similar. Scammers like Google Hangouts and Facebook Messenger because it is very easy to set up fake accounts that are not traceable.BIGGEST RED FLAG During the interview, the scammer asks you for personal information, such as your name and address or specific banking information (username and password for online banking) or an address to to send checks to.They may claim they need this information so you can make an upfront payment for the job, often for supplies or a computer preloaded with proprietary software, promising reimbursement in your first paycheck. Any request for payment as part of the job interview process is always an immediate red flagScammers often use oddly formal wording and/or poor grammar, spelling, and punctuation. A large percen tage of these scams originate from outside of the U.S., so the English can often be unprofessional. Typically, any legitimate employer will aim to be professional and have well-edited communications with candidates, so while typos or poor grammar can happen to the best of us, it shouldnt be pervasive.What To Do If Youve Spotted This ScamFollow these steps to report the scammer to each platform where youve interacted with themReport them as fraud to Facebook.Block them on Facebook Messenger.Remove them from any other location where you may have them as a contact (like Gmail or Google Hangouts) and report them as fraud on those platforms.If the scammer offers to send you an iTunes gift card as a form of payment (which is common), report it to Apple.It is deeply important to us to protect our users from job scams, and we hope you dont mind us taking this extra step to alert you of this potential one.Thank you for taking the time to review the information above, and please feel free to share this information with other friends or family who might be searching for jobsit is applicable to any job seekerGet more information about avoiding job scams.Updated May 4, 2018.