BBB Names 'Red Flags' for Online Job Searchers

If you're searching for your dream job online, keep your wits about you to avoid a scam.

That from Kevin Rothwell with the Better Business Bureau, who says the first red flag in an online job search is a salary and benefits package that's too good to be true.

He says, "That's the first step in a scam.  Then they want to lead you down that path so that ultimately they can perpetuate an identity fraud or cheque overpayment scheme."

Identity theft can happen when you divulge person information, such as your social insurance number, to the scam artist.

Rothwell says the scammer will likely ask for these details in a suspicious way.

He tells us, "Often they'll move very quickly in the case of the scam to that, and do that over the phone.  Most job applications, you actually have to sit down somewhere and go through that process."

When it comes to the cheque overpayment scheme, Rothwell says, "They'll report to be hiring you, and then the first order of business once you're 'hired' is that they're sending you a large amount of of money."

And then he tells us, "You're asked as the 'new employee' to put it into your own personal account, and then to wire an amount of that money back.  (As an example), 'keep $300 as your part of it and send the other $4,700 on and the only person out any money is the 'employee'.  If you put a fraudulant cheque or money order in your account, you're responsible for it - not the bank.

Rothwell also advises that job seekers be weary if an employer asks for money upfront - citing a recent scam uncovered by the BBB where job hunters were told they had to pay $64.50 for a background check before they could be considered for a cleaning job.

"Predictably, after paying for the background check, the job seeker never heard from the company again."

Denise Wong - Astral Media Radio News (Kelowna)