Employment Scams And Fake Job Postings

TheCommuter, BSN, RN

Unemployed healthcare workers who are desperate for work might fall victim to phony job postings that take full advantage of their vulnerable situations. Even though some of these scams have existed for many years, the sluggish national economy has been the driving force that has led an increasing number of reasonably intelligent people to respond to questionable employment advertisements.

Unfortunately, people who fall victim to employment scams often find themselves in even more precarious financial situations. After all, they've most likely lost some money through the scheme. In addition, the con artists who perpetrate these fraudulent acts are usually able to extract just enough personal information from their victims to commit identity fraud.

Many individuals are being suckered into advance fee fraud schemes.

Advance fee fraud is a scam in which con artists convince job seekers to pay money 'in advance.' However, the payments never result in employment.

For example, a newly graduated nurse responds to a job posting for a travel nursing position, provides personal information via email, and is 'hired' before anyone at the agency has even met her. The friendly people at the agency initially mail the new nurse an advance payment in the form of a cashiers check to cover fees for airline travel and housing, but they contact their 'new hire' shortly afterward and inform her that the position has been filled. They request that their money be returned through Western Union or in the form of a personal check or money order. The new nurse follows these instructions, but later discovers the cashiers check that the agency originally mailed her was fraudulent and the money she 'returned' to them is gone forever.

Another fake job posting involves help-wanted ads for private duty CNAs, home health aides, personal sitters, and caregivers that baits readers with promises of competitive pay and the allure of caring for one client.

The 'hiring manager' wants to schedule an interview as soon as possible, but will first need $100 for a background check as soon as possible in the form of a cashiers check, money order, or Western Union wire transfer. The person who does the hiring receives the money, but never contacts the job candidate again.

Those work-at-home medical billing jobs that require applicants to pay upfront fees for start-up kits are also fake.

These postings lead job seekers to believe that they'll earn good money by processing medical bills at home. While the telemarketers may provide lists of local doctors they say are interested in having their billing done by consumers, many times these doctors have not consented to have their information distributed, are not looking for outside help, or may need more skilled employees to complete this technical task (FTC, 2002).

Employment scams usually have blaring red flags. If you spot one or more of these warning signs, do not respond to the job posting.

All emails and job postings are riddled with spelling errors and poor grammar.
The so-called employer is requesting that you wire money through Western Union.
The so-called employer is requesting money upfront, before you do any work.
The so-called employer demands social security numbers, bank account numbers, and other personal information over the telephone or through email communications.
The only available contact information consists of a p.o. box address, a phone number with a long-distance area code, an email address, or a poorly-designed website.

If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Legitimate employers will never require you to pay them anything. Be suspicious if the pay rate is unusually high, and research the company. It always pays off to think twice before responding to job postings. Good luck, and do not fall victim to any of these scams.

work-cited.txt

Employment Scams And Fake Job Postings

About TheCommuter, BSN, RN

Share on other sites

More Like This