Spotting & Avoiding Scams

Always listen to your intuition and trust your gut! If something seems illegitimate about a company, do more research before you apply or respond to a recruiter. If a job sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.

Follow these steps to see if the company is real or a scam:

  • Fake job postings on social media & through unsolicited emails to your student account
  • Mystery shoppers
  • Issuing checks/check processing from home
  • Model/talent agencies
  • Pyramid sales schemes
  • Overpayment scams, offers a lot of money for little work

  • Check to make sure there is a legitimate URL and a professional appearance
  • Make sure the email addresses’ domain (often listed under ‘contact us’) matches the website’s URL. Do they have a reputable website?

  • Find the company, does the information match the information on the website?
  • Check to makes sure there are employees listed under ‘people’ on LinkedIn
  • Read reviews on Google and Glassdoor, it usually provides insight on what other folks have experienced
  • If the company is a non-profit, check Charity Navigator to see if the non-profit is listed

Other sites to research: Boston Business Journal, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Directory, MA Commonwealth Corporate Database, Better Business Bureau’s website.

Never…

  • Give out personal info (SSN or bank account #) or agree to a background check unless you’ve met in person with the employer
  • Accept payment in the form of cashier’s checks/money orders/gift cards. Scammers will try to encourage students to take their “salary” out of a check, they will send a fraudulent check and the bank where you cash it will hold you accountable which could leave you without thousands of dollars and facing criminal charges
  • Wire funds via Western Union, MoneyGram or any other service
  • Apply for jobs listed by someone far away or in another country or sent to you out of the blue

  • If you think you fell victim to a scam, protect yourself by stopping any further communication
  • Immediately contact your bank
  • Change any password on accounts involved

Still not convinced?

Check out scamadviser and send the company name, job posting, and any info to careercenter@emmanuel.edu