The popularity of remote jobs in recent years has given birth to a whole new category of scams. This type targets job seekers in an attempt to collect personal information such as bank account or credit card info, among other data. This can be especially frustrating to job seekers who are in urgent need to make money, let alone lose it! Unfortunately, people still fall victims for these scams. The need to find a job, particularly a remote one, makes some people easy targets to scammers.
As a job board site manager, I come across suspicious job listings now and then. Usually when they are reported by users. Based on my experience, here are some common and subtle red flags to look for when identifying potentially scammy remote job listings:
- 1. If you have to post it on a subreddit to check whether it’s a scam, it probably is.
- 2. The communication language is off or too good to be true.
- 3. The email address is generic.
- 4. You are asked to interview with an AI agent.
- 5. The pay is too high for the task.
- So, if I see one of these red flags, does it have to be a scam?
As a job seeker, you’ve probably run through a decent number of remote job postings over the years. When you are suspecting that a job you are considering might be a scam, it means your internal alarm system has been triggered. 9.9 of users I come across wondering whether a job is a scam conclude that it actually is.
If someone reaches out to you by identifying themselves using prefixes, sharing salary data or other info before interviewing you, or sending you a job offer right after you apply, it’s likely a scam.
When a real company HR representative reaches out to you, the chances are they’ll be using a company email extension such as @companyname.com. If you are contacted from someone with a Gmail account, you guessed it, you are probably being scammed.
While this can fall more under the category of fake jobs, which I plan to write about soon, some scammers go the extra mile by offering interviews, usually conducted by an AI agent to make it easier for you to believe in their legitimacy. Generally speaking, companies do not hire paid employees based on an AI interview. If you are asked to take one, it’s likely either a company testing out their software products, or a scammer testing you.
Since scammers do not have to pay, they attempt to lure candidates with top salaries. If the salary looks too high, or the task is too simple or vague, something is likely off.
Not necessarily, but it’s important to watch for these red flags, especially if more than one is present. In general, an authentic hiring representative will reach out with a short call/message to schedule an interview appointment, either in person, or through a phone call. If you are contacted in any way other than this, the chances that something is fishy significantly increase.
If you experienced any of these red flags, or have additional ones, feel free to share.
With that being said, stay safe, stay smart, and stay vigilant.