Searching for a new job can be nerve-wracking at the best of times. But putting yourself on the market in Canada these days means being vigilant to avoid fraudulent online recruiting schemes and job scams. If you’ve been looking for a job over the last year, it’s likely you’ve come across shady job pitches and some obvious job scams (and perhaps, some less obvious). The bottom line? You should always research prospective employers — and never pay to apply for a job.
Complaints about job scams started spiking during the pandemic. As employers moved to remote work — and remote hiring — fake recruiters began to target job seekers online, especially fresh graduates and the newly jobless.
The scammers’ goals are simple: To gather personally identifiable information (PII) from you during the “hiring” process that enables them to steal your money or identity or trick you into laundering cash for them.
But with a little knowledge of how these job scams work, you can recognize and avoid them. Keep on reading to get practical advice from Robert Half Canada.
1. The fake job listing. At Robert Half Canada, we’re scrupulous about ensuring the authenticity of every job posted on our site, but not every recruiting site performs the same due diligence. The takeaway: Never let your guard down, even on those paid job platforms.
Social media is another hotspot for fake jobs. Scammers create Facebook pages or LinkedIn profiles to advertise fake opportunities; although these platforms try to block them, some slip through. Fake jobs are also shared around Twitter through shortened URL links (bit.ly or ow.ly). Always verify the recruiter/employer’s social media account is authentic by checking out their posting history and the number of followers.
2. The fake job site. Scammers will even create fake employment or recruitment websites. This job scam can be harder to spot than the rest because it can look very professional. Usually, these job scams will request PII like your Social Security number or bank details under the pretense of a prescreening or to set up a “paycheck” auto-deposit.
3. The unsolicited fake job offer. Job hunters uploading their resumes to the web might receive an email — or even text — offering an attractive remote job. You might not remember applying (because you didn’t), but if the sender looks real enough, you might be tempted to accept. What happens next is a rapid “onboarding” via email or text to gather your PII. Of course, there is no job, but your identity may have just gotten a new user.
