Navigating the Internship and Job Search: How to Spot and Avoid Scams

The pursuit of internships and jobs is a crucial step for students and alumni. However, this process can be fraught with danger, as fraudulent employers often target hopeful candidates with seemingly ideal job opportunities. These scams aim to steal money, personal information, and identities. University Career Services actively supports students and alumni in their career exploration, emphasizing the importance of safe job searching practices and precautions.

The Deceptive Tactics of Job Scammers

Scammers often go to great lengths to make their job positions appear legitimate, increasing the likelihood that job seekers will fall for their traps. Some may even impersonate recognizable organizations or use names similar to those of reputable institutions.

Red Flags: Spotting a Fake Job

Several warning signs can help you identify potentially fraudulent job postings:

The job offer is “too good to be true.” Be wary of positions that promise high pay for little work.
The employer personally reaches out to you. Unsolicited job offers, especially those that appear out of the blue, should be treated with suspicion.
The employer contacts you immediately after applying. While prompt responses can be appreciated, an unusually quick offer without a thorough interview process can be a red flag.
The job description/company is not specific. Vague job descriptions or a lack of detailed information about the company should raise concerns.
The job requirements are too simple. Legitimate employers will list specific requirements related to education, experience, and skills. Be cautious of postings with overly broad requirements, such as "Must be 18 years old. Must be a citizen," without asking for details about your education or past experiences.
The job requires you to handle money, place orders, or deposit checks. These tasks are often associated with scams, particularly those involving fake checks.
The employer promises you a job if you pay upfront. Legitimate employers do not require candidates to pay for the privilege of working for them.
The employer asks you to deposit a check, keep some of the money, and send the rest to someone else. This is a classic fake check scam. The check will likely bounce, leaving you responsible for the funds you withdrew.

Essential Steps Before Applying

Before applying for any job, it is crucial to conduct thorough research on the company and employer.

Research the Company and Employer:
- Who is the employer?
- What is their contact information?
Search for jobs through a reliable platform. For example, St. John’s University uses the recruiting platform, Handshake, to safely connect students to potential job opportunities.

What to Do If You Suspect a Scam

Fraudulent employers can be highly persuasive and deceptive. If you think you gave money or personal information to a fraudulent employer, there are actions you can take to minimize the outcome of being scammed.

Read also: Apple Internship: EPM Role

Report a scam to the FTC.
If you feel that you've been the victim of a scam, please contact University Police at 724-357-2141.

Common Job Scams Targeting College Students

Here are some common job scams that specifically target college students:

Mystery shoppers: Scammers may pose as mystery shopping companies, sending fake checks and asking victims to evaluate check-cashing services.
Envelope stuffing from home: These schemes typically involve paying for materials or a "membership" with the promise of future earnings that never materialize.
Repackaging or shipping from home: Victims receive packages and are instructed to repackage and ship them, often unknowingly dealing with stolen goods.
Issuing checks/check processing from home: As described earlier, this involves depositing fake checks and wiring a portion of the money back to the "company."
Model/talent agencies: Scammers may request upfront fees for photoshoots or representation, with no guarantee of actual work.
Pyramid sales schemes: These schemes rely on recruiting new members rather than selling products or services, and often result in financial losses for participants.
A variety of scams where a student is asked to pay for certification, training materials, or equipment with promise of reimbursement: These promises are often empty, and victims lose the money they paid upfront.
Pet Sitting/Babysitting Over-payment Scams: Watch out for over-payment scams. These are often posted as a bookkeeper, personal assistant, administrative assistant, etc., to assist in processing checks or mystery/secret shoppers. The "company" sends a check to the "assistant" (student), who is then responsible for taking their"salary"out of the check and wiring the remainder of the money back to the "company." These checks are fraudulent and can leave you out thousands of dollars and facing criminal charges.

The Perils of "Flexible" Job Offers

Scammers often lure victims with promises of flexible work arrangements and minimal time commitment. For example, a scammer might advertise a position with the following characteristics:

This flexible but formal position would only take at most two hours of your time daily, or even less, depending on your work-speed.
You would be needed Mondays through Fridays, but the job's flexibility lies in the fact that your duties are clear-cut and would take little of your time to be executed daily.
Kindly get back to me ASAP if you are interested and wish to know more about this opportunity.

These offers are designed to entice individuals with the prospect of easy money, but they are ultimately deceptive.

Researching Ads and Employers: A Detailed Approach

Why is it Important to Research Every Opportunity?

To find out if the job and the company are legitimate
To gather information to help you determine whether the company or job is a good fit for you
To find data to help you write targeted resumes and cover letters
To find facts to help you answer interview questions such as: Why do you want to work for this company?

Verifying Contact Information

Is there specific contact information? Lack of pertinent information is a red flag. If you belong to a professional association, they may be able to put you in touch with people who can advise you. Use Google Search by the name of the organization to gather information and recent news. You can also search by "scam" to look for signs the company has been reported in any type of fraudulent activity.

Checking with Consumer Services

Two organizations to utilize are the Better Business Bureau or the Federal Trade Commission to see if any complaints have been lodged against the company.

Investigating the Company's References

If you aren't sure a company is legitimate, request a list of employees or contractors. Then contact the references to see how satisfied they are. You may want to research the references a bit as well, to be sure they are legitimate.

Assessing Communication Professionalism

If communications are sloppy, how professional is the organization?

Payment and Fees: Proceed with Caution

Exercise Caution When Asked to Pay Any Fees

Most legitimate employers will not charge to hire you! Don't send money for work-at-home directories, advice on getting hired, company information or for anything else related to the job. There are some well-known internship programs that do require payment to place you in internships, but check with your department's internship coordinator to determine if the program is legitimate.

Understanding Payment Structures

Review Payment Information

When information about salary isn't listed on a job posting, try to find out if you will receive a salary or be paid on commission. Find out how much you're paid, how often you are paid and how you are paid. If the company doesn't pay an hourly rate or a salary, be cautious and investigate further.

The Illusion of Legitimate Publications

Beware: Scam Ads Can be Found in Legitimate Publications

Read all information carefully. If the opportunity sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Just because a job lead appears in a legitimate publication, it doesn't mean that the job or company is, necessarily, legitimate.

Protecting Your Information

DO NOT provide any personal information, especially Social Security numbers or financial information! (You will be notified when delivery would be made).

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