what is the best course of action if you suspect a job recruiter of being a scam

by Darron Jacobi 5 min read

Regardless of whether a recruiter is legitimate or not, you should always ask questions when discussing a role. However, this is especially important if you suspect you're being targeted by a job recruiter scam. Good questions to ask in this situation include:

Report Job Scams to the FTC
If you see or lose money to a job scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also report it to your state attorney general .

Full Answer

How can I tell if a recruiter is a scam?

Be wary of recruiters using free web e-mail accounts from services like Gmail or Hotmail as opposed to using a business email address to contact you. There may also be tell-tale signs within the email itself, too. While some scammers may send out well-written emails, many will seem unprofessional.

How do online job scammers get your information?

Another tactic scammers use is to invite you to an online job interview using an unfamiliar or insecure messaging service. Scammers can obtain your details by asking you to set up an account on the online chat platform.

How to know if a recruitment agency is legitimate?

How to know if a recruitment agency is legitimate It might seem scary that people would go to these lengths to scam somebody, but luckily, there are several ways to check whether a recruitment agency is genuine: Ask the right questions Regardless of whether a recruiter is legitimate or not, you should always ask questions when discussing a role.

Are all job offers from recruiters who they say they are?

When conducting a job search, it’s not uncommon to be inundated with job offers from several different recruiters. But unfortunately, not all of these are who they say they are... Some scammers pose as recruiters so they can access your personal information, and sometimes even your bank details.

How do you tell if a recruiter is scamming you?

How To Know If A LinkedIn Recruiter Is LegitThe Email Is From a Free Account. ... Requesting Money, Personal Information, Or Salary History Before You've Applied. ... Evasive Recruiters. ... Offering Jobs That Seem Too Good To Be True. ... Offering Unrealistic Salaries. ... Offering the Job Without Any Interview.

How do I report a scammer?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the main agency that collects scam reports. Report the scam to the FTC online, or by phone at 1-877-382-4357 (9:00 AM - 8:00 PM, ET).

How do I find out if a job offer is legitimate?

What to look for to determine if a job is a scamThe recruiter contacts you. ... You receive a job offer right away. ... The pay is extremely high. ... The schedule seems too flexible. ... Job requirements and description are vague. ... The company requires payment from you. ... The job promises that you'll get wealthy fast.More items...•

Is there any way to get money back after being scammed?

Contact your bank immediately to let them know what's happened and ask if you can get a refund. Most banks should reimburse you if you've transferred money to someone because of a scam.

What can I do if I got scammed?

If you've been scammed, consider reporting the fraud to the police to see if they can take any action, as well as to your state consumer protection office. You can also report scams to the FTC. File a report online with the FTC, or by phone at (877) 382-4357.

How do I report a fake recruiter?

1. File a complaint with the Cyber Crime Cell to trace the ip address from which you received the scam email. 2. Submit a Customer Dispute Resolution Form with the Bank from where you have transferred the money.

How do you know if a job is sketchy?

Always be suspicious if you can't lock down real information.Disorganization reigns. ... Follow-up takes forever. ... They're in a big rush. ... Your interview is one-sided. ... You can't meet the team. ... You can't see the office. ... They don't know what they're looking for.

Can you get scammed through Indeed?

Very similar to assistant jobs, receptionist and secretary jobs are also highly searched roles on Indeed. Scammers may use job descriptions that seem too good to be true or post legitimate looking opportunities, and once you've applied, they may reach out for more personal information.

Introduction

We all expect our workplace’s corporate culture to champion honesty and behaviors that are ethical and free from immoral, unethical, or even illegal activity.

Sizing It Up

Where you are seeing or sensing a breach, you likely need to make some early determinations.

Reporting Lines

If you suspect some type of a breach has taken place, there are a number of decisions to be made, including whether to report up the chain of command, seek the ear of a chief compliance officer, or go directly to a top executive.

Talking Compliance

Even if you suspect that the top executive may in some way be implicated, it’s highly unusual to find that the chief compliance officer is also compromised, so reaching out to him or her is wise, according to Cipperman.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

If you have reported what you believe to be a significant breach or problematic activity, you must then decide whether to stay or leave the company.

Culture Club

Assuming you have chosen to leave your employer or are still employed but very actively looking for a new gig, how can you assess the ethical culture at a prospective new employer?

About the Author

Lori Pizzani is an independent business and financial journalist based in Brewster, New York. . . . Show More

What is the most common way hackers can access your personal information?

E-Mail phishing scams is another major way a hacker can access your personal information. A job hunt can be frustrating at times and full of ups and downs. It is important to stay patient and alert to protect yourself from falling victim to fake recruiters and identity theft scams. By: Devin Clark.

Is it bad to act as if you already have the job?

Acting as if you already have the job or offering you a position before you’ve even had a complete interview are also bad signs. It is very important to a recruiter to put quality candidates in front of hiring managers. If he or she is legit, they will take the necessary time to decide if you are a match.

Do you have to give your social security number to an interviewer?

Never give a recruiter your full social security number before you have had an interview with a company . If needed it wouldn't be until late in the process. A good rule to stick to is, if you wouldn’t put it on your resume, you shouldn’t readily give out the information.

Is LinkedIn a good recruiting site?

They are an “independent recruiter” with a small network. Do your research. LinkedIn is a good place to start. Reputable recruiters have a wide net of contacts in the staffing industry, along with all the industries in which they recruit for.

What to do if your company does not have a formal fraud reporting and investigation policy?

If your company does not have a formal Fraud Reporting and Investigations Policy, report your concerns to management at least two levels above the suspected fraudster. This will protect you if the perpetrator is in collusion with their supervisor.

How to report fraud to a company?

Typically, companies have several ways for you to report fraud such as calling a toll-free anonymous telephone number (fraud hotline), completing a form (paper or online), or meeting with management to discuss what you observed . The policy should address who to report fraud to, as well as your rights and responsibilities.

What to do if you have forged checks?

If you have rightful access to documentation to support the concern, such as forged checks, make copies to include with your statement. Do not make accusations or do anything outside of your normal job duties that may tip off the fraudster or hinder a future investigation.

How much did the ACFE report in 2016?

The report analyzed more than 2,400 occupational fraud cases that caused a total loss in excess of $6B. The ACFE found that small businesses suffered a "disproportionately large" median loss of $150,000.

Why are recruiters scammers?

Some scammers pose as recruiters so they can access your personal information, and sometimes even your bank details. These recruitment scams can be difficult to spot, as the perpetrators often use information from real companies and resume details they found online. This makes the job offers sound convincing. ...

What should I do if I get contacted by a recruiter?

If you get contacted by a recruiter, your first port of call should always be LinkedIn. If their profile doesn’t have a lot of connections or has incomplete information, this could be a warning sign. Copy the recruiter’s profile photo and text from their bio and paste it into a Google Search.

How do scammers get your information?

Scammers can obtain your details by asking you to set up an account on the online chat platform. It is recommended that you research any software or websites you are invited to sign up to. Part of a genuine recruiters job is to spend time ensuring you’re the right fit for the company that’s hiring.

What does it mean when an email is a fake recruiter?

If the email contains excessive spelling or punctuation mistakes, incorrect capitalization or grammatical errors, it could be from a fake recruiter. It’s also important to consider attachments sent in emails. If you are unsure about the legitimacy of the file, use a virus scanner before opening.

What is a fake job offer?

Fake job offers that sound too good to be true. Scammers will make their job offers as appealing as possible to entice people to share information with them. Be on your guard if they present a job opportunity that seems too good to be true.

Can scammers steal information from recruiters?

Scammers often steal information from real recruiters in order to create their own illegitimate profiles. Finally, make sure the recruiter's LinkedIn profile is connected to their agency’s corporate page. If it isn’t, this could suggest that they don’t really work for an official firm.

Can a recruiter disclose the name of a client?

That said, sometimes genuine recruiters have a confidential role and can’t disclose the name of the client. Nevertheless, they should still have knowledge of the industry and will disclose as much information about the role as they can. 4. Fake job offers that sound too good to be true.