The Coronavirus pandemic made working from home a more commonplace practice in business. It really is a win-win for everyone: Workers don’t have to worry about commuting and save on gas, while companies will spend less on office space and can find talent from all over the country (or world). Many people are looking forward to taking advantage of this new wave of at-home employment, and scammers have taken notice. When applying for jobs, learn how to avoid work from home scams and find legitimate employment.
Avoid Work From Home Scams
Scammers are always coming up with new ways to take your money. One of the newest ways is by pretending to be a “company” that is looking to hire staff to work from home. Many of these “companies” will reach out to you, unsolicited, which is a big red flag. Here are some other ways you can protect yourself from becoming a victim:
- Vet the company before accepting a job offer. Search for the company’s name along with the words “scam”, “complain” or “review”. You can do the same with their address and phone number.
- Beware of the Fake Check Scam. A common part of this scam is that a company will “hire” you and send you a check for supplies or work-related items. They will send you a check for more money than is required and ask you to send back the remaining balance. The issue is that while the check will look like it cleared, it will take the bank a bit of time to determine that it is fake. Therefore, the check will bounce, and you will be out the money you sent back to the “company”
- Never give out personal information before being hired. If a potential employer asks for your Social Security number before hiring you, this is a scam.
- Look for jobs using a trusted source. Your state’s Career OneStop is a great option.
Working from home is an extremely viable option these days, and we hope you find the job of your dreams. As long as you avoid work from home scams, you’ll be on your way to a great new career.
