A remote work scam happens when a fraudster creates a phony employment opportunity in order to steal money or personal information. Those who are inexperienced with these scams (which are usually of the “too good to be true” sort) may unwittingly submit this information to the fake “employer,” placing themselves in danger of identity theft or other cyberattacks.
Learning how to detect remote job scams is critical if you want to avoid being a victim.
How to identify remote work scams?
Trust your instincts
One of the greatest methods to prevent a work scam, like with most circumstances in life, is to trust your intuition. That can be difficult if you've been out of work for a time and a great opportunity appears to fall right into your lap.
However, consider the position and how you were approached objectively. If anything doesn't feel right, or if you're uncomfortable for any reason, don't hesitate to disengage.
Most of the time, your instincts are correct. Also, keep in mind that there are a plethora of legitimate internet jobs to pick from. This will not be your only chance to work from home, so don't be frightened or forced into doing something you don't want to do.
The employer does not have a website or other online presence
Another certain approach to spot a fraud is to lookup an employer's internet presence. Companies usually include a link to their website or at the very least the name of the company somewhere in the job posting. It's a warning if you can't discover a matching website throughout your investigation.
Even if it's simply a drag-and-drop website and a modest social media presence, small businesses should have something online. If they don't, think about why you'd want to work from home for a firm that doesn't have an internet presence.
Research is key
Let's assume you get a call from a "recruiter" who wants you to apply for a job. They believe you'd be ideal for an available position based on your abilities and work experience.
That isn't to say the job isn't legitimate (or the recruiter is who they claim to be). Always do your homework on both the recruiter and the position. Investigate the recruiter/hiring manager to see if you can learn anything about them to see if they are a real person.
The Better Business Bureau is a great place to look for and report employment frauds online.
There are no (positive) company reviews
If you've never heard of the firm that's hiring for a remote position, double-check that it exists before applying. If the job is advertised by a genuine firm, the employer nearly usually has a review of their products and services on the internet. A third party hosts information about key employment rules and practices.
Glassdoor is an example that collects employee evaluations and pay statistics, while Virtual Vocations focuses on the state of remote employment. Google and LinkedIn are other good sites to look for reviews and information.