![]() ![]() Heim feels good about sharing her story now. "We also work with cybercrime experts and alert anti-fraud departments for career sites when we learn about scam accounts, with a goal of getting them removed as quickly as possible." Waymo says any interviews with the company are "conducted either in-person or over video-conferencing and never over email, Telegram, or other platforms," and notes best practices on its hiring page, according to a statement provided to CNBC Make It. ![]() It reminds candidates that they should never be asked to purchase their own work equipment, and if they're in doubt, they should contact a senior employee of the company to ask if these are standard business practices. Wire, the messaging app, says it is aware fraudsters use the app for job-related scams. We also encourage members to report anything that doesn't seem right, so we can investigate." "Whenever we find such materials, we work to remove them quickly and are constantly investing in new ways to improve detection. A LinkedIn spokesperson says fake profiles and fraudulent activity are against its user policies, and that the platform uses "automated and manual defenses" to detect and address violations. LinkedIn has numerous resources to help job-seekers spot and avoid scams, including taking extra precautions for work-from home jobs. And if you're concerned about becoming a victim of identity theft, you can report it and get a personalized recovery plan with the FTC at. If you see or lose money to a job scam, Perkins says to report it to the FTC at. "You never know who you're actually talking to." What to do if you've been scammed "It's the worst way to learn a lesson, but it taught me about being naïve on the internet," Heim adds. She also knows that "if anyone is asking for your for financial information before you're hired, that's a no-go." Employers will only ask for your Social Security number after you're hired, and you should still be vigilant to confirm their identity in-person or over video before you share it. "It's tempting to use LinkedIn's 'Easy Apply' to rapidly apply to a bunch of jobs, but if you take the time to write your cover letters and reach out to the company directly, you might have more success," Heim adds. You can also contact the employer directly, using information you've found on your own (as in, not an email or phone number provided to you through an unsolicited message), to verify the legitimacy of the job and how to apply. Run the company or staffing agency through the Better Business Bureau's directory. Take it a step further by looking up the name of the company or the person who's contacting you, plus the words "scam," "review" or "complaint," Perkins says. The experience has been emotionally draining to say the very least, but Heim considers herself lucky that she didn't lose any money in the process. "I went from excited to devastated in a month," Heim says. She also felt embarrassed that the news she was so excited for and shared widely with friends and family wasn't real. Heim describes the experience as humiliating and a shot to her confidence. But she did have to immediately close her compromised bank account and freeze her credit line. Thankfully, Heim realized the scam once the check arrived ("it looked so photoshopped," she says) and before she actually sent any money to the scammers. Sometimes they'll send a check first, tell you to deposit it, and hope you buy your equipment (in reality, send them money) before the check bounces. In reality, this is what's known as a fake check scam, where scammers hope you'll send them money and "reimburse" you with a bad check. Then she was told she'd need to buy her home equipment upfront and then be reimbursed for it later. 2, Heim says).Īfter a few more conversations, Heim filled out some employment forms, submitted a scan of her driver's license and sent over her bank information to get set up for direct deposit. She then got another phone call the day after with an offer (red flag No. She was invited to a phone interview the next day, where the interviewer said the job would entail getting a computer and phone to do her job remotely. ![]()
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