With money not stretching as far as it once did, it’s no wonder people are looking for quick ways to make extra cash. Remote jobs like appointment setters found on social media are increasingly enticing as transportation costs rise, and promises of high income and earned bonuses are highlighted. These “too-good-to-be-true” jobs are just that, too good to be true. They are filled with empty promises and may lead to an unsuspecting applicant losing money. Let’s find out how to differentiate legitimate jobs from a scam.
Certain tactics or language used can help clue you in on if the job is real or not. Applying pressure is a universal tactic for scammers. They want people to act before thinking. Phrases relating to topics such as promises of high income and a guaranteed job are immediate signs of a scam. Scammers inflate income earnings and in reality, no one can guarantee you a job. In addition, no legitimate job will ask you to pay for job training or will send you a check before starting for “home office expenses”. Often times they will say that too much money was sent and to return a specified amount, hoping to receive the funds before the check is discovered to be fraudulent.
Before accepting a job, do your due diligence. Take the time to research the opportunity and talk it out with someone you trust. Search the company online along with words “review”, “scam”, or “compliant”. Be skeptical of testimonials as fake profiles can be doctored and posted online.
If you come across a job opportunity scam or lose money to one, report it to the FTC.
