Scammers are targeting college students with fake job listings, according to a Better Business Bureau of Northwest Florida media release.
They blast solicitations to college email accounts promising positions with flexible hours and good pay.
The scammer sends messages encouraging students to apply for a great job position. One email stated: "The position offers flexibility that allows you to choose your hours during the day to avoid conflicts between classes or other business."
In this scam, students who answer the email are offered the position."First, they may do a short interview over email or an online chat. Then, scammers will send a check for students' first 'assignment,'" the release states. Students are instructed to keep a portion of the money and send the rest to other scam agents.
But the check students receive is fake and they become responsible for any money withdrawn against it.
Job scams often use the names of legitimate businesses, but in this most recent wave, targets report being contacted by fake companies as well. In one instance, only the job position was provided: administrative assistant.
How to spot an employment scam
Some positions are more likely to be scams. Always be wary of work from home, secret shopper positions or any job with a generic title, such as caregiver or customer service representative. These positions often don't require special training or licensing, so they appeal to a wide range of applicants.
Guidelines:
●If a job looks suspicious, search for it online. If the result comes up in other cities with the exact same job post, it is likely a scam. Also, check the real company's job page to make sure the position is posted there.
●Watch out for on-the-spot job offers. You may be an excellent candidate for the job, but beware of offers made without an interview. A real company will want to talk to a candidate before hiring him or her.
●Don't fall for an overpayment scam. No legitimate job would ever overpay an employee and ask him/her to wire the money elsewhere.
●Be very cautious of any job that asks you to share personal information or hand over money. Scammers will often use the guise of running a credit check, setting up direct deposit or paying for training. This information can then be used for identity theft, so be absolutely certain before you share.
To find out more about other scams, or to report one, go to http://www.bbb.org/scam.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SCAM ALERT: Con artists blast Northwest Florida students with job emails