How do I recognize a scammer?

We want to help you find a job, but we also want to alert you of some common internet scams to help you learn how to keep yourself safe. A scammer that uses a job posting site like ours is after one thing only – tricking you into giving them money. This is what a typical scam looks like:

An online scammer will email or send a text message to a jobseeker, stating they are from outside of the US or Canada and need service. They will send a few messages back and forth with you to obtain your information. Once you’ve agreed to work for them, the scammer tells you they will send you a cheque, mobile cheque, or money order for an advance payment. Usually, this will be for more than the agreed amount, telling you the extra is for equipment or something similar. They will then ask you to deposit the money into your account, and send the rest of the money to another person.

What has happened is they’ve sent you a fake cheque, mobile cheque, or money order. By depositing it and sending the extra funds to someone, you’ve sent actual money to the other person, and you’re on the hook for the funds. After some time, the bank will see that the money you deposited doesn’t exist and will remove the amount from your bank account, but you’ve already sent some of it on, and maybe have spent some of your portion. So the bank turns to you for the missing money. This is called money laundering – turning fake money into real money.

So, how can you avoid being scammed? It’s easy…

In-person interview: If an employer wants to hire you without meeting you in person or in a video chat, be extremely cautious. Never accept advance payments from anyone without meeting them first and being interviewed.


Contact your bank: if you've received a cheque from someone without having met them first, don't deposit it! Bring it to your bank for review. They will be able to determine its validity and can advise you further on how to proceed.

Contact us: If you suspect someone that has contacted is a scammer, please contact us right away. We takes reports on members very seriously, so we will make your report a priority. The online security of all of our members is very important to us.

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