Job-seekers: Beware these common scams

By Diane Stafford McClatchy Newspapers

In depressed job markets, some people inevitably try to profit at the expense of desperate job hunters, who vastly outnumber openings. Remember this mantra: If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Common scams

-- “Headhunters” charge for access to a “hidden job market.”

-- Web pages charge searchers to see “top-dollar” job opportunities.

-- Scam artists present job offers that are actually attempts to steal your identity.

-- Work-at-home and pyramid businesses will try to lure you.

-- Overseas scam operators e-mail people with offers to be their U.S. financial agents.

Keys to avoid being a victim

-- Do not click on suspicious links from “headhunters.”

-- Check the veracity of a company before responding to offers. Don’t respond directly to the e-mail address or Web page. Research first.

-- Try to find evidence of the company’s existence. Do an online search, get help from reference librarians, check the Better Business Bureau and the state attorney general’s office, or look for news articles.

-- Never fall for a pitch that asks for your Social Security number or bank information.

-- Some work-from-home companies are legitimate. If you’re sure you’ve found one, ask to speak with current employees and read online employee chat boards. Most legitimate work-from-home employers will help out.

-- Don’t get sucked in by big-income promises. Those often rely on getting others to buy into the sales system.

-- When you post your resume on job boards, reduce the risk of private information falling into evil hands. Use a separate e-mail address solely for job-hunting efforts.