Online Job Hunting

Each job site is governed differently. To keep your information safe, you need to know before you use a site how your information will be used, tracked, and whether there will be a charge.

Check the site’s privacy policy.

The privacy policy is a legal document that explains how the personal data you enter will be used and distributed. If there is no privacy policy, don’t use the site.

Don't pay unless you need to.

Most job sites offer free listings. Make sure you are clear about any charges. For example, will you be required to pay for listings in advance, only when you have selected a listing, when you have obtained a job, or not at all?

Read the fine print.

Never give out your credit card information until you have read all the fine print and agree with the terms and conditions.

Online Scams

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Beware of fake job opportunities and pyramid schemes. A pyramid scheme is when you’re promised money or services based on the number of people you enroll. Many of these schemes can be identified by wording such as “earn thousands of dollars working from your own living room.” Be suspicious of any of the following tactics:

• Postings that boast a terrific “career opportunity” but ask for your personal information first so a “background check” can be conducted
• Positions that offer a wide salary range (e.g., “$12–$39/hour”)
• Positions with vague descriptions or multiple misspellings and sentences that don’t make sense
• Postings with links that lead to nonrelated sites

Con artists can be very convincing and may use company letterhead and corporate logos to deceive you. Payment-transfer scams or payment-forwarding scams are becoming more common. With these, a fake employer will request bank account information. The fake employer will then transfer funds into your account and instruct you to transfer money into another account for “account verification.” By participating in these scams, you can be charged with theft and wire fraud.

• Never give out your bank account, PayPal account, or credit card information online.
• Don’t give out your social security number or driver’s license number online. The information can be used to steal your identity.
• Potential employers will never ask for money. Don’t submit any payments.