Job and Internship Scams

Beware of Scams:

Many of you are in the midst of job and internship searches, using tools like LinkedIn, Indeed, your personal and Whitman networks, and, yes, even Craigslist to find that opportunity to build your experience and build your bank account. Please be cautious and use a critical eye when those opportunities come your way. Sometimes, these advertisements and messages are intended to steal your personal information or money, so it’s important to proceed cautiously. We had a circumstance in the Career and Community Engagement Center (CCEC) just this week in which a student was likely exploited by scammers posing with what looked like an excellent (and exciting!) job offer.

Please read below and use caution when moving through the selection process and surveying offers. If something feels suspicious, contact the CCEC right away so we can help you recognize and understand what you are being offered.

1. Research any employer that you see with a posting on a job board or that contacts you directly through LinkedIn, Handshake, email or text.
   • Look at their online presence, web and socials. Do they provide a verifiable physical address and phone number? Are the people listed on their website searchable via other means? Do they have a Careers or clear human resources site that depicts their hiring processes and job postings?
   • Look at information about the company on sites like Glassdoor.com and LinkedIn. How much and what kind of content is posted there? Can you find profiles for employees of the company/organization? If it’s a US-based company, is their business registered with the Secretary of State for the state of their headquarter offices?
   • Run a Google search like “[company name] job scam” or “[organization name] reviews” to see if anything has been posted that depicts a scam situation.
2. Expect professional communication from any employer offering a legitimate job or internship.
   • Most legitimate employers won’t simply text you from their phone with offers, interview links, etc. There should be a traceable exchange of information between you and the employer via email or a trusted social media platform like LinkedIn where you can verify the contact’s identity and have a permanent record of the communication in both directions.
   • Legitimate employers will also use well-known, well-reputed platforms for any online interviews or information exchange. If you are being asked to install software for any part of the interview or offer process, it is a good idea to ask them to use a more familiar platform.
   • Typos, grammar errors, emails from Gmail or other personal accounts, and social media accounts with little-to-no followers or recently-created sites should all send warning flags for you to do more digging.
3. Get the details before you give any details.
   • Scammers attempting to access your personal information will ask for that early in the process—that could be proof of residence or financial information (think social security number, bank account information, a voided check)—and that request will often be disguised as legitimate data collection related to your offer. Don't share anything until you have a detailed job offer with salary and benefit information and firm start date in writing. That is the point at which you have a bonafide job offer and should begin to share information.
   • If you are contacted by a third party about the job offer, do not share banking or sensitive residence information with them. The employer will be responsible for collecting any tax, banking or residency documentation.
4. If it’s too good to be true, it likely is. Job offers with salaries well beyond what the job market pays (check salary.com for details), or unspecified compensation structures are often a sign that you may be exploited—either to work for low wages with the hope of a higher pay that never realizes, or as part of a broader scam to collect your information. Use your well-honed Whitman critical thinking skills to consider whether what you’re being offered makes sense in the greater context.

If you have been the victim of a job scam (or even if you’re concerned you might be), here are some steps to take right away.

1. If you’ve shared personal financial information, contact your bank or credit card company immediately. Tell them what happened and how you presented your information. They will help you protect and change your information the right way to protect your funds.
2. Block communication with the person you’re in contact with and end the communication.
3. Consider signing up for identity fraud and credit alerts so you are notified as soon as someone uses your information to apply for credit with your name and information.
4. Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission to initiate a record and investigation into the fraud.