6 Tips to Spot Job Scams on Craigslist
At 87 percent, Baby Boomers reported job boards as the first resource they turn to when job searching. Gen X was next with 82 percent followed by Gen Y at 77 percent. The second most popular resource was company websites and the third was classified ads. Ranking in the top three of any category is pretty significant. Job boards and company websites are a no brainer, but who knew classifieds were still popular?
Most classified ads appear in newspapers, magazines, and today, on Craigslist. The site has become an increasingly popular place for both employers and job seekers. It’s free to post and view ads; no membership fees are required; and multiple new jobs are listed each day: What more could you ask for?
Yet, with good inevitably comes bad. Below are just six of the many scams to watch out for when cruising Craigslist for jobs.
1. Multiple misspellings and/or grammatical errors
No one is perfect, not even recruiters. Every now and then a misspelled word or grammatical error may appear in a job posting, but take note of numerous errors. This can be a sign of 1) someone simply posting a fake ad for fun or 2) a listing from an illegitimate company.
2. No company name
Always be weary if an ad does not have a company’s or individual’s name listed. You should always know who or what you’re applying for/responding to.
3. No location specified
Craigslist is setup to browse listings by city. This does not mean each job listing is directly inside the city you’re searching in. If a job ad doesn’t specify the location of a position (or that it’s remote or telecommuting) be cautious. Every employer knows potential candidates must know and understand where a position is located and employers will ensure this information is present and clear.
4. Ads from foreign companies looking for US employees for accounts receivable/payable
We’ve all received those emails in our spam folders saying “congratulations, you just won X amount of dollars and from a foreign country.” Just email the sender back to claim your prize. Most of us think, yeah sure. Well, keep that skepticism in mind when you come across any job ad where the company is foreign and specifically wants US employees. Most of these that seek people to handle accounts payable/receivable tasks will end up asking that you contribute a certain amount of money to get started or ask for your personal information, which can lead to identity theft.
5. Jobs offering salaries that are not commensurate with experience level
Any ad promising high compensation for entry-level or “no experience necessary” positions is a red flag. Also, beware of ads for any experience level offering salaries (especially starting) that do not align with the average salaries for positions in that state or industry. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
6. Vague job descriptions
Lack of detail says a lot. If after reading an ad’s duties or responsibilities, you’re left thinking “So what does the position do?” you may want to stop your search there. Listings should be clear and complete providing the applicant with all the details he or she will need to understand what the role entails. Any “call for details” type of ads should be avoided.