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The May long weekend is usually a marker for students to start job hunting. Many hope to secure employment as early as possible to maximize their earnings over the three-month summer break. However, with employment scams being among the riskiest across Canada, Better Business Bureau (BBB) is urging job-seeking students to look for fake job postings.
The BBB's Canadian Scam Tracker Risk Report identified that students and individuals ages 25-34 were the most susceptible and likely to be victimized by employment scams. Surprisingly, 65% of reported employment scams were related to becoming a “warehouse redistribution coordinator” or some similar title involving the reshipment of packages, some of which involve stolen goods. Scammers often impersonated well-known retailers, like Amazon and Walmart, to appear legitimate.
“More than half of employment scam victims were seeking work-from-home opportunities,” explained Karla Laird, Senior Manager for Media & Communications at BBB Serving Mainland BC. “As students search for flexible employment options, they need to keep in mind that not all the jobs being posted are legitimate, and remember to verify details before submitting resumes with all their personal information. Employment scams don’t just affect those who lose money. For every employment scam victim who lost money last year, at least one other worked without pay, and yet another lost personal information that could lead to identity theft.”
To avoid employment scams targeting students looking for summertime employment, BBB is sharing the following tips:
- Some positions are more likely to be scams. Be wary of package reshipment, secret shopper positions, and any jobs with generic titles such as caregiver, administrative assistant, or customer service representative. Positions that do not require special training or knowledge appeal to a wide range of applicants, which scammers use to cast a wider net for potential victims. If the job posting is for a well-known company, check the company’s website to see if the position is legitimate. If the posting can be found in multiple cities with the same wording, it may be a scam. Jobs that advertise themselves as “high pay and flexible schedules” are extremely appealing to students searching for summer jobs, a fact that scammers actively use to their advantage. Be cautious of postings that use this type of language.
- Be wary of aggressive employment offers. Pressure from the employer to onboard immediately may be a red flag. Choosing a place to work is an important decision that requires time for consideration. Be especially wary if the position is offered without an interview or promises a large income when the employee pays for coaching, training, equipment, or certifications.
- Do not deposit unexpected or suspicious cheques. Be cautious with your Social Insurance Number and banking information. Also, watch out for signs of an overpayment scam. Legitimate companies will not overpay an employee and ask for compensation by requiring money to be wired elsewhere.
- Get contracts in writing. Employee requirements, qualifications, job duties, remuneration, and the duration of employment should all be in writing.
For more information
To report a scam, go to BBB Scam Tracker. Subscribe to weekly BBB Scam Alerts.
To learn how to protect yourself, go to “10 Steps to Avoid Scams.”