How To Avoid Scams When Hiring Someone

job interview

Top 3 Scams To Dodge When Looking For Employees

A lot of the time, business owners turn to the internet to hire someone. They can place an ad, see the responses, and even use video messaging to conduct an interview, meaning that everything is quick and convenient.

For those in business, this is precisely what they want – when they need to hire someone, they don’t want a long, drawn-out process that takes far more time than they really have to spare. They need to fill their vacant position and get on with their own work.

scam interview

Because employers are often in a rush when looking for a new employee, it’s easy for them to be caught up in job scams, unfortunately. They may not take the time they need to investigate things thoroughly and look into who people are. They may assume that all is well, and when that happens, they can lose money or even their reputation.

With that in mind, here are 3 tips about how not to get scammed when hiring someone.

1. Phishing Traps

Phishing is one of the most common online scams and one that employers can easily fall foul of. A phishing email aims to obtain sensitive information, such as passwords, PINs, bank details, etc.

If someone replies to a job advertisement or sends a speculative email about a job, you need to make sure that they are not phishing, and you need to make sure they don’t get hold of any of this vital information.

Many people like to use email to communicate in this day and age. They like text. They want anything that means they don’t have to speak to someone face to face, and scammers recognize that fact and play on it. It’s far easier to scam someone through words on a screen than when speaking to them personally.

Therefore, as an employer, always make sure you speak to any potential hire in person or over the phone. A scammer will not want to do that, and they will step away to try their luck elsewhere.

2. Pay Advances

Another scam to look out for when hiring someone is a pay advance. This can take several forms. For example, you might hire someone who asks for part of their salary upfront, as they have been out of work for a while and need to pay off some debts urgently. Or perhaps you hire a subcontractor, and you need to pay a deposit so they can afford the materials they need to use to start your job.

Although some of these situations will be genuine (especially when it comes to paying a deposit), they could also be scams, so you’ll need to proceed with caution.

Contracts are a good start, as they will offer you somewhere to turn if things go wrong, and using the right payroll software means you have a record of your payments.

3. False Advertising

You’ll post a job ad, and someone will reply, sending you a great cover letter and resumé that matches precisely what you’re looking for. As an employee, you jump at the chance to interview and then hire this ideal candidate.

However, once you do, you realize they don’t know anything about what they need to know, and they are detrimental to your business in many ways. The problem is that this could be two or three months down the line, and you will already have paid them.

This is false advertising, and it’s not uncommon; many people bend the truth on their resumés. However, outright lying and causing problems in business are far more problematic.

Therefore, even if a candidate seems ideal, you’ll still need to do background checks and speak to their references at the very least, just in case.

How To Report a Job Scammer

Let your family and friends know about these employment scams by sharing this article on any social media platforms you have handy. You can also officially report scammers and any other suspicious employment activity to the Federal Trade Commission using the link below:

Report To The FTC Here

How To Protect Yourself More

If you want to be the first to find out the most notorious scams on a regular basis, feel free to subscribe to the Scam Detector newsletter here. You'll receive periodic emails – we promise not to spam.

At the same time, educate yourself with some other employment fraud-related articles right under this paragraph. Last but not least, use the comments section below to expose other scammers.

6 Tips To Prevent Small Business Scams

Remote Job Scams


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selma hrynchuk
Selma HrynchukSelma is a fraud prevention specialist renowned for her expertise in private eye investigations and a remarkable partnership with law enforcement agencies. Beyond her investigative triumphs, her public speaking engagements and written works have empowered countless individuals to protect themselves and stay ahead of deceptive schemes. Selma's legacy shines as a tenacious agent of change, unyielding in her commitment to battling fraud and ensuring a safer world for all.

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