How to Spot Holiday Job Scams

The holiday season is finally here, and that means extra shopping and traveling expenses for many. Many turn to holiday jobs to make a little extra to prepare for this. Unfortunately, the holiday season also means an influx of scams, including the focus of today’s article: the holiday job scam. We’re going to show you how to spot these and stay safe this holiday.

What Does the Holiday Job Scam Entail?

While holiday job scams may vary somewhat in form and content, the basic structure and end goal are roughly the same. Here’s what usually occurs:

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The scammer posts a seasonal job listing on a legitimate job site, such as LinkedIn and Indeed.
Applicants will be accepted quickly and then asked to take the hiring process off the site and into a messaging app or email correspondence.
Once there, the hopeful applicant will usually be required to submit personal information, such as their Social Security number, banking details, and photographs, to be considered.
With the information obtained, the scammers disappear with the personal information.

The end goal of the holiday job scam is identity theft, taking the victim’s personal and financial information to abuse later. Some scammers will also seek money, asking for fees for necessary “processes” before the victim’s application can be considered, such as credit checks or training materials.

What Jobs Are Vulnerable to This Fraud?

Seasonal jobs are usually part-time and temporary, assisting in retail and delivery to accommodate the extra demands of the season without the long-term commitment. This means that job listings for freelancing or temporary positions during this time should be applied for carefully. These include:

Any form of delivery or packing work
Remote work and support positions
Work in retail or sales

Early Warning Signs

When looking for a seasonal job, it can be hard to spot a scam amidst other legitimate job postings. Still, there are a few red flags you can keep an eye out for:

Overpromising – If the rate sounds too good for the amount of work required, then it probably is. Beware of promises of generous payouts that don’t align with the industry standard.
Content – Take a look at the job post itself. How’s the grammar and spelling? Is the post itself fuzzy on the details? Does everything sound like it was written by AI? Any of these should make you suspicious.
Unsolicited offers – Often, these postings will be on job boards, but if you receive one via email, messaging app, or social media, especially with time pressure applied, it’s most likely a scam.

Staying Safe

The holiday job scam targets people’s needs. After a rough financial year, many are eager to make a little extra for an expensive season. Scammers leverage this in different ways:

They respond to applicants quickly, then withhold the job until they have the information or money they want.
They apply high-pressure tactics (usually time-based) to take advantage of a victim’s desperation over their rationality.
They manipulate victims into leaving official communication channels and job boards to better exploit them.

Because of this, staying safe involves using patience and common sense, which can be daunting at this time of year. Here are some ways you can guard against this scam:

Research the company that’s offering the job. Look for an online presence, reviews, and websites. Do they have a social media footprint? For bigger companies, try to see if the job is listed on the main website to avoid phishing and spoofing.
Only give out personal information once you’re absolutely sure the job is genuine.
Never pay for a job during the application. Any requests for payment up front to secure a position are almost always fraudulent.
Beware of companies that don’t insist on an interview or check qualifications. If interviewed, be sure to ask difficult and complex questions about the job to ensure it’s genuine. Insist on specifics and as much detail as possible. Vagueness often hides a scam.
Share the posting with a friend or ask someone you trust how they feel about the job.

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