Common Red Flags to Watch For:
- Verify Unsolicited offers – If you didn’t apply or express interest, verify that the individual who reached out to you is a representative of the company.
- Suspicious email addresses – Be cautious of emails from Gmail accounts or those with random numbers or hyphens.
- Mismatched identities – Verify that the person contacting you is affiliated with the company (e.g., check LinkedIn; company’s website).
- Hiring via text, social media, or email only – Reputable companies conduct interviews through formal channels (Teams/Zoom) or in person.
- Requests for personal information – Legitimate employers will not ask for sensitive data early in the process.
- Checks sent for you to cash – This is a common scam tactic. Never deposit or cash checks on behalf of a company.
- Requests to pre-purchase materials – Legitimate employers will not ask you to pre-purchase materials or equipment for your role.
- Unrealistic pay or benefits – Offers that seem too good to be true usually are.