How To Know If A Job Offer Is A Scam? Here Are The Warning Signs!

The nature of the working world is not without its triumphs and trials. For instance, the pace itself is exponentially fast on its own and opportunities are now made more accessible. Thanks to modern technology and the hybrid workspace, anyone can get a job from any corner of the world. But as always, the shorter end of this optimistic stick exists fraudulent jobs – or in other terms, job scams.

So what are job scams? These refer to employment frauds, wherein scammers pose as employers providing false hope to professionals seeking opportunities. They do this through fake advertisements, the medium of which varies. 

“How to know if a job offer is a scam?” You may ask, flicking through the different listings on the website. It is a challenge in itself, sad to say. In fact, The Philippine Star recently reported about eight Filipinos roped in a cryptocurrency job scam in Cambodia. This was only a secondary incident to a larger-scale operation that victimized 12 Filipinos who have since been repatriated back to the country.

Why is this so? Our Future of Recruitment report shares that this is due to the high demand in the Philippine job market. According to the report, 87% of Filipinos are approached multiple times a year with 13% rarely or never. Globally, this means that our job market is more active than its other counterparts around the world. Aside from that, 70% of professionals believe in their negotiating power as a whole. 

Also read: 15 Important Questions Hirers Ask During a Background Check For Employment

Why do we fall for job hunting scams

Why are we still subject to job scams? Here are three of the most common reasons why.

1. There is a desperation for employment

Even if there is a rampant demand for jobs around the country (and even around the world), there still lies a crowd that is actively and even desperately seeking greener pastures somewhere. Manila Bulletin reports good numbers for the unemployment rate, which is at 4.3% versus 6.6% (2022 vs 2021). But even then, the opportunities for jobs still fall below standard. Because of this, professionals turn to anything to find a job.

2. The offer looks promising and generous

If there is desperation, there is a likely chance that a flash-in-the-pan offer is what will get a professional to say yes. You may be familiar with those spam ads on your computer that have the flashing dollar sign and cash. But today’s ads mirror that of their real counterparts, down to the font choice and company colors.

The ad looks legitimate, the offer can pay off certain debts, and the employer sounds real. And that, for some, is already enough – not knowing that they could meet a very solid dead end. 

3. The job came by referral of a friend

Have you ever heard of those pyramid schemes? These refer to investment schemes where each participating professional ropes in two or more people to join in. “Open minded ka ba? (Are you open-minded?)” is the usual question that opens you up to this world. But it is even more difficult if the job came through a friend’s referral. 

This is not to say that you should not trust friends or those close to your heart – but sometimes, they too could be the victims themselves and pass the referral to you without knowing. 

Job offer scams format: 5 to look out for

Now that you know some of the more common ways you can fall for them, we identify five common red flags you can spot. In this case, we use our JobStreet platform. As your talent partner, we are your primary caretaker to ensure that your job search experience is one filled with integrity and safety. 

Let us take a look at how you can identify what a scam is versus the truth using our platform. 

1. Always look for the blue tick

Since most opportunities come through online platforms, the one verifying quality about legitimate companies is the blue checkmark beside their username. Usually found on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, verified companies usually bear this. 

In our case, JobStreet also shares the said checkmark so you know that the job offers that come from here are legitimate. But what about the companies that register on here that may be playing you more than seeking you out? 

2. Check the page name closely

Like spotting a Class A fake luxury item, the difference between telling what is real or not is in the details. In this case, we look at the company name. Most professionals usually fall for the mirroring technique – where false perpetrators mimic the logo, the font, and even the name of a legitimate company. 

Make sure you look closely at the page name and know how real companies spell their names. Catch details on capitalization, spacing of letters, and even special characters. JobStreet, for instance, capitalizes the “S” in street. 

3. Is the listing correct?

This is another example of looking into the details. You must watch out for the “Listing,” or what category the company falls in. For example, GMA News will have their listing as a media company, UnionBank as a financial institution, and JobStreet’s is “company.” This is usually found on their social media pages and can help you identify the real from the not. 

This is a tricky detail, in retrospect, because some companies like to list unrelated listings for fun on their pages. But this can be helpful especially if you are trying to find out what is real or not, especially for more traditional employers. 

4. What kind of content is the company posting?

Social media is part of a company’s reputation management program. Reputation management refers to an employer’s way of ensuring public perception of their company is always positive and good. In order to spot a real and a fake company, check the content they are posting. 

Real companies have a content plan going on, and usually post relating to what their company serves or believes in. Posers usually have low quality pictures grabbed from the original company’s page, or if not – they have spam posts in between “real” content. 

JobStreet usually posts content about career advice, journeys, and announcements for job fairs, among others. 

5. There are no fees

The biggest clue that can help you spot a fake once and for all? If the “employer” soliciting you is asking for fees. Real companies usually do not ask for a solicitation fee when seeking you out. Unless you are a headhunter or an agency, you are supposed to get these opportunities for free. 

Fake employers, on the other hand, will ask for fees to secure your place and will even rush you to pay right away to avoid losing your spot. JobStreet, like other real employers, does not ask for any extra fees when talking about a job opportunity. 

Update your profile then #SEEKBetter jobs on our website or download the JobStreet app on the App Store or Google Play.