*SIX RED FLAGS THAT SUGGEST A POTENTIAL JOB SCAM* 1. *Emails from a free account* Be wary of recruiters using free web e-mail accounts from services like Gmail or Hotmail as opposed to using a business email address to contact you. There may also be tell-tale signs within the email itself, too. While some scammers may send out well-written emails, many will seem unprofessional. If the email contains excessive spelling or punctuation mistakes, incorrect capitalisation, or poor grammar, it could be from a fake recruiter. It's also important to consider attachments sent in emails. If you are unsure about the legitimacy of the file, use a virus scanner before opening it. Some scammers may send attachments that contain viruses designed to corrupt your device and extract personal information. 2. *Asking for money or unnecessary personal information before submitting your application* While discussing job opportunities, you should not be asked for payment. Some scammers might ask you to set up a new bank account and give them the details or send you to a website and fill out a credit report form. In these instances, the scammer might say that they need your personal details to put you onto the company insurance. Genuine recruiters may ask for your contact details, an up-to-date resume , references, and salary expectations. However, they should always be open and honest about why they need this information. They should never ask you to transfer money before starting the recruitment process. You should never give out your full Social Security Number, bank account details or credit card information before successfully securing a new position and starting the onboarding process. If a “recruiter” asks you to fill out a form, always check that the website they send you to is secure. You can do this by looking at the web address bar. If the URL begins with HTTP://, then it isn't secure; only HTTPS:// sites are secure. 3. *Recruiters being evasive when asked about the job in question* Real recruiters should always be knowledgeable about the job they're recommending. If they seem vague, skirt around questions regarding the hiring process, or gloss over the finer details - this should set off alarm bells. If the recruiter avoids addressing your questions adequately, it's a clear indication that their identity may be fabricated, and this raises doubts about their legitimacy. However, it's important to note that there are instances where legitimate recruiters have confidential positions and are unable to reveal the client's name. Nevertheless, they should still possess industry knowledge and be able to provide as much information as possible about the role. 4. *Fake job offers that sound too good to be true* Job posting scams typically make their job offers as appealing as possible to entice people to share information. Be on your guard if they present a job opportunity that seems too good to be true. Whilst most job descriptions highlight the benefits of a role, fake descriptions may have an abnormally long list. They may also say ‘no experience necessary' and have shorter hours than expected of the role in question. 5. *Instantly offering a high salary* Similar to the point above, fake job offers tend to include unrealistically high salaries. For example, a starting salary that is 50-100% above the average salary market rate is unlikely to be real. If the salary offered seems at odds with the role, it’s worth questioning whether the job is part of a scam. 6. *Offering you the job without an interview* Some scammers may even offer you the job without putting you through an interview process. Some will go further and have an interview with you on the phone, but will only cover basic questions about your previous job experience. Another tactic scammers use is to invite you to an online job interview using an unfamiliar or insecure messaging service. Scammers can obtain your details by asking you to set up an account on the online chat platform. It is recommended that you research any software or websites you are invited to sign up to. Part of a genuine recruiter's job is to spend time ensuring you're the right fit for the company that's hiring. If they offer you the role without even putting you through a job interview process, chances are it's a scam.