The Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Mainland BC and Yukon is reminding those applying for jobs to remain cautious about quick job offers and work-from-home gigs that require little to no experience.
Employment scams rang in as the fifth riskiest scam in 2022, according to the BBB Canadian Risk Report.
On average, one out of eight people who encountered the scam ended up falling for it and becoming a victim (12.5 per cent), with $3,000 in median losses.
Here are BBB's top five tips to avoid employment scams:
Be wary of job offers that don't require an interview. Even during the peak hiring season, reputable companies prefer to talk to top job candidates before hiring them. If a job offer is presented without an interview or meeting you in person, question the company's hiring practices and do a little more digging. If you use a separate email address when applying for jobs, you can avoid fake offers from scam employers you did not contact.
Employers will never ask for upfront payments. Beware of businesses that ask applicants to pay for job supplies, application, or training fees. Be careful if a company promises you great opportunities or a big income under the condition that you pay for coaching, training, certifications or directories. These expenses are the employer's responsibility and asking for money is a big red flag that something is wrong.
Government agencies post all jobs publicly and freely. Government jobs never charge for information about jobs or applications for jobs. You can go on the Government of BC or Government of Canada websites directly to see job openings for yourself instead of a third-party job listing website. Be wary of any offer to give you special access or guarantee you a job for a fee – if you are paying for the promise of a job, it’s probably a scam.
Never deposit unexpected or fishy checks. Be cautious sharing any kind of personal information (including your banking and credit cards) or accepting any kind of prepayment. Similarly, don’t fall for an over-payment scam. No legitimate job would ever overpay an employee and ask for money to be wired elsewhere.
Be cautious about the information you share in a resume or job application. Online applications usually won’t ask you for your birthday, banking information, or proof of address until they actually offer you the job. According to Service Canada, you are not required by law to provide your SIN before you are hired. If you’re ever feeling unsure about the amount of information an application is asking you for, consider it a red flag and research the employer name and the word “scam” to see if there are any reports involving job scams. Look for the Sign of a Better Business by watching for the BBB seal or by searching on BBB.org for a reputable employer you can trust.
