Looking for a job? Never pay to get one.

You got the job! Work from home and earn top dollar. They already sent you a big check to buy supplies. (“Send us whatever is left, probably around $1,000,” they said.) If your alarm bells are clanging — great. This dream job has earmarks of a job scam.

Last year, tens of thousands of people reported business and job opportunity scams to the FTC, making them one of the Top 10 frauds reported to the FTC in 2022.

The scams show up as offers to help you start your own business or earn big bucks working from home. Some are pyramid schemes in which promoters claim you can make good money by selling their products, but your earnings really depend on you recruiting new participants. Other scams are fake job listings or employment services aimed at tricking you into handing over your money and personal information.

In 2022, people told the FTC they lost $367 million to business and job opportunity scams, a nearly 76% increase from 2021. What’s more, the median loss was a whopping $2,000. Compare that to the $650 median loss for all fraud types combined in 2022.

There’s no sure-fire way to detect business or job opportunity scams, but these steps can help you decide whether an opportunity is the real deal or a scheme to get your money and personal information:

  • Do your own research. Don’t accept any job offer until you’ve checked it out. Scammers pretend to be both well-known and smaller companies, posting jobs on employment websites. So, reach out to the company directly using contact information you know is legit.
  • Never bank on a “cleared” check. No honest employer will ever send you a check and then tell you to buy supplies, gift cards, or something else and send back whatever money is left. That’s a fake check scam. The check will bounce, and the bank will want you to repay the amount of the fake check.

Read the full article at the Federal Trade Commission.

See More

Related Posts

Matt Williams in a suit
Topics

Country Bank Welcomes Matthew Williams as a Vice President to its Business Banking Team in Worcester

Country Bank, a leading financial institution serving Central and Western Massachusetts, is pleased to announce the addition of Matthew Williams […]

Read More
Meet the team dedicated to your success image showing the following board members: Eidaliz Figueroa, Kelly Mulvey, Nathan Bourgeois, and Kristie Grady
Topics

Country Bank opens new Worcester Location

Country Bank, a full-service financial institution serving Central and Western Massachusetts, is pleased to announce the opening of its fourth […]

Read More
Celebrating National Small Business Week from Apr 18th - May 4th, 2024
Topics

Country Bank Celebrates Small Business Week 2024 in Local Community

In the spirit of Small Business Week, Country Bank proudly salutes the backbone of our communities – small businesses. Our […]

Read More

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Location pin icon

Locations

Experience the difference of exceptional service when you stop by a local banking center.

FIND LOCATIONS
Icon of a woman with a question mark inside a chat bubble.

FAQs

Elevate your understanding with answers to our most common questions.

GET ANSWERS
Telephone icon

Contact Us

Connect with your local banker by giving us a call or sending an email.

GET IN TOUCH