Stay Alert: Holiday Job Scams Abound

Burglars, fraudsters, and scammers are especially active this time of year – and not just in the movies. 

While the most vulnerable are at high risk, those looking to make some extra cash or pay bills also need to be aware, particularly when it comes to job listings on social media. 

This article from the FTC offers advice on how to keep your money and personal information safe over the holidays – and beyond. 

Steps include: 

Never give out personal information before doing some research. Contact the company directly using a phone number or email you know to be legitimate — not the one you got from the job posting. 

See what others are saying. Search online for the name of the job and the company plus the words “review,” “complaint,” or “scam.” You might find they’ve scammed other people. 

Don’t pay to get a job. Scammers may promise you a job if you pay them. But no legitimate job will make you pay for expenses or fees for training or anything else to get the job. Anyone who does is a scammer. 

Talk to someone you trust before you take a job offer or business opportunity. What do they think? 

If this information could be useful to those in your community, feel free to share it in a newsletter or on your social media pages.