Identifying Fraudulent Postings

Unfortunately today’s digital age has led to an increasing number of fraudulent job postings. These scams can put your identity and sensitive information at risk. Here are some tips to help keep you safe as you navigate the job/internship search process:

  • Lookout for red flags: Take caution of postings with several typos & grammatical errors or high salary promises. These are common red flags for online job scams, some additional red flags include:
    • The email domain does not match the company’s official domain (e.x.: @smumn.edu is our official domain)
    • The job description is vague
    • The website only has information about the specific role
    • They ask you to send a payment for the job (such as for equipment)
  • Be cautious of providing personal information: Employers usually do not require information like Social Security numbers, credit card information, or other financial details during the early stages of the hiring process.
  • Research the company: Before you submit an application, research the company’s website and take a look at online reviews to ensure it is legitimate. Note, they could be using a well known company name & image. Do not select links of the posting you are suspicious of, but rather look for the official site.
  • Listen to your gut: If something seems too good to be true (ex. job offers that seem to appear out of nowhere ) or makes you feel wary, trust your instincts and avoid it.

If you are suspicious of a posting in Handshake, please contact us at careerservices@smumn.edu

Are “Ghost Jobs” the same thing?

No, a ghost job is created by a legitimate company, however there is no current intent to hire from the posting. Companies use these to gauge interest in roles, and to build up potential hiring pools. While these do not pose a threat like job scams, they are still something to be aware of to help you save time in your application efforts. A few things to lookout for include:

  • Listings have been posted for months: While some postings that have been sitting may still be actively looking for candidates, many could be ghost jobs
  • Vague job descriptions: Instead of focusing on details about the position, it may list generic tasks and broad terms
  • No clear contact: Often job descriptions will include a recruiter contact, or a general office email to contact with questions. If there is no contact, or if you never hear back there is a chance the position could be fake.