As you navigate the job market looking for internships, co-ops, or full-time roles, it is vital to stay vigilant. Online scammers frequently pose as legitimate employers in order to defraud students. These scams can be incredibly difficult to identify, but keeping a few key safety practices in mind will help keep your search secure.
At Michigan Tech Career Services, your professional safety is our top priority. Use this guide to recognize the red flags, protect your data, and safeguard your job search.
1. Recognize the Red Flags: When an Offer is “Too Good to Be True”
Employment scams often prey on a student’s need for flexible, high-paying work. Understanding the anatomy of a scam is your first line of defense.
- The Financial Hook: A legitimate employer will never ask you to pay money upfront, process financial transactions, or purchase equipment with the promise of reimbursement. Watch out for “check-cashing” or “task” scams, where an employer sends you a large check, asks you to deposit it, and requests that you wire or transfer a portion back (via Venmo, cryptocurrency, or gift cards). Once the bank discovers the scammer’s check is fraudulent, you will be held legally and financially responsible for those missing funds.
- Over-Urgency and Minimal Vetting: Be wary of recruiters who extend an immediate job offer without a formal interview or background check. Scammers often use language that creates a false sense of urgency (“Immediate start,” “Reply within 24 hours”) to bypass your critical thinking.
- Vague Roles with Sky-High Pay: If a posting promises $500 a week for minimal, unstructured remote work—such as a “virtual assistant” or “data entry clerk”—but completely neglects to mention core job responsibilities, proceed with extreme caution.
- Text and Chat-Only Hiring: Legitimate organizations require thorough vetting. If the entire interview and hiring process takes place solely via text message, WhatsApp, Telegram, or Google Hangouts, refuse to move forward until you can secure a video or in-person interview.