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.
2. Guard Your Digital Identity: Email & Portal Security
Scammers frequently isolate victims by pulling them away from secure university environments and technical tracking.
- Check the Email Domain: Always verify the sender’s email handle. If someone claims to be an HR representative from a major corporation or a faculty member at our university, but they are emailing you from a generic domain like @gmail.com, @yahoo.com, or @live.com, it is highly likely a scam.
- Beware of Faculty Impersonation: Scammers occasionally spoof or impersonate a well-known campus figure (like a dean or a department head) using an unsolicited email to offer an exclusive “research assistant” or “clerical” role. Always check the official Michigan Tech Campus Directory to confirm if the sender’s actual email matches the one in your inbox.
- Credential Theft: Never click on links in unsolicited emails that require you to log into a shared document or an external portal using your Michigan Tech credentials. This is a direct attempt at phishing to steal your identity and access your student account.
3. Do Your Homework: Cross-Reference and Verify
When in doubt, stop and research. Taking five minutes to cross-examine an employer can save you from a major financial or digital headache.
- Look up the Official Careers Page: If you find an enticing job opening on a third-party job board or platform, open a new browser tab and navigate directly to that organization’s official corporate website. If the position isn’t listed on their public “Careers” or “Jobs” page, the posting you found is likely a fake.
- Search for Scams: Google the company’s name alongside terms like “scam,” “complaint,” or “review.” Platforms like Handshake, Glassdoor, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Dun & Bradstreet, and Ripoff Report are excellent resources for spotting historical complaints and recurring fraudulent behavior.
- Investigate Contact Information: Map the physical address provided by the employer or lookup their corporate phone number. If it leads to a residential home or shows no connection to an actual operating business, flag it.
4. What to Do If You Encounter a Scam
Your vigilance doesn’t just protect you—it protects our entire Husky community. If you spot a fraudulent job or have been targeted, take immediate action:
- Report on Handshake: If the listing is hosted on Handshake, click the three-dot options menu next to the “Apply” button and select “Flag or report employer.” This alerts Handshake’s safety team to launch an official investigation.
- Alert Campus IT & Security: Forward any suspicious emails, phishing attempts, or fake job offers directly to Michigan Tech IT Support at it-help@mtu.edu so they can block the sender campus-wide.
- Contact Career Services: Remember, you do not have to figure this out alone! If an interaction feels uncomfortable, or if you aren’t completely sure whether an organization or job offer is legitimate, reach out to Career Services immediately at career@mtu.edu or 906-487-2313. Swing by our office or reach out online—we are always here to help you navigate your career safely.