When I graduated and started looking for work, I was immediately hit upon by two scammers in three months. I don’t know whether it is because of how young I look or just bad luck that brought this misfortune to me. Whatever it is, it is frustrating for an individual looking for work in their degree. It doesn’t help that I am a physicist with expertise in high-energy astronomy, which means jobs are few if you are not a Ph.D.
It isn’t that I didn’t want to go to graduate school later in life. I have tried. At the university I had applied for and later attended for a secondary degree, a professor informed me from the astronomy department that it had been many years since the school had accepted someone from the physics department. Joy. So, I started working a small part-time job at Picture Rocks Observatory, where I got to do the two things I loved: getting time at the observatory dome at Ft. Davis and managing the social media & website. I love the job, but with family to take care of, it required me to search for a job once more.
Job searching of hell and frustration!
I am a very skilled individual.
Not boasting because it is true. I can pick up topics and talents many can’t. My line of studies is partially halted in biology and chemistry. That is my younger sister’s awesome epic expertise, so I will always go to her if I need to know something in that industry. My brain can only handle some much. I do need some space to keep my social cues up-to-date.
Recently, I have been applying for several reasons: better pay, I love managing social media/marketing, the need to care for my folks, and getting them closer to their grandchildren from my other siblings, which requires …
Thanks to our current administration in the United States (cough cough Biden), the housing prices are HIGH! The rules and formulas give little for people to pre-qualify for buying a decent house. Sure, the housing prices are dropping slightly… but just slightly, and not enough.
Here is where the problems start -
The scamming and dealing with it is back again!
I have had fake online interview questions from a company that seems not to exist. Surprisingly, they have a website, LinkedIn account, and social media sites that have not been updated recently. Of course, I quickly reported this fake-ness/scam to the place that posted their hiring inquiry. To my shock, the company published they were being scammed, and someone was using their name. Whoever is in charge of this made a BIG mistake. When they sent the questionnaire, it was under the company’s email address.
Then, for a second time, not that long, for a job in Houston, TX, a supposed marketing company is looking for a marketing assistant job. At first, I was excited about getting a text from them that they would do an in-person interview. After texting them that I was ready for it and there was a time and place set, I returned to my emails where I ALWAYS SAVE THE JOBS I APPLY FOR. The company name did not come up. The position, though, did…but under another company name.
RED FLAG!
That led me to find a forum on Reddit with the address given and how many others before me were being scammed. They even received an almost exact text that I did with a different company name!
The company name that was used for me was Direct Marketing Development. (This link may or may not work later in the future.)
Now, there isn’t much a person can do, but it is surprising the length an individual will go through to con a person. Seriously, why the hell rent space in a building?! Why get people’s hope up to only smash it into millions of pieces and waste their time?!
What will our government do about it? Nothing.
Why? I believe it is because they rather deal with cases deemed important to our politicians' pocket (not all of them).
Why does our media not do anything? Well, I guess the issues of those looking for a job matter little to them.
So, here I am, letting the news out for people to not go to a certain location and beware of certain aspects a scammer will use to get your information.
SCAMMING RED FLAGS TO WATCH FOR, or be cautious!
If a check is sent to your house - DO NOT CASH IT!
This is very common to scammers.
They will promise a nice job in a start-up company looking to set up its roots. If y’all have not noticed, when we apply for a job, we have our home address on top of the resume. It is like a flashing light to those we are inquiring to that we are in the city and ready to do things, prepared to work like a boss.
After many years of looking for clients and work, most jobs do not hire out of city or state unless you know someone or have an excellent network system. I can’t blame them because when I start my own company, I will probably do the same.
Is it fair, though…..? HELL NO.
Understandable?
Back to the work …
This job might sound sweet. It mentions being flexible. What comes next, though, is a check in your mailbox to buy the equipment and use it to rent some space.
They want you to put it in your bank account so they may use it to access said account. So… take a pic or scan the check and follow this process from the Federal Trade Commission. It will not do much, but it will cover you if the person who sent it wants to make you some scapegoat.
Look for the company online -
Thanks to technology, data privacy rules, etc., you should be able to google (or another search engine) for the company. Yet, even if it is online or has social media accounts, DOESN’T MEAN IT IS REAL! Also, it doesn’t mean it is fake. There is another step you can take that I will show you below. BUT…IF IT IS NOT ONLINE, NO REVIEWS, OR LITTLE INFO, it is probably fake.
IF IT IS ONLINE … check how old the site is. You can do this by googling the website and by clicking on the three dots next to the link, it will give you information about when the site was created.
If it is a few months old or less, be VERY WARY. A year - SLIGHTLY WARY. A bit more, you are good but check for reviews and social media. If they have many of either, the chances of it being fake are very low.
Call or email the company -
Call or email the company you are interested in if you can’t find any to little information on it. Also, check the number online to see if any scam info may pop out. Then, in the end, if you feel something is off, trust your gut.
If your identification or SSN is asked for - DO NOT GIVE IT!
Some jobs will ask for your identification information, depending on the position. Do not do it if it has no purpose to your position and is not part of a government, county, or city (or medical/education) website. I would call the company to double-check if you are unsure.
If a company asks for SSN and it has nothing to do with your background check - DO NOT DO IT AT ALL!
You only need your SSN after you get an offer letter/email (mostly a letter). It is for your contract and to be paid. If it is asked before then, once more -
Well… that is what I have so far. If you have any more experiences I have not written here - message me, and I will update this article with thanks.
Good luck to all, and hopefully, this inflation will end soon.