Given the rising number of job scams in recent months, JobStreet Malaysia is advising jobseekers to ‘keep their guard up’ and to try spot differences between a job scam and a legitimate job ad.
“Online fraud is a real threat, and, unfortunately, quite a few Malaysians have fallen victim to these scams,” said its Operations Director Ashwin Jeyapalasingam.
“Given the rising costs of living, it’s understandable that more people are looking for opportunities to supplement their income. One of the consequences of the demand for jobs is that there have also been increased opportunities for fraud.
“As job recruitment scams grow prevalent on the internet, being able to tell the difference between a genuine position opening and a scam can mean the difference between losing money and earning money.”
Some tell-tale signs of job scams are as follows:
1. If it is too good to be true, then chances are, it is
Getting paid much money for doing elementary tasks is a dream scenario for anyone. Needless to say, some of these ‘job offers’ are scams. People who fall victim to scams are usually attracted by the promise of high pay and easy work, which is an ideal combination for those looking for part-time jobs or those with little or no work experience.
Remember: high-paying jobs are usually given to people with more experience or higher levels of expertise. If you want to get hired for a high-paying job, there are many legitimate ways to do so. You can gain more experience or even upskill to qualify for jobs outside your level of expertise. Nothing in life comes easy. Your career should definitely not be an exception, as it should be earned and developed naturally through hard work and a willingness to grow.
When it comes to advertisements for overseas positions, candidates should also be cautious and ask themselves: “Does it make sense that I would earn this type of wage in this particular country doing such a role?” Remember, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is a scam.
2. The hirer communicates exclusively through social media.
If a supposed hirer reaches out to you through social media, then you should already be sceptical. Most hirers from legitimate companies communicate primarily through email, phone, or messaging apps where their actual identities are shown. Some may message candidates through social media but will eventually move to more formal means of communication as talks advance.
If an alleged headhunter only messages through social media and has no other contact information, then maybe it is time to ignore those message alerts. When in doubt, always search for information about the company online. All companies that operate legally will always have an online presence, so it is likely a job scam if your search does not yield any results. That said, fraudsters have also ‘up-ed their game’ in having an online presence. Tell tale signs include the so called company using generic terms and stock photos.
If a hirer is claiming to be affiliated with a certain company, you can check the company’s website or social media if the job is also being advertised there. You can also email the company or message one of their representatives to confirm whether the job offer is genuine or not.
3. The company sends you suspicious emails.
Communicating via email does not automatically make a hirer legitimate. In fact, you can spot a job recruitment scam based on the contents of the email.
Is the message coming from an official company email address? If it is coming from a personal email address or one that is unrelated to the company it claims to represent, then the job ad could be a scam.
You can also tell from how the email is written. If it is not written professionally and filled with grammatical errors, the offer may likely be fake. Always check from whom the email is. If it is from a proper hirer, you must be able to search the person through social media or within the company’s official website.
4. The hirer asks you for your personal details.
Real job hirers are only interested in the things in your resume: your work and educational background, expertise, and basic personal information. Beyond that, no company will have an actual use for any additional information, such as your bank details or social security number. You should only give this private information once the company employs you.
People asking for more information from you than job hirers typically need might be after something else. Beware of job ads or job offers that require personal details that you are not comfortable sharing.
5. You get instant job offers—with no application needed
If someone reaches out to you online with an outright job offer, that is a serious red flag. A typical job offer comes after a thorough job application, which involves submitting a resume and cover letter, a proper screening of candidates by the hirer, and a formal job interview. It is not handed out freely and randomly to anyone with an email address or a social media account.
Some job hiring scammers will claim to have seen your credentials online and have deemed you qualified for the job. Even if this were true, the fact that they did not screen you further suggests that they are not taking their talent search seriously. Hiring an employee is a process that usually takes weeks. In contrast, job scams are usually urgent in nature and require quick action.
6. They ask you for money.
Job scammers were able to take millions of ringgit from jobseekers last year. They convinced their victims to shell out money as part of their job, with the promise of getting an even larger amount down the line.
Employers asking for your money are among the biggest red flags when looking at job ads or job offers. If you have to pay to apply for a job, it is likely not real. When you encounter such fraudulent individuals, report them to the proper authorities so they stop victimising more people.
Do not give your credit card information to fake job sites either. Real job sites offer a premium service before asking for your credit card information, so make sure you read everything the website says before making any financial decision. However, as a general rule, applying for jobs online should not cost anyone.
The best way to avoid job search scams is to use only the most trusted online job resources. At JobStreet, you can search for position openings and with no extra cost at our jobs search page.
While JobStreet strives to ensure our platform is a safe environment for job seekers, from time to time, fraudsters may try to take advantage of the JobStreet platform. If you suspect that a job ad is suspicious (for example, the job description shared during the interview stage drastically differs from the ad), please contact us at 03-2778 9000 or [email protected] for us to take action immediately.
To make sure that you get best job fit, JobStreet recommends updating candidates’ JobStreet profiles regularly so that the right employers can find them. For more expert insights and helpful tips on growing your career, visit the company’s Career Resources Hub.
