Avoid Job Scams

• Employment
• Identity
• Telephone
• Government Grants
• Lottery and Sweepstakes Scams
• Pyramid Schemes
• Banking/Checking
• Investment
• Charity
• Ponzi

Pay Attention

While the Career Center tries to screen employers and the positions posted to CState CareerLink, it is imperative that you, as a job seeker, exercise common sense and caution. Read position descriptions carefully!

Know the Warning Signs

1. Too Good to Be True Offers: If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Be cautious of job offers, products, or services that promise unusually high pay or benefits for minimal effort.
2. Urgent Requests for Personal Information: Scammers often ask for personal information like Social Security numbers, bank account details, or passwords. Legitimate organizations rarely ask for sensitive information upfront.
3. Unprofessional Communication: Poor grammar, misspellings, and overly casual language can be indicators of a scam. Legitimate businesses and organizations usually maintain a professional tone in their communications.
4. Unrealistic Job Requirements: Job listings with vague job descriptions, minimal requirements, and promises of instant high pay are often designed to lure in unsuspecting job seekers.
5. Requests for Upfront Payment: Be wary of ads that ask for upfront payments or deposits before you can access a service or product. Legitimate sellers and service providers typically collect payment upon delivery.
6. Suspicious Payment Methods: Scammers often prefer unconventional payment methods like wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or prepaid gift cards. These methods are difficult to trace and offer little recourse for recovering funds.
7. Lack of Verifiable Information: If the posting lacks contact information, a physical address, or a website, it’s a red flag. Legitimate businesses and individuals usually provide ways to get in touch and verify their credibility.
8. Mismatched Contact Information: Cross-reference the provided contact information with official company details. If the email address or phone number doesn’t match the company’s official contact information, it’s likely a scam.
9. Pressure to Act Quickly: Scammers often create a sense of urgency, pressuring you to act immediately without giving you time to think or research. Take your time to evaluate offers.
10. Unusual Requests for Information or Actions: Be cautious if you’re asked to download unfamiliar software, click on suspicious links, or perform actions that seem unnecessary for a legitimate transaction.
11. Unsolicited Job Offers: If you receive a job offer without applying or interviewing, it could be a scam. Research the company and verify the offer before taking any action.
12. Inconsistent Branding: Check for inconsistencies in logos, branding, and language used in the posting compared to the official website of the company or organization.
13. Lack of Online Presence: Scammers often create fake profiles or websites. Search for the company’s online presence to verify their legitimacy.
14. Too Much or Too Little Information: Be cautious if a posting provides an excessive amount of personal information or is excessively vague. Scammers often use both tactics to manipulate victims.

If you have never heard of a website before, and you are suspicious of it being a scam, Google the URL with the word “scam” next to it and research the company. You can usually find previous victims or complaints related to that scam.

• IF YOU ENCOUNTER SUSPICIOUS POSTINGS IN CState CareerLink, report your experience to the Career Center at careercenter@cincinnatistate.edu or 513- 569-4242.
• IF YOU ENCOUNTER SUSPICIOUS POSTINGS IN your Cincinnati State email, report this to our Technology Helpdesk.
  • Please report suspected phishing attempts via the tools available in Outlook. Networking will be notified and determine if the email is phishing.

    If the email appears to be from a co-worker or someone you know, the quickest way to determine if the email is legitimate is to call them and ask. 

  • If you are using the web version of Outlook (Surgemail), you can quickly notify us of a phishing attempt by clicking this icon at the top of the offending email.

    The icon is on the right hand side with the icons for reply, reply all, and forward. It is an open envelope with a small red fish hook. If you hover over the icon, the text will read, “Phish Alert – Phish Alert Report”.

    Depending on your outlook client, you might need to click on the 3 horizontal dots on the right side to access the Phish Alert Utility.

    More information about how to deal with phishing attempts can be found at this link: https://web2.cincinnatistate.edu/files/its/infosec/Phishing.pdf

• Report the Job Scam to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission)