Scam Jobs Target Desperate Workers

Introduction

So, picture this: I hit the big 5-0 and what do I get? A lovely little gift called burnout! 🎁 Thanks, life! After a moment of existential crisis (you know, the usual), I figured it was time for a major shake-up. I mean, who doesn’t want to travel more and have a bit of “me time,” right? So, I jumped into the wild world of virtual assistance. Spoiler alert: it’s way different from my previous gigs. Instead of cooking all day in a hot kitchen, I get to work in my PJs—yes, please! But, just to keep things spicy, I decided to pick up some interim work while I searched for my dream client. Because nothing says “I’m living my best life” like juggling multiple jobs while trying to figure out what I actually want to do! 😂

Encountering Scam Job Offers

Oh boy, let me tell you, I was absolutely flabbergasted by the sheer number of scams out there! I mean, I just wanted to dip my toes into the lovely world of data entry and admin work. You know, the kind of thing that makes you feel like a responsible adult. But instead, I found myself in a minefield of scams that made me feel like I was auditioning for a reality show called "Who Wants to Be a Victim?"

• First, there was the classic "You can make $10,000 a week from home!" Yeah, right! I can barely make $10 from my couch without spilling coffee on my laptop.

• Then there was the mysterious "company" that wanted me to pay them for training. I mean, who knew that training for a job was now a subscription service? Next thing you know, they'll be charging me for a monthly membership to the "I Have No Idea What I'm Doing" club.

• And let’s not forget the ones that wanted my social security number before I even got a chance to say "hello." I was just trying to apply for a job, not sign my life away to some shadowy organization!

So here I am, feeling like a contestant on a game show where the grand prize is a lifetime supply of disappointment and confusion. Just a little data entry, please! Is that too much to ask?

Realization of the Scam

Clue #1:

1. The address bar vs the signature.

The Blinded Veterans Association is real, and it looks like they are out there doing excellent work. I would love to help them out! But hold onto your hats, folks, because here comes the plot twist! It seems we have a scammer lurking in the shadows, targeting folks who want to work with disabled people. I mean, who does that? Not cool, scammer!

• Email Address Mismatch: The email signature had a different address. I mean, come on! If you’re going to impersonate a legit organization, at least get the email right!

• Redirect Page: Clicking on blindedveterans.org and landing on a redirect page? That’s like going to a Michelin star restaurant and finding out it’s actually a fast-food joint. Disappointing!

  
  

Clue #2

My job application was a PDF. This is a savvy scammer. The PDF was just a PDF from all scans. No Malware. But it was made with a form maker and not openable in Adobe. They even asked relevant questions. If I hadn't already noticed the address mismatch, I might have relaxed.

PDFs from a professional should open in Adobe.

Clue #3

Surprisingly, the address they had mailed me from was getting mail, while the one in the signature was on a permanent vacation. At this point, we should probably send it a postcard!

Address not found.

Clue #4

At this point, I knew I was going to write this blog post. Everything is content. So I sent in my application. And that's when the real scam revealed itself.

All this for simple identity theft? Doing the most.

Consequences of Falling for Scams

I truly feel disheartened by this. This isn't the first time I've encountered something like this during my job search, and it likely won't be the last. Wading through all these scams wastes my time, and makes job hunting, an already incredibly stressful endeavor, that much worse.

Warning Signs of Job Scams

• Pay significantly higher than your asking price.

• Unsolicited job offers

• Poorly designed or nonexistent websites

• Official-looking but untraceable emails

• Signature block shows an address mismatch

• Unprofessional grammar and syntax

  
  

Congratulations! You’re now a certified Scam Survivor. Your experience is like a badge of honor, proof that you’ve encountered the wildest of the wild in the job market and survived.