Fake jobs, real consequences | How scammers are exploiting the unemployed

HOUSTON — Job-seekers, beware! Scammers are now targeting people who are desperate for work. Job platforms and the Federal Trade Commission are warning users on what to watch for.

A Houston man spotted several red flags during his job quest but a phony check in the mail set off the final alarm.

Hal Allen knows a lot about reading and critical thinking — for more than a decade, he taught high school English. But, after the pandemic, something changed for him.

“I don’t want to do this anymore. It’s not what it used to be. I used to have fun teaching. I don’t have fun teaching anymore,” he said.

So, he started looking to shift careers. He has spent the last six months looking for a new path. He estimated that he has applied for at least 100 jobs and hasn’t had much luck.

“Looking for a job is a job, it is an absolute the fact. You have to dedicate time and energy into applying for these places,” he said.

Any luck he might have had nearly ran out in what he believes was an attempted job scam.

Allen made a LinkedIn connection after applying for a job, but in a twist, that job connection told him the position he applied for had been filled. Instead, he told him about another person who was looking for an assistant and even provided a direct email address.

“He said the pay was going to be, like, $1,700 every two weeks, OK. He says you can do this position and still work a full-time job. OK, now again, that’s red flag number two,” Allen said.

After a series of about eight emails without an in-person or phone conversation, he got the job and was sent a nearly $2,500 check in the mail. The check turned out to be phony.

“He’s, like, ‘Did you get the check to deposit? Did you get the check deposited? Did you get the check? Just let me know when you get it deposited,’” Allen said.

With a wife and children to support, he wanted to entertain the opportunity but he was skeptical. Early in the email exchanges, he said he searched online and couldn’t find the person’s name, the business or anything that would prove that it was legit.

He said his desperation nearly put him in a difficult place and he’s only one person on a long list of people who have been targeted.

It’s so common, the FTC offers safety tips:

Research the job first
Never pay to get a job
Talk to someone you trust

LinkedIn also provides warnings on job scams such as:

Fake job offerings with attractive salaries
Pyramid schemes
Phishing scams
Résumé harvesting

Michael Garfield is the “High Tech Texan” and specializes in educating people about online safety. He wasn’t surprised to hear about the scam.

“I always said, ‘If you think it’s too good to be true, oh yeah, it’s way too good to be true,’” Garfield said. “We’re going to triple your salary or send us your résumé and we need a fee right now because we are recruiters. You may probably want to jump at that … the vulnerability when you’re looking for a job is high.”

Some people make a living off scamming people. Garfield said sharing your résumé gives a potential scammer valuable personal history.

“If you get something from somebody, look up that person’s name. Do they legit work for a company? Are they really a recruiter?” he said.

A LinkedIn spokesperson said the networking social media site works to protect its users. A statement to KHOU 11 read:

When looking for a new job, you’re looking for a good fit and a role at a company you can trust. Our teams are constantly working to ensure that our members have a safe, secure and easy experience when searching for a job or connecting on LinkedIn. We use artificial intelligence and teams of experts to stop the majority of fraudulent activity before our members ever see it. When our members encounter anything they believe is off or could be a scam, we encourage them to report it.