We were recently contacted by CBC News regarding a Vancouver, BC woman who was defrauded out of $500 after being a target of a job scam. After completing a written interview, was told she was hired and signed an employment contract. She was then instructed to send money to pay for a police record check in the U.K.
Watch behind-the-scenes footage of our interview here, and keep reading this post for tips on how to detect this kind of fraud – as well as information about where to go for help if you find yourself a target.
Tips on how to sniff out a job scam
- Know the risks. While there are many legitimate offers on sites such as Craigslist and Kijiji, be cautious when looking for employment. Keep in mind that these are free, unmonitored sites.
- Take a closer read. Before applying for any job online, take a close look at the content of the ad and watch for red flags. Are there spelling mistakes in the description? Does the company not have a website?
- Keep realistic. Does the job description seems out of touch with the offered salary? Remember: if the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Do your research. Google the company behind the job posting to research its legitimacy. Consider giving the business a call to ensure they’re actually hiring for the position.
- Don’t pay upfront fees. Remember that a legitimate business would not ask a potential employee to pay funds upfront to obtain a job.
What to do if you’ve been scammed
Contact your local police and report the scam to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Contact your credit card provider or bank if you’ve provided the scammer with any personal financial information.
ADDITIONAL READING:
The Little Black Book of Scams, presented by the Competition Bureau
Top 6 red flags for buying online from a private seller
There was a newspaper ad for a company opening an office in town, needed someone to open the office and set things up. Submitted resume, date set three weeks down the road to meet new employer. Never came, but do some research. High salary. I was skeptical but followed thru. Then the clincher, take this draft to the bank, take your week wages and send the balance, less fees to a South American address. I did NOT. The issuing branch of the Canadian credit union confirmed that the draft was a fraud. Always follow your instincts. I was not defrauded any money, but it’s good to be aware, if it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.
You are absolutely right Angela. Thanks for posting about your experience.
We bought a bed from Sleep Country and used the credit company they recommended. My husband sent the full price of the bill in February. In order to do so, he had to phone Flexiti to get the account number so the payment was rejected by Flexiti but we were not notified. In May, we received a notice to pay the entire amount plus over $3,000 in penalties and interest. Emails and phone calls did nothing to resolve the situation and it was not until late June that the correct number was given to us. We promptly paid the original sum. Numerous further communications failed to achieve any recognition of this stress and lack of help created by Flexiti. We believe that their extremely unhelpful attitude was a deliberate ploy to run the interest up. Sleep Country’s Area manager, Curtis Gilbertson, contacted Flexiti on our behalf and did not receive any help from Flexiti. Sleep Country in Penticton, does not have a manager in the store, only sales people, so if there is a problem, a manager can help. We’ve been Sleep Country customers for over 15 years. We will always use our own trusted credit card companies from now on. We have lost lots of sleep over Flexiti and they just kept racking up the interest while ignoring us.
Hi Lynn, thanks for reaching out. You may want to explore the Civil Resolution Tribunal and take the issue to the courts. They have some low cost options for disputes under 5k. Here’s a link for you with more information:https://civilresolutionbc.ca/