What is a Job Scam?
A job scam is a fraudulent scheme in which scammers deceive individuals by offering fake job opportunities. The goal is often to steal money, gather personal information, or trick victims into participating in illegal activities.
How to spot a Job Scam? (Common Warning Signs)
- Too Good to Be True: The job promises high pay, easy work, and no experience needed. If it sounds too perfect, it’s likely a scam.
- Asked to Pay Money First: You’re told to pay for training, work permit, or processing before starting the job.
- They Want Your Personal Info : Scammers ask for your bank details or IC number to “process” your job and this information can be used for identity theft.
- No Company Details: The job advertisement has no proper company name, address, or contact number.
- Involved in Suspicious Tasks: You’re asked to receive or transfer money. This could be part of a scam or illegal activity.
How to prevent Job Scams?
- Visit the company’s official website and read reviews to make sure it’s real.
- If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Always verify through official sources.
- A legitimate employer will never ask you to pay for training, equipment, or anything upfront.
- Only share your IC, bank info, or personal documents after confirming the job is real.
- If you didn’t apply but got a job offer, be extra careful as it could be a scam.
- Real companies use official emails, not free ones like Gmail or Yahoo.
- If the job details are unclear or the employer avoids your questions, it’s a red flag.
Example of Job Scam Scenario:
Siti saw a job advertisement on Facebook offering RM300 per day to "work from home" by processing online payments. She applied and was quickly offered the job through WhatsApp. The “employer” asked her to pay RM200 upfront for training materials. After payment, the person stopped replying and disappeared.
What Went Wrong:
- Siti didn’t check if the company was real.
- She paid money before starting work.
- Communication was only through WhatsApp, with no official email or website.
Lesson Learned:
- Always check if the job and company are real.
- Don’t trust offers that ask for money upfront or only contact you through WhatsApp.
- A real job won’t make you pay to start working.