Stay vigilant against job scams

Navigating the job market can be challenging, and unfortunately, not all job offers are genuine. A job scam happens when a fraudster claims to be a recruiter, and seeks your personal details and bank account information. They seek to trick you into paying for something that doesn't exisit. This page provides some tips and resources to stay vigilant and will help you identify job scams before you apply. 

How to Identify a Scam Job

  • Salary or benefits which seem ‘too good to be true’.

If it seems too good to be true, it likely is. For example, a role is offering a high salary with no experience required.

  • Contact information warning signs

Authentic employers will provide valid and verifiable contact details, not personal email addresses, e.g gmail.com. Some email addresses and company names may also appear genuine, but on closer inspection, there are spelling differences. Make sure to double-check all the details when looking at contact information. 

  • Changes to information

Be alert when directed to a business name, website, or contact information, which is different from that displayed on the advert (and/or any premium rate telephone number).

  • Requests for upfront personal and financial information

When you first apply, do not provide your bank or financial information, passport or similar identification, such as a driver’s licence. These might be required later, but only if you get the job. Do not provide these details until you are sure the position is genuine.

  • Urgency to respond

Scammers frequently create pressure to rush you to make decisions. Be aware if you are being chased, especially for any personal information mentioned above, double-check again and make sure this is a real opportunity. 

  • Interview process lacking formality

You could be interviewed over the phone, or via what’s app, or by text. Keep in mind this is an unlikely way for an employer to interview you so it could be a job scam. 

  • Immediate job offers

Upon receiving a job offer, the fraudsters will likely contact you about arrangements which require a payment. It could be seeking a payment for equipment. It could be seeking a payment for equipment or it could offer a gift (with a promise to reimburse you afterwards). If the job is abroad, it could be about arranging travel, accommodation and visas, referring to  another contact that may have a website. This is unlikely to happen and therefore could be indicating a job scam. Do not give out your payment details in this situation and instead, double-check again using the points above. 

  • Pyramid Selling

You are recruited to buy stock and sell it to others. Or you are expected to make money by signing up new members to sell for you.

If in doubt

  • Stop. Do not apply for the job
  • Do not agree to sign anything
  • Do not pay for any services on offer
  • Do not return any contact with the organisation
  • Contact Careers Network for a second opinion. workexperience@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Tips for Staying Safe

  • Research the company
    Look up the organization online, read reviews, and confirm that they are registered with appropriate authorities.
  • Utilise reputable job platforms
    Stick to well-known job boards and your university’s career services, like Careers Connect and Worklink. However no platform is risk free.
  • Verify contact details
    Check that the company has a genuine website and valid contact details which match the advert. You could also use LinkedIn to check individual contacts. 
  • Ask for Help
    If you're uncertain, do not apply for the job. Reach out to Careers Network for assistance if the post is advertised through Careers Connect.
  • Report suspicious listings
    If you come across a scam on Careers Connect, notify Careers Network.

What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed

University of Birmingham's Vacancy Disclaimer 

All employers must adhere to the University’s Terms and Conditions of advertising, which aim to ensure that all opportunities published on Careers Connect are valid and accurate at the time of advertising. Please be aware that circumstances can change, so should you have any specific questions regarding an advert please contact the employer directly.

Opportunities published on Careers Connect are reviewed by the University’s Careers Network. However, it is your responsibility to conduct your own research and due diligence on any employer which advertises a position via Careers Connect. This includes checking that the position and employer are genuine. As examples of issues which might suggest fraudulent behaviour, you should be alert to the following:

  • being directed to a business name, website, or contact information which is different from that displayed on the advert (and/or any premium rate telephone number).
  • salary or benefits which seem ‘too good to be true’.
  • requests for any upfront payments, for bank or financial information, or for a copy of your passport, driver’s licence or other identification.

The University accepts no liability in connection with any fraudulent advert published on Careers Connect. If you believe that an advert might be fraudulent, do not contact the employer: instead, please contact a member of our Careers Network team  careersenquiries@contacts.bham.ac.uk. For further information, please visit: Advice on avoiding scams on the University website here.

If you are an International Student (from outside the UK or EU) you should check your eligibility to work or volunteer in the UK with UK Visas and Immigration (formerly the UK Borders Agency) at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration. Other international opportunities require students/graduates to check visa requirements and ensure passports are up to date. If the opportunity is based overseas, it may have different payment scales and legislation to the UK which you should investigate before applying. Students are advised to conduct their own research into payment and safety and stability in the intended country of work before applying.

If this opportunity requires students/graduates to pay a fee, is voluntary and unpaid, then the opportunity falls outside Careers Network’s Advertising Terms. We, therefore, recommend that interested students/graduates undertake their own research before applying. For certain voluntary opportunities, you may be eligible to apply for a University of Birmingham Work Experience Bursary to assist with some of the costs involved. For more information regarding UoB funding, please visit the Undergraduate funding database or the Postgraduate scholarship and funding database or contact the Work Experience team workexperiencecontacts.bham.ac.uk If you are from the University’s Dubai campus, positions advertised through the University requiring fees and other costs from students are not open to you. For more information contact your Employer Engagement team in Dubai.

If this role is an unpaid opportunity designed to be integrated within the curriculum, please explore the feasibility of funding the opportunity before applying. The Funding, Graduation and Awards (FGA) team are always available to answer any financial support questions you have, whether these are related to your tuition fees or living costs and you can email your questions to them via fga@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

If you have additional requirements, such require reasonable adjustments or are concerned about whether you would be able to fulfil the job description, please contact the employer directly. If you would like any advice on disclosure or completing your application, please arrange an appointment with a member of our Advice and Guidance team through the Appointments tab.  

 

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