With summer around the corner, many are looking to earn extra income with part-time jobs. Unfortunately, scammers post false work advertisements to steal personal and bank information from these job seekers. Learn a few examples of jobs scams, how to avoid them and what action to take if you fall victim.

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Types of job scams

  • Work-from-home scams: Many people would like to generate income from the comfort of their home, and scammers capitalize on this by making false claims of earning thousands of dollars with little to no effort. Scams can include reshipping products and reselling merchandise through starter kits, training courses or certifications. This may end up costing you money instead of providing an income.
  • Nanny, caregiver and virtual personal assistant scams: Scammers post fake work opportunities on job sites for nannies, caregivers and virtual personal assistants, often using emails that appear to be from someone in your community or school. Scammers might ask you to deposit a check and request you send a portion of the funds to a third party, resulting in a loss to your account.
  • Internship scams: With many college students seeking to build their resumes, scammers will post questionable internship positions on job hunting and college career sites. These may include positions in marketing and sales with very open qualifications that do not require an application or a resume. If these internships require a fee, it is likely a scam.

Best practices

  • Do your research. Search the name of the company or the position online. You may find others who have been scammed and have shared their experiences and warnings.
  • Do not pay for the job. If a potential employer asks you to pay for the position or training, do not apply. Never accept a position that requires depositing checks and sending funds to an external account.
  • Talk to someone you trust. Consult a parent or guardian, friend or even a career center advisor to ensure you are making a good decision.

Next steps

Read additional tips about how to avoid job scams – and how to find a legitimate summer job – at FTC.gov.

If you are a victim of fraud, or if you detect suspicious or unauthorized transactions on your account, it is important to contact Arvest immediately at (866) 952-9523. Learn more today.