That ideal job listing might not be what it seems; The BBB sends a scam alert
EVANS, GA (WFXG) - Some states including Georgia are ending supplemental unemployment benefits in an effort to push people to work - meanwhile, scammers are preying on those trying to land a job.
Our local better business bureau sends a warning: that ideal job you see online might not be what it seems.
Americans are receiving about $630 weekly in unemployment benefits, but Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced earlier this month $300 supplemental unemployment benefits checks end next month. Many are in a hurry to get back to work, and BBB’s Hunter Jones tells FOX 54 scammers are taking that as an opportunity.
“Consumers need to be on the lookout right now especially since people are looking for jobs. We’re coming out of the Covid situation, a lot of scammers are pretending to be a real job opportunity and they’re posting on websites that are real websites to find a job,” he said.
Just when you think you landed the perfect remote job, you find yourself actually having lost money.
“We actually had a case this week here in the CSRA where a consumer called in and she was offered a job to go check out supermarkets,” Jones said, scammers provided a bad check and asked once the job was done, to buy gift cards and send them the serial numbers as proof she went.
“She was told she had to buy $500 worth of gift cards for that company,” Jones said. “They gave her a ‘check’ for $16,000 to make that happen.”
Seeing as that she had plenty of money from the $16,000 check, that sounded like quite the gig – but it was quite the opposite.
“Thankfully she called and we verified it was not a real check with us but what they want you to do is they want you to think that check is real, they want you to deposit it in your bank they want you to see it in your bank, well ten days later that check is going to bounce and that money is not going to be there anymore,” Jones said.
This local job hunter didn’t fall for the trick; however, Jones said many do, especially when they’re in a hurry to land a job.
“A lot of these employment scams, they’re not asking for a resume, or an application or a background check. Those are big red flags of an employment scam.”
Jones said as a pro tip, if it sounds too good to be true, nine times out of ten, it’s a scam. Learn the red flags and warning signs at the Better Business Bureau.
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