FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — The office of Attorney General Andy Beshear announced Tuesday that if you are job hunting, be on the lookout for scammers.
His office had reported receiving employment scam complaints from multiple counties totaling in more than $24,000 in losses this year. Residents from the following counties have reported the scams: Boone, Boyle, Fayette, Franklin, Hardin, Jefferson, Johnson, Madison, Shelby, Taylor and Woodford.
Beshear said in a news release that the largest losses in Kentucky involve work-from-home scams. The release said that some scams involve a victim who is quickly hired and asked to deposit a company check into their bank account to purchase a computer for their new job. The victim thinks they are sending the computer to the company to have specific software installed, but they are really sending it to a scammer who keeps the computer. The fake check then bounces leaving the victim liable for the cost of the computer and other possible fees from an overdrawn account.
“Always be wary of work-from-home postings that require few qualifications yet offer easy schedules and big paychecks,” Beshear said. “Just remember, if the job offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
Other employment scams include victims paying upfront for sham job placement services or providing personal and financial information after accepting a fake job offer.
Beshear says the scams can appear through text messages, unsolicited job inquiry phone calls, emails, fake job postings and on social media platforms.
Beshear recommends Kentuckians watch for these red flags to spot job scams:
Requests upfront payment
Companies that guarantee jobs, but require payment for training materials, certification fees or a placement fee are likely scams. Legitimate companies and employers shouldn’t require any payment for the promise of a job.
Offered access to special job postings
Use caution when dealing with those who promise to provide access to job postings for a cost. Know that all open federal government positions can be accessed free at usajobs.gov.
Sounds too good to be true
Job postings promising large salaries to work from home, requiring little experience, typically are scams. Remain cautious if you receive a job offer without completing an in-person interview or receive an unsolicited call that says you have been hired.
Immediately asked to provide sensitive personal or financial information
Jobseekers are often asked to provide Social Security numbers and other personal and financial information as part of the hiring process. Take extra time to verify a company and application before providing sensitive data.
Beshear asks Kentuckians to report any instances of potential job scams to his office at 888-432-9257 and file a complaint online
