Fraudsters multiply with unemployment

The Better Business Bureau of West Florida has issued a warning about various scam artists attempting to take advantage of jobless residents along the Gulf Coast.
With local unemployment rates still exceeding 12% and many people out of work for extended periods, these scams prey on the vulnerable.

“A lot of people are desperate for work and may be grasping for any job, which creates a great opportunity for unethical activity,” says Karen Nalven, president of the BBB's regional office in Clearwater. “Victims can lose hundreds or even thousands of dollars to any number of job-related schemes by not thoroughly researching the job opportunity.”

Here's a quick rundown of seven “red flags” to be wary of in job searches:

• Get rich without leaving home — Many legitimate businesses allow their employees to work from home, but scammers seek out senior citizens, stay-at-home moms and disabled people.

• Applicants asked for money — Some job hunters have told the BBB about paying for background checks or training that didn't exist. People should also steer clear of job placement companies asking for large upfront fees.

• Excessive salary and benefits — Phony employers make these type offers for little work with “no experience necessary.” The old saw still applies that if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

• Spelling and grammatical errors in employer e-mails — Online fraud is often perpetrated outside the U.S. A poor grasp of English, especially hackneying of common words, is a giveaway.

• Employers asking for a credit report check — The only reason such information would be sought is to get people to give up sensitive financial information, especially if a specific website is recommended.

• Requests for Social Security or bank account numbers — This commonly happens with job offers made without a single interview. Even if a job is legitimate, such information should never be given out over the phone or e-mail.

• The job requires wiring money for receiving and forwarding suspicious goods — Asking a prospective employee to cash a check then wire a portion of the money to another entity is a setup for a scam. If electronics or luxury goods are involved, they will most likely involve overseas shipments.