Is that great job a scam? It may be, especially in the age of COVID-19.

As I write this, it’s the summer of 2020 and the world is more than six months into the COVID-19 pandemic. Unemployment rates in our country have gone up and millions of Americans are out of work. Many of these people are actively looking for jobs, in addition to the recent college graduates who are entering the job market for the first time. While most employment opportunities are valid, a few are not. Unfortunately, some individuals prey on people in crisis. If you are looking for a job and the opportunity seems too good to be true, or something doesn’t feel right, pay attention to your intuition. Be cautious when job searching in the COVID-19 era and consider these signs that an opportunity is fake and may be a scam.

There is little or no information available about the company or organization online.

Almost all companies have a website, social media accounts, and a presence on LinkedIn. Many are also included on Glassdoor.com and have reviews. If you do an online search and/or reach out to your network and come up with nothing, be careful when moving forward with that opportunity.

Postings are unprofessional and feature spelling errors or poor grammar.

Just like spam, bogus job postings sometimes have an erratic format, spelling errors, or poor grammar. A company should be professional in how they communicate their opportunities and their overall brand. If a posting features multiple mistakes, beware!

All communication is via personal accounts not clearly aligned with a company or organization.

Yes, some small or new businesses that are just starting may not have bountiful resources, but they should have a website and email addresses that connect to the company brand. Anyone can set-up a free email account. Lack of a company email address is not the only indication of a scam job opportunity, but it can be one of the signs.

The company or organization asks for money or bank account information up front, or asks you to pay in advance for job training.

This is a big red flag! You should not submit any funds or bank account information until you have officially started with the company and worked through its formal HR process (orientation, completing paperwork, etc.). If you send money or give them your bank account information or a credit card, it is very hard to recoup those funds if the opportunity turns out to be a fraud.

You are offered a job via email without ever speaking with anyone at the company via phone/video call or in-person.

Would you hire someone you haven’t spoken to live? Email offers that don’t involve connecting with a representative from the company in a live manner should be scrutinized. Employers speak to candidates to verify credentials and information, and see if the candidate is a good fit from both professional and company culture perspectives. Without taking this step, it’s difficult to truly evaluate a candidate. Given the advanced technology we now use to communicate in our daily lives, there’s really no excuse to not connect in-person in some form. Scam opportunities aren’t concerned with thorough vetting, so you should beware of these methods.

They make suspicious requests during the hiring process.

In one case a client of mine received directions for an interview that included come alone (absolutely don’t bring anyone with you) and don’t knock when you arrive because we’ll be watching for you. Those are huge red flags! Why would a potential employer make these requests if they weren’t trying to hide something? Another watch-out is if a potential employer asks you to disclose personal information that isn’t relevant to the job or hiring process. Suspicious requests such as these, especially ones that relate to the safety and well-being of candidates, should be thoroughly vetted before moving forward so you won’t put yourself in a dangerous situation.

The pay rate is surprisingly high or involves mailing or transporting materials.

If you are offered a high pay rate compared to comparable positions, it could be a scam and then may be trying to engage you in order to gain personal, bank account, or other information that they can then use to extort money or resources from you. There is no way a company will pay way above market value just because they tell you what a special candidate you are. They may want you to get excited about a high-paying opportunity so that you’ll let down your guard and make concessions that you normally wouldn’t. And if they say they will pay you handsomely for mailing things or transporting materials? Those situations are classic scams and you should consider them very carefully.

The company does not have a physical address.

Yes, some smaller companies operate out of home offices. However, do your research when it comes to company location. If there is no physical address available anywhere in the company’s materials or if you look up the address provided online and find no appropriate property that matches (the address doesn’t exist or it’s a vacant lot, rundown industrial building, or residence), be very cautious if pursuing that opportunity. If it is a small company that operates out of a personal residence, clarify what the expectations are in terms of where you will be working. Do not enter into a situation that you feel is not safe or professional.

What can you do if you suspect that an opportunity is a scam? When in doubt, check it out! Do your research. Search for information about the company and related representatives online (don’t forget to search on LinkedIn), connect with your professional network to see what others know about the company/position, or seek the support of a career professional to help. Scammers are known to target those desperate for work and college students because they know they may not be savvy about the hiring process or are willing to overlook shortcomings in order to secure an opportunity. Protect yourself, your safety, your money, and professional reputation by critically examining job opportunities closely and don’t be afraid to walk away if you find evidence that they may be scams or fake.