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Job hunting can be grueling.
Endlessly scrolling job boards. Sending another resume seemingly into the void. So when a text message from a recruiter arrives directly to your phone promising flexibility, great benefits, and a big paycheck, you might think it’s a gift from the universe.
More likely, it’s a scammer targeting you for money, personal information, or free labor.
Job scammers made off with about $220 million in the first half of 2024, alone, according to the latest data available from the Federal Trade Commission. In a blog post, the agency also noted that most people don’t report fraud, so this is likely a sliver of reality.
Also: I’m a tech professional, and an AI job scam almost fooled me – here’s how I caught on
“I think we’re seeing a high number of job scams right now because…
Verify the physical address and contact details of online stores before making a purchase, especially if the prices are significantly lower than established South African retailers.