Bogus Employment Opportunities

You've probably seen the ads on the Internet and in the classified sections of newspapers.

Ads like these are placed every week by so-called employment agencies and other types of employment services. They are worded to imply that there are specific jobs just waiting for you. But if you read the ad above carefully, all it really says is that companies are hiring project managers, programmers and marketing VPs. That's probably true at any given time, but it doesn't mean that the advertiser knows of specific job openings. Vague ads like this might be nothing more than bait for employment scams.

Many of the questionable employment services are simply selling types of jobs that they might offer at some point in time, but not specific job openings available today. Others are selling only lists of employers, who may or may not be hiring. Some are fly-by-night operations that are selling nothing but lies.

Reputable employment services, recruiters and job sites typically charge employers, not job seekers. So, if they ask for up-front fees, it's a clue they might be scams. Other clues include

• Vague or generic job openings
• Guaranteed job placement
• No experience or special skills required
• Free training
• Exaggerated wages, benefits or perks
• Post office box, mail-drop and out-of-state addresses
• Government, civil service or overseas job offerings

On the other hand, just because an employment service advertises free training, for example, it doesn't mean it's a scam. Many employment agencies (especially temp agencies) and employers train job seekers and employees for free. But, if combined with vague or exaggerated statements, promises such as guaranteed job placement, and a demand for an up-front fee, it's a solid clue that it's at least a misleading sales pitch if not an outright scam. No employment service can promise job placement, especially before even knowing who you are and what you do for a living. It's just not practical and worse, it's dishonest. Even if a service could land jobs for everybody who applies, the service doesn't deserve payment until it's made good on that promise.

The best any employment service can do, is offer a money-back guarantee. But don't be fooled by that either. The scams make it very difficult for you to claim your money, in the hopes that you'll just give up. Many people do, and that's one way scams stay in business. Fly-by-night scams don't give your money back, period.

Some employment services are reputable, some are not. The Better Business Bureau and the FTC offer more clues to help you identify which are which.

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