<p>The use of the internet in doing our day-to-day activities and keeping us connected has never been more vital than when the global lockdown began. With millions of jobs at risk and everyone relying on the internet, online job scams have, unsurprisingly, been on the rise. It’s even prompted governments to issue guidelines and advisories cautioning their constituents against falling for them. </p>
<p>There are a lot of ways that you can protect yourself against these unscrupulous individuals, so keep reading to find out how.</p>
<h2>Pause and think</h2>
<p>If you’re online a lot, there are a lot of groups that you may have joined, including those on Facebook. Strictly speaking, there’s nothing wrong with sourcing a job via social media. You just need to take extra precautions, since you can’t file a complaint with the app developer if ever you were duped. Research the company first and take a look at their Glassdoor and Trustpilot reviews.</p>
<h2>Red flags</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="666" height="666" src="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_362680631-1.jpg" alt="Recognize Online Job Scams" class="wp-image-10752" title="Recognize Online Job Scams" srcset="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_362680631-1.jpg 666w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_362680631-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_362680631-1-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px" /></figure>
<p>The most obvious red flag that a job advert may be an online scam is if you are being asked for money. It may sound like a reasonable request, and couched in professional terms, but think about it… When were you last asked for money when you applied for a job in the real world? Examples of these are “registration fees”, “reservation fees”, “training charges”, and the like. Aside from the moral side of taking money from job seekers, this practice is actually illegal in many countries. </p>
<h2>Withstand the pressure</h2>
<p>If somebody contacts you personally via a private message or email, offering you a job, that’s well and good. But if this somebody asks for money and then pressures you into deciding right then and there because “there are limited slots available” or the “time is of the essence”, it’s a classic con-game. They’re dangling a juicy carrot, so don’t bite! Legitimate headhunters don’t use these practices and the company that they belong with can be checked out. </p>
<h2>Protect your privacy</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_469098800-1.jpg" alt="Recognize Online Job Scams" class="wp-image-10750" title="Recognize Online Job Scams" srcset="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_469098800-1.jpg 1000w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_469098800-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_469098800-1-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>
<p><a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/member/resources/protecting-your-data-privacy-while-job-hunting" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Protecting your privacy</a> is hard when all of your contact information is stated on your resumé. What you can still do is protect your sensitive information like your social security number, your country ID number, and your bank account information. Don’t give this information out or send pictures of your ID, unless you have verified who you are speaking to. Part of the onboarding process of any organization is proving your identity, and so you may be asked to provide a copy of your ID, after an initial interview. You can use your <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/member/resources/get-hired-faster-with-trueidentity" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TrueIdentity</a> from TrueProfile.io as an extra layer of protection, in addition to getting instant trust from employers worldwide.</p>
<h2>Your TrueProfile.io benefit</h2>
<p>As a TrueProfile.io Member, your myTrueProfile page <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/member/resources/update-your-contact-settings-and-unlock-career-opportunities" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">can be browsed by reputable employers, international recruiters, and our Business Partners</a>. This ensures that when you get contacted for recruitment purposes, that is all there is to it – a job opportunity for you and no scam!</p>
<h4>Sign up with <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/member/register" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TrueProfile.io</a> now!</h4>
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