Employment Scams

Junk mail. Corrupt politicians. Network connection errors. Employment scams. Some things are inescapable. Employment scams are a topic which you might have heard about a time or two—but scammers keep coming up with new and better ways to deceive job seekers into sending them money. Here at Prairie State Bank & Trust, we want to pass on an alert to all consumers to BEWARE!

Appointment Setters

The FTC has released a consumer alert regarding a new scam which has been spotted on social media: appointment setting jobs. These postings advertise jobs which let you work from home and make big money by setting up appointments for a company’s sales staff with potential clients to help them close deals.

Appointment setting IS a real job so how do you know when you’ve encountered a scam? According to the FTC:

• Scammy ads tend to promise a very high income. The truth is that the real appointment setting is a normal job with a modest income.
• Honest employers will never ask you to pay to get a job. Scammers say they’ll guarantee you a job once you pay for training.
• A job is not a business opportunity. Scammers will initially present the position as paid employment, then switch things up by promising clients or suggesting you recruit new people to their “job” training program instead of setting appointments.

How to Protect Yourself from Employment Scams

If you receive a check from a new employer and/or you are being asked to forward funds to your employer, you should STOP and THINK:

• Are you being pressured into acting fast so as not to miss our on an opportunity?
• What research have you done? Consumers are encouraged to search online for the name of the company along with words like “review, “scam,” or “complaint.” You can also check with the Illinois State Attorney General for complaints.
• Is the offer too good to be true? Success stories and testimonials should be met with skepticism. They may not be the typical experience...or even true.

What other types of Employment Scams are There?

• Reshipping Scams—in which you receive packages, dispose of the original packaging, repackage, then reship the items to another address.
• Reselling Scams—in which you are prompted to buy luxury products at discount prices, then resell the items at a profit.
• Nanny, Caregiver and Virtual Assistant Jobs—in which you are sent a check to purchase supplies and asked to forward the funds to someone else. These jobs may be advertised by legitimate organizations, so be careful!

We're here to help you stay informed and safe. If you ever have doubts or need assistance, don't hesitate to contact us. At Prairie State Bank & Trust, your financial well-being is our priority. Together, we can keep your personal and financial information protected.