How do I spot an email scam?
To stay safe in your job search we recommend that you visit SAFERjobs, a non-profit, joint industry and law enforcement organisation working to combat job scams. Visit the SAFERjobs website for information on common scams and to get free, expert advice for a safer job search.
Staying safe in your job search
The chances are that most of us have probably encountered an email scam at some time or other. With there being so many out there, it’s sometimes not easy to distinguish from emails that are legit. That being said, in most cases it’s really quite easy to spot a scam email.
Whilst it would be impractical/impossible to name all the different types of scams out there, here are a few of the major warning signs:
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The number one thing you should look out for is any email asking for you personal details. This is particularly true, if they’re asking for the types of things you’d never include on your CV - bank details are the obvious example here. As a rule, if anyone’s asking you for details that are irrelevant to your job search you’d do well to ignore them.
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Bad punctuation and spelling is another obvious sign that should immediately set the warning lights flashing.
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If you look at a genuine job ad - such as the ones we provide on GrindJob - the employer states what skill sets they are looking for in a candidate. Scam job emails often give you a lot of information about the job, but will offer very little about what they’re looking for in candidates. The idea here is that the less specific they are, the more likely ordinary punters are to apply.
Contacting the Action Fraud Team
If you are worried that you may have had a scam email and are unsure about what to do, or would like to speak to someone, you can call the Action Fraud team on 0300 123 2040. Alternatively you can visit their website www.actionfraud.police.uk for more information.
Here at GrindJob we have a team of experts that monitor job listings on our website; they ensure that there are no fake jobs on our website. We only list 100% genuine jobs on GrindJob. We’re committed to providing our users quality jobs and are keen on raising awareness and combating criminal and fraudulent activities within the recruitment industry.