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HOW TO STAY SAFE

Employment Scams

Employment scams target people who are looking for jobs or employment opportunities. Scammers create fake job posts to lure people in, only to steal their money or personal information.

They make promises like 'guaranteed job' or 'easy money' and all you need to do is to pay an upfront fee for their services, which the scammer justifies by claiming it includes training, background checks, or other items to 'secure the job'.

Once they have hooked you, they will try their best to get as much information and money from you as they can. Your information will then also be reused to commit other crimes including impersonation, application fraud, etc.

Employment scams exploit people’s need for financial security and dignity. Beyond the financial loss, it may lead to identity theft and causes psychological harm. In more serious cases, they may also result in extortion, sextortion and human trafficking scams, which is common in international employment opportunity scams.


How To Spot It

These are the red flags you should look out for:

  • Unexpected offers via social media platforms, email or encrypted chats.
  • The promise of unbelievable job offers with high salaries. Often with very little experience required.
  • They ask for money upfront as admin or placement fees.
  • Poor communication ; grammatical errors and vague job descriptions or details.
  • They pressure you to act quickly or you may lose the opportunity.
  • You are asked to like your ID number, bank details etc.
  • They ask you to sign up via unknown channels, use unfamiliar platforms, or download mobile apps onto your device to complete the application.

If the job offer seems 'too good to be true' - it probably is.


What To Do

There are steps you can take to empower yourself to fight back against scams:

  • Verify and do your research: Always verify the legitimacy of the company and job offer through official channels. Beware of legitimate companies being impersonated; contact the HR department to confirm the position and channel used to advertise the opportunity.
  • Do not click on links: Never click on links in emails or messages from unknown sources.
  • Do not share personal/ confidential information: Information like your date of birth, your ID number, or financial information should not be shared with anyone until you have verified the validity of this process with the company’s HR department.
  • Don't pay a fee upfront: Reputable organisations or agencies don't ask for upfront payments when hiring.
  • Do not attend any interviews without ensuring its legitimacy: Make sure you verify the legitimacy of the organisation, check the safety of the interview location, and share details of the interview and its location with someone you trust.
  • Report it: If you have been scammed, please report it immediately to the relevant organisation and/ or authorities, as well as the Yima reporting function below, or the Yima scams hotline.

Stop. Think. Verify. Don't get scammed!

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HOW TO STAY SAFE

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