Finding a Job on Craigslist – How to Avoid Scams

Are you looking for a new job? Whether you’re looking to change career paths or have been the victim of a layoff, Craigslist.org is a valuable research tool. This online classifieds website has thousands of job postings, many of which may be the perfect candidate for you. Unfortunately, with the Internet comes online employment scams. You may find some of these scams on Craigslist, but there are steps you can take to avoid them.

Learn what kind of Craigslist job scams to look out for. In terms of jobs, most scams focus on acquiring your personal information or getting money from you. This money often comes in the form of an initial “mandatory” fee. Always remember that you should be paid to work, not the other way around. If a background check or job training material is required, the employer should be responsible for any necessary fees, not you. As for your personal information, never give out your bank account information or social security number until you have had a job interview and are hired.

Always use your best judgment. If you’re looking for a local job, scams will be easy to spot. You are familiar with local businesses. If you are looking to relocate for a new job or if you are looking to work from home, use your best judgment. An opportunity that sounds too good to be true probably is. Let’s say you worked as a secretary full time and earned $35,000 a year. Beware of job listings that claim you can work the same job, perform the same tasks, but make $100,000 a year. Something doesn’t sound right and you may find yourself in the middle of a job scam later. Before giving out personal information, always do your research.

Search other cities on Craigslist to search for the same job openings. Be careful with this approach. It’s nice to see a job listing for a full-time secretary in California listed in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The company is likely to target all qualified California residents. However, beware of the same job listing if it appears in St. Louis. Unless the listing specifically states that the job requires relocation, you may be looking at a job scam. Searching for multiple cities usually involves visiting each city’s site and doing a different search each time; however, you can download the free Craigslist Reader to search multiple cities at once.

Job scams appear all over the internet. They are even on the popular Craigslist.org website. Fortunately, you can follow the steps above to avoid these scams and find a legitimate, high-paying job.