Summer is a great time of the year when you\u2019re still in school or have just graduated. It\u2019s a break from the class routine, an opportunity to spend more time with your friends and just generally de-stressing after the academic year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, it\u2019s also time for that summer job to help pay for school, your car or the damage deposit for an apartment in the fall (and if we\u2019re being honest, a bit of partying as well). Not everyone finds their summer job right away, though, which opens the door to job scams. The more desperate you are, the likelier you are to ignore the signs that your job offer isn\u2019t legit. Here\u2019s what you need to know, and the red flags to watch out for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before we go any further, it\u2019s important to emphasize that summer jobs became an entrenched tradition for plenty of good reasons<\/a>.\u00a0 If you just plain need the money, that\u2019s reason enough in its own right.\u00a0 A few others include:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you take the whole summer off, it can be hard to get yourself back into the disciplined mindset you\u2019ll need to succeed in school. Having a job, even part-time, helps keep you in \u201cproductivity mode\u201d during the summer. Remember, even the top-earning athletes work out in the off-season. It\u2019s just a smart thing to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a closely related benefit, and an important one. It\u2019s tough to fit a job into a busy summer that might also include school prep, family commitments, sports and other extracurriculars, the kind of volunteer and community work that look good on your college application and \u2014 sheesh! \u2014 maybe even have some fun with your friends. Juggling all of that is good preparation for school, and for life in general. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a career path in mind, getting a summer job that\u2019s related to your career choice is a good way to find out whether it\u2019s really what you want. If it doesn\u2019t work for you, it\u2019s definitely better to find out this summer instead of spending years and big money on getting trained for it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The people you\u2019ll meet at your job, and even while interviewing for jobs, can become useful mentors and contacts for you.\u00a0 If you keep in touch with your network<\/a> over the next few years, they can help you transition from school to your full-time career.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if none of those things apply to you, the simple fact of having a job or two on your resume can make you more employable after school. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, wanting a summer job and getting one are two very different things.\u00a0 In its review of data from the summer of 2021 (the most recent numbers available), the Bureau of Labor Statistics says that just over 60% of potential workers in the 16-to-24 age group<\/a> were part of the labor force \u2014 working, or looking for work \u2014 which means 40% didn\u2019t even try, and 10%of those who were<\/em> looking for jobs didn\u2019t find one.\u00a0 That\u2019s millions of people your age who want a job<\/a> and can\u2019t find one, which creates a fertile breeding ground for job scams.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Federal Trade Commission\u2019s (FTC\u2019s) 2021 Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book<\/a> recorded over 100,000 reports of job and \u201cbusiness opportunity\u201d scams in that year (up from less than 60,000 in 2020<\/a>), for a total of $206 million in losses to victims.\u00a0 That\u2019s good for fifth place on the list of top frauds by the sheer volume of complaints, but it\u2019s also worth noting that the median dollar loss per complaint was among the highest at nearly $2,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Job scams and business-opportunity scams aren\u2019t only marketed at young workers, but a 2020 study by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) reported that 17.3% of scam complaints came from those aged 18 to 24<\/a>.\u00a0 The Data Book doesn\u2019t specifically break out job scams by age but it does<\/em> break out the likelihood of losing<\/em> money to a scam by age.\u00a0 Nearly half of respondents 19 and under lost money to scammers, and over 40% of those 20 to 29.\u00a0 The amounts involved were relatively small, but it\u2019s tough to swallow any financial loss when you\u2019re just starting out and don\u2019t have a lot to begin with.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even those numbers don\u2019t tell the whole story, because some scammers target your personal information<\/a> rather than money (or as well as money), and then use it for identity-theft purposes.\u00a0 Both types of scams are pretty common.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n So what do these scams look like, specifically? There are lots of examples (LOTS of examples) but these are some of the most common: <\/p>\n\n\n\n The FBI warned about this one<\/a> back in 2020.\u00a0 You\u2019ll see an ad on a job site from a reputable company, but the link in the ad takes you to a bogus site<\/a> made to look like a legit page from that company\u2019s website.\u00a0 You\u2019ll be prompted to fill out an online application that requests all of your personal information and maybe even your banking information, as part of the \u201conboarding process.\u201d\u00a0 Any information you provide gets exploited for identity theft<\/a>, and if you\u2019ve given them your banking info you can expect to lose any money you\u2019ve got in your accounts.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes you\u2019ll receive an unsolicited email<\/a> or text from someone<\/a> claiming to be a recruiter, who has seen your resume on Indeed or some other legitimate job site.\u00a0 From there you may be routed \u2014 again \u2014 to a bogus website to complete an application, or you may do an online interview through Zoom<\/a> or a similar platform where the \u201cHR person\u201d takes down all of this information manually.\u00a0 This type of approach is an identity theft scam in its own right, but it can also be used to set the stage for more damaging scams.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Getting paid to go shopping sounds like the best-ever side hustle, doesn\u2019t it? That\u2019s what this group of scammers counts on. The pitch is that you\u2019ll be paid to shop in well-known stores, and evaluate how well they\u2019re doing on price and service. You\u2019ll be sent a check, which you deposit in your account. You spend the majority of it at the designated store to buy things – which you \u201creturn\u201d to your supposed employer \u2014 and the balance is yours to keep. Then the check bounces, and you\u2019re on the hook for the whole amount. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a common variant in a lot of scams, if they\u2019re after money instead of (or as well as) your information. In one form of this scam, you\u2019ll be told you need to pay in advance for a criminal record check, training or perhaps school transcripts. The job is bogus, and your money is lost. In another variation, you\u2019ll be sent a check which you\u2019ll use to buy a laptop or other equipment from a \u201cthird party\u201d that\u2019s also controlled by the scammer. Again, the check will bounce and you\u2019ll be on the hook for the full amount. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You may see an ad for a job as a \u201cvirtual personal assistant,\u201d or be offered one by email. Your job duties are a bit vague, but they mostly seem to revolve around receiving lump-sum payments from your new boss and then disbursing the funds to various other people. This is sometimes another bad check scam, but you may also be helping launder money for criminals<\/a>. You might even risk prosecution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A similar scam offers you the opportunity to receive and repackage goods for shipping to other destinations. In this instance, the products you\u2019re repackaging are stolen or were purchased illegitimately \u2014 maybe even by victims of some of these other scams \u2014 and you\u2019re helping the criminals turn those products into cash. Do we need to say that you won\u2019t get paid, in the end? <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are multiple variations on this one. Some pitch the idea of working as a reseller, ordering product from your new boss (the scammer) and selling it at a profit. Sometimes you never actually receive the product, and other times it\u2019s just shabby unsellable junk, but either way your money is gone. Some are structured as multi-level marketing schemes, where you both sell the product to your friends and recruit them to sell it as well. The end result is the same, except you\u2019ve also helped them loot your friends and family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In this one you\u2019ll be tempted by a training program \u2014 usually backed by enthusiastic testimonials from fake accounts \u2014 that will teach you a sure-fire system for building a successful online business. Unfortunately, the only \u201cbusiness model\u201d you\u2019ll learn is how scammers con people out of their money with empty promises. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So how can you differentiate between legitimate job opportunities and the work of scammers? Truthfully, there are a lot of red flags attached to most of these scams and you\u2019ve probably spotted a few of them just from reading our list. In no particular order, here are a handful of the really obvious ones: <\/p>\n\n\n\n And the old saying that \u201cif it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,\u201d remains some of the very best scam-avoidance advice there is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just keeping an eye out for obvious signs of scammers is a good starting point, but there are active steps you can also take to protect yourself. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you think you\u2019ve spotted a scam, or worse, if you think you\u2019ve already fallen for one, there are some things you should do<\/a>. In the case of bogus job listings, report them to the site or social media platform where you saw the ad. If the scammers misrepresented themselves as a well-known company like Amazon or Walmart, inform the actual company as well. They\u2019re always pretty militant about protecting their reputation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Other things you should do include reporting the incident to the FTC\u2019s<\/a> <\/a>Report Fraud website<\/a>, and \u2014 optionally \u2014 the BBB Scam Tracker page<\/a>.\u00a0 You might also notify your local law enforcement agency, or make a report at the FBI\u2019s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)<\/a>.\u00a0 It may even be worth reporting the incident at your school, in case scammers have somehow gotten a list of students enrolled there.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, if you\u2019ve lost money to the scammers, you should immediately try to get it back (the sooner the better).\u00a0 The odds aren\u2019t exactly in your favor, but the sooner you get started, the better your chances are.\u00a0 The FAQs at the Report Fraud website<\/a> can guide you through how to do that, and we have some advice<\/a> on our blog as well.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Job hunting can be discouraging at the best of times \u2014 especially when you\u2019re just starting out \u2014 and it gets worse when the few opportunities you do find turn out to be sketchy.\u00a0 Don\u2019t give up: employers are still losing their minds over a chronic shortage of workers<\/a>, so there are<\/em> usually opportunities.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n If nothing turns up online, go old-school and look for openings by visiting businesses in your own area. The hospitality business, and seasonal businesses like lawn care and landscaping, are high-turnover industries and often need people mid-season to fill vacancies. If that doesn\u2019t pan out, tap your personal network: talk to your parents\u2019 friends and your friends\u2019 parents, your extended family and anyone else who might be able to make a connection for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You may or may not succeed in landing a legit summer job, but at least the skills you\u2019ll gain from trying to find one will serve you well in the coming years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Investopedia – Top 5 Benefits of a Summer Job – Besides Pay<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Employment Status of the Civilian Noninstitutional Population 16 to 24 Years of Age by Sex, Race and Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2021<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2020<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Better Business Bureau (BBB) – Job Scams St<\/a>u<\/a>dy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) – Cyber Criminals Use Fake Job Listings to Target Applicants\u2019 Personally Identifiable Information<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – Avoiding a Mo<\/a>n<\/a>ey Mule Scam<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mystery Shopping Professionals Association (MSPA) – Service Provider Search<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – Report to Help Fight Fraud!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Better Business Bureau (BBB) – BBB Scam Tracker<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nStaying in the groove<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Getting better at managing your time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Test-driving your potential career<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Building a network<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Job Scams Are a Really Big Deal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
8 Job Scams to Watch For<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. The bogus website<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. The \u201cI saw your resume\u201d email<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. The \u201csecret shopper\u201d scam<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. The \u201cup-front costs\u201d scam<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. The \u201cpersonal assistant\u201d scam<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6. The reshipper scam<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7. The \u201cbe your own boss\u201d scam<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
8. The \u201cbusiness coaching\u201d scam<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Spotting Those Big Red Flags<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How to Protect Yourself From Summer Job Scams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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What To Do if You Spot a Scam<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Get Back Out There<\/h2>\n\n\n\n