Do Not Be Deceived: Top 6 Signs A Freelance Job Post Is A Scam

As a dedicated job seeker, you may have noticed the rise in work-from-home or freelancing jobs flooding the internet. More companies are adopting the idea of cutting down cost and setting their own time. So for them, hiring freelancers over full-time staff is the best option. But sadly, most of the job posts that promise heaven on earth are pure scams. And hundreds of desperate jobseekers fall victims. If you are hunting for jobs online, this post will equip you with knowledge on how to detect job ads that are not worthy of your time.
  1.    Promising mega salary for little effort
girl jumping in the air You may have been hunting for jobs for months now, so finding an online post that promises mouth-watering bonus is a blessing in disguise to you. But before you provide your personal information or proceed with your application, have a rethink. Will a big company offer such high amount for little effort? The simple answer is no. The reason for establishing a business is to make a profit. Without it, companies may not survive. Even charity organizations are careful with how they spend money. So a company that presents itself as a charity group is trying to scam you. Job scammers use these high salaries to lure desperate job seekers. For instance, an ordinary data entry job which won't take much time or effort would cost thousands of dollars.
  1.    Payment before appointment
There is something you need to understand as a job seeker. A company that means business will never request for money before hiring. Some companies employ from foreign countries and still take care of all expenses. If a company needs your services, they will never demand payment. So when you come across a company that requests for payment before offering you the job, know you are dealing with a fraudster. A credible company will never demand payment from before offering you a job.   
  1.    Securing the job with zero effort
Freelancer writing on laptop Unless you are well-known by someone in the company, you cannot secure a job without an interview. Before hiring freelancers, most companies and recruiters request for samples and carry out other formalities. Sites like Writers Department, Upwork and others are already structured for employers to assign tasks to the right candidate. Profiles and reviews of jobseekers enable them to do a thorough assessment before hiring. Even if you are in the writing niche, going through your previous work presented as samples will help those interested in your services to determine if you are fit for the task. Even if you know you are qualified for the task, does the employer know? It is a job post you just came across, and the next thing, you are being hired. Have in mind that a genuine company will conduct a proper interview and make you write some tests before hiring. So, when you come across overzealous employers or got a job on the spot with no meeting, have a rethink. These are signs of a job scam.
  1.    Identity fraud
In as much as legitimate companies sometimes request for personal information, there is a limit to what they can ask. They can request for your name, school, the course of study and other vital information that will enable them to carry out a proper assessment. The same thing can happen in a work-at-home job. The company might request for similar information without invading your privacy. But be careful about online job scams that can lead to identity fraud. A legit company has no business requesting for your credit card number or other confidential information about you. It is better to pull the plug on such companies before the worst happens. Don't be tempted by the mouthwatering bonuses and salary to comprise your identity. You are a target of serious identity theft, so act smart. No freelance job recruiter will request for such information. What a reasonable company is after is your skill and maybe location, especially when you are going to be handling sensitive tasks.
  1.    Jobs without much details
Call it freelance writing, proofreading or data entry job; it does not matter. Jobs are jobs everywhere. A job post should highlight critical details like the skills and qualification needed. After reading it, you should be able to assess yourself before applying for the position. You might read something like; we are looking for a content writer with solid skills in graphics design. After reading the job description, and looking at the requirement, you will be able to decide if to apply or retreat. Sending an application if you don't have a solid graphics design skill would be a waste of time and effort. The bottom line is a legitimate company would never post freelance jobs without backing them up with detailed information. The recruitment manager knows he would end up with tons of applicants in his inbox. So stating the details in the application will help to screen and limit the number of applicants. On the other hand, a job post that is scam would be looking for more applicants. That is the reason they usually don't reveal all the job details. They believe the higher the applicants, the more the number of people to defraud. Eventually, most applicants are smart enough to sense fraudulent companies before they can carry out their evil act. But it is better to stay clear of these monsters. Check the job details thoroughly. If the post doesn't have much detail about the job, walk away. If you eventually went for an interview and after many hours you still cannot understand what the company stands for, vision, mission, and others, think twice.
  1.    Unprofessional interview process
Firms can decide to assess job applicants in their way. But some practices are unethical. It is normal for employers to conduct interviews over Skype and phone calls, but not through an instant messaging platform. Companies that behave this way are the ones behind scam freelance jobs. The number of fake freelance job posts is soaring higher every day. It has gotten to a level were identifying the real jobs is now more difficult than ever. These fraudsters are not only going to frustrate and waste one's time. Once they get hold of sensitive information, they can make life difficult for the job seeker. The above tips are provided to help you identify the real thing while hunting for freelance jobs. So, keep an eye out for potential freelance job scams that are not worth your time. Words by Sydney Whitman, an academic coach combining her daily job with content writing for MyHomeworkDone. Connect with her on Twitter.
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