Students warned of summertime scams

As school gears down, many students are on the lookout for a summertime job.

Students and other transient workers want to find temporary positions this summer, but some end up paying scammers rather than getting paid.

The Better Business Bureau of Metro Atlanta warns unsuspecting students to pay attention to some key signs before considering or accepting some job offers this summer. In general, never allow desperation for work to allow you to skip important signs.

“Students want to work over the summer, but they shouldn’t want to do so to their potential detriment,” says Brian Catania, President and CEO of BBB serving Metro Atlanta.

“If you sense that something may be wrong with a certain employment ad, go with that feeling until the facts you research prove otherwise,” says Catania.

The goal of these scams is not just to steal money, but also to commit identity theft in order to continue scheming others.

Tips to avoid summer job scams:

• Research the company online at the BBB.org to make sure the company is real and is in good standing.

• Be careful if an employer hires you without ever meeting you or checking your background and references

• Check for spelling or grammatical errors in the job advertisement. These mistakes are typically tell-tale signs.

• Look at the email to see if the email is coming from a branded email account, not a generic email address such as Gmail.com, Yahoo.com, etc.

• If possible, cash your paycheck at the bank listed on the check rather than depositing it.  If you deposit the check, wait a few weeks for it to clear before spending the money.

• Investigate or simply decline an unsolicited job offer by e-mail or social media

• Never share your personal information, such as your social security number, banking or credit card information, when applying for a job

• Do not pay in advance for anything.

Scammers typically prey on people’s desperation, according to the BBB. Thus, students and others who need to work this summer must remember not to overlook any of the above guidelines.

To report a scam, contact the Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission or your local authorities.