Unfortunately, we hear of scams operating that target job-seeking students, and we do not want any of our students to be victims. These scammers will typically advise that they are from job boards, graduate recruitment agencies, or organisations that are well-known household names, and so may seem legitimate to you; however, there are ways we can spot if they are not.

How do you know if it is a scam? – RED FLAGS

1. You are being asked upfront for money with the promise of an interview if you do, or a job offer if you pay the money, this is a red flag. (They may say the money is for training courses, a laptop, other equipment, or something else.) Some scammers are asking students for money upfront to move a process forward. This is NOT standard practice and is a key indicator that this is a scam. Do not pay any of your money and come and speak to LUMS Careers if you are ever unsure.
2. They may ask you to send your ID and other personal information/documents to them before attending an interview or before receiving a verbal job offer. Again, this is NOT standard practice. Come and speak to us if you are ever asked to send ID or any other personal information to a business before a job offer is received and you have been through an interview process.
3. A major red flag is being pressured emotionally by scammers. These scammers pressure enthusiastic students by saying things like, "You may miss the opportunity if you don't pay by the end of today," or, "Lots of other students want this opportunity and, if you don't pay for this course today, you won't be considered." They will also say, "If you don't buy this course, you will never make it in this industry." No legitimate businesses will EVER pressure you or guilt you into paying money for a course or similar. Please come and speak to us if you are ever in this position.
4. It is important to remember that these scammers will impersonate legitimate businesses and even go to the lengths of organising fake video interviews with you to gain your trust. The key thing to remember is that if you are being asked for funds or personal information, speak to us first!

Of course, sometimes we are alerted of scams which turn out to be totally legitimate; however, as with everything else in life, it is better to be safe than sorry.

So what can you do to prevent becoming a victim of scam operations in the graduate recruitment market?

• If ever in doubt before attending interviews, research the business.
• Look at their website. Does it look legitimate to you?
• Are they asking you to send money for training courses directly to them and not the training provider? This is a sign of a scam taking place; they could take your money and run.
• Have you heard of the product or service they are selling to you? I.e. if it is an industry qualification, have you heard of it before? Have we as a Careers Service or any member of the Careers team mentioned this in lectures and one-to-ones? Is it REAL?
• Are they on LinkedIn, and are there employees linked to that business on LinkedIn?
• Do they regularly update their social media?
• Is there an office address on the website?
• Have any of your friends or coursemates heard of them?
• Do we as a university promote their services or careers? Do they appear in other careers literature?
• Be suspicious of people who use personal email addresses to correspond with you or do not have an email address that matches the business they say they are representing. Take note of email signatures and small details that are typical of legitimate businesses. Try calling the business directly and asking to speak to the person. (If they are impersonating the business, they won't work for them, and you can confirm this). Be suspicious of people calling from private numbers or withheld numbers.

It can be difficult to work out if someone is a scammer as many impersonate legitimate businesses, but using all of the above techniques will hugely reduce the risk.

If you have any queries or require advice and guidance around your job search, reach out to LUMS Careers via email at lumscareers@lancaster.ac.uk or book an appointment via CareersConnect with a Careers Coach!

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed by our bloggers and those providing comments are personal, and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lancaster University. Responsibility for the accuracy of any of the information contained within blog posts belongs to the blogger.

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Disclaimer

The opinions expressed by our bloggers and those providing comments are personal, and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lancaster University. Responsibility for the accuracy of any of the information contained within blog posts belongs to the blogger.