Scams are ever evolving but their main purpose remains the same: extract personal information and/or money from an unsuspecting victim. Here are the main types of scams with a brief description. Please note that these scams come in many variations but their main purpose remains the same. Be vigilant and always protect your personal information.

Credit Report Scams

How it works: the employer requests to see your credit report as part of the hiring process.

Purpose: to extract a credit report fee for a fake/bogus credit report and steal your identity and personal information.

Money Laundering Scams

How it works: the employer offers a job involving processing payments or sending money to “clients” or other variations of transferring money. The employer themselves cannot do it because of various obstacles and promises a certain percentage as payment for using your personal bank account.

Purpose: to move money through several accounts in small enough increments as to not attract the attention of regulating bodies.

Check Cashing Scams

How it works: the employer sends you a check that’s more than the amount you were supposed to receive. You are asked to deposit the check and send the excessive amount back to the employer from your bank account.

Purpose: to extract money from your bank account. The initial check that is being sent is fake. The check will bounce after a couple of days, most likely after you have already sent a real payment back to the scammer.

Work at Home Scams

How it works: the employer offers a high paying job that anyone can do from home.

Purpose: to sell you a “kit” that is required to get you started. These scams can vary from “starting your own business” type scams, “posting ads” scams or even “assembly” scams. They all have one thing in common, namely a paid package to get you started.

Research Assistant Scams

How it works: the employer asks for sample work (writing, research, etc.) Upon providing a sample the employer agrees to hire the applicant and asks for more lengthy samples on a more specific topic.

Purpose: free research and writing. The scammer keeps the work and never submits a payment.

Unemployment Benefits Scams

How it works: the scammer attempts to extract personal information in a variety of ways like offering a fake job.

Purpose: steal/intercept unemployment benefits.