Cyber thieves prey on millennials seeking flexible summer jobs
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Cyber thieves are targeting millennials looking for a summer job with a flexible work schedule. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) tracks fraud and found last year, the age group of 18 to 34 commonly fell victim to fake jobs.
Our Sally Hernandez talked to the Heather Massey with the local BBB for a closer look.
Sally: They offer these jobs that are fake, but then how do they get money in return if somebody does not fall for it, if somebody does accept the offer?
Heather: A lot of times it’s for bogus training materials, so they need you to pay upfront for some training brochures or books, and generally it’s not a lot. It might seem like $100-$150 and you think, okay, that might be reasonable. And they always guarantee they will reimburse you once you’re on boarded and working with the company. Another common tactic is they’re going to help you set up your office. So they’re going to send you a check for, say, $1,000 to go ahead and buy those materials. Once you deposit the check, they’re going to immediately let you know they’ve overpaid you and ask you to send them a portion of that money back before you realize the check is bogus. It is fraudulent. With the bank, you’ve already sent the scammer money, and you’re on the hook for both items.
Sally: Heather, what do we do so we’re not the target?
Heather: Yeah. So if you have any red flags, something just doesn’t feel right, you always want to report it to bbb.org/scamtracker. If someone is pressuring you to sign right now, hand over money or financial information, take a pause and don’t do that. Really, really research the company and make sure you know who you’re dealing with.
