SCAM SELF-DEFENCE GUIDE

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Job & Employment Scams

You could be wORKING for a payday that never comes

You could be wORKING for a payday that never comes

Scammers will tempt you with job offers that promise high pay for minimal effort. It's a smoke-and-mirrors technique where only the scammer benefits in the end. Beef up before engaging with a potential bad boss. The dojo of deception defence is now open.

Spotting a scam

Job and employment scams involve scammers promising earnings for completing game-like tasks on a website or app. You might be asked to send money to "top up" your account to unlock tasks, accumulating a balance you’ll never fully redeem. The scam typically ends when you attempt to withdraw your balance or run out of funds to send to the scammer.

They advertise jobs via legitimate social media platforms pretending to be hiring on behalf of well known companies and online shopping platforms.

They’ll promise you’ll earn a high income while working from home, with little effort and no experience.

They’ll ask you to top up an account with your own money or cryptocurrency to complete tasks, often resulting in you never seeing your money again.

Employment scammers may target more than just your wallet. They might ask to use your bank account to receive funds and then transfer them to another account, promising a commission. This is money laundering and participating in it is a criminal offence.

In the eyes of a scammer, your personal information is as valuable as cash. They may ask for more personal details than necessary for a legitimate job application.

Self-Defence

Before you get cornered by scammers promising a payday that never comes, equip yourself with the skills to fight back. With training, you'll react swiftly and effectively. Think and act before agreeing to employment that seems too good to be true.

Cross-check the job listing. Before applying, check if the job is advertised on LinkedIn or if the company has its own listing online.

Personal protection comes first. Be aware of how much information you’re sharing with a scammer. If it feels too much, it probably is.

Never send money to someone offering you a job. You’re working to make money, not lose it!

Life’s better on the Upside

Up acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung people of the Eastern Kulin Nation as the traditional custodians of the land where we build and create. We recognise their deep creative connection to Country, and want to continue this notion of play and knowledge sharing. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sovereignty was never ceded, this continent always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

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Up is a brand of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited, ABN 11 068 049 178, AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 237879. Any advice provided on this website is of a general nature only and does not take into account your personal needs, objectives and financial circumstances. You should consider whether it is appropriate for your situation. Registered address: The Bendigo Centre, Bath Lane, Bendigo, Vic, 3550.