23 Online Job Search Safety

Learn to recognize employment scams to protect yourself from financial loss, identity theft, wasted time, and energy.

Be an informed and proactive job seeker. Research and assess every job posting, company, and employment agency to which you apply. Contact them directly if necessary. When in doubt about the job posting, company, or any interactions with an employer proceed with caution!

• Do not accept a job offer without being interviewed in person, over the phone, or via video call.
• A legitimate employer typically requests personal information only after an interview has been completed, references have been verified, and an offer of employment has been made and signed. Personal information includes SIN number, date of birth, driver’s license or health card, and banking information.
• ​​Do not use your own money to pay suppliers or transfer funds.
• Never accept payment in advance of starting a job or for services that have not been completed.
• Sounds too good to be true? Seek advice from a trusted source, such as a parent, a professor, or MyCareer at Conestoga College.

Read this article from the Better Business Bureau to learn more about how to protect yourself from job scams.

What to do if you suspect a job scam

• End all communication with the employer and if personal information was disclosed, change all of your passwords and monitor your accounts to be on the safe side.
• If you have sent money to a fraudulent employer, contact your bank or credit card company immediately for further instructions.
• Gather all records of the fraud and contact the police to report it: Waterloo Regional Police Service: Fraud and Identity Theft and/or RCMP – Reporting Scams and Frauds.

  To learn more, take a look at the following sites:

  • Consumer Protection Ontario
  • The Little Black Book of Scams