How to avoid being scammed when looking for a job on online recruitment networks

The job search process is always a stressful experience that requires a lot of time, effort and patience. Financial worries and the desire to quickly find a stable job can catch many people off guard.

This is the perfect opportunity for online scammers to take advantage of job seekers' impatience and lack of caution, luring them into elaborate traps and stealing their personal or financial information.

There is a significant increase in sophisticated forms of fraud, in which scammers often create fake recruitment posts on job search websites or social networks.

These job postings often promise attractive salaries and flexible work, requiring candidates to perform simple online tasks to earn money. However, behind these attractive offers are malicious intentions, scammers seek to collect sensitive personal information such as bank accounts or even ask job seekers to pay a certain fee upfront.

Although this threat is increasing, with vigilance and equipped knowledge, you can completely protect yourself from these scams.

Here are some important tips for finding a safe job, along with warning signs you should recognize and avoid.

1. Research the employer online before applying.

Before applying for a job, take the time to verify the legitimacy of the company. First, you need to find out if the company actually exists. Do they have a clear and specific office address? Is there an official phone number that you can call to verify information?

Next, check the identity of the recruiter or hiring manager. Are they actually an employee of that company? You can find this information on the company's official website or through professional social networking sites.

Also, is the company publicly recruiting for the position you are interested in on official channels such as the company website or trusted recruitment platforms? Make sure that the recruitment information matches the job description published on these platforms.

Another important factor is to check the link attached to the job posting. Make sure the link leads to a secure web address, starting with "https://";. You can hover over the link to see the actual URL before clicking. If the link looks suspicious or doesn't match the company's official website, don't click it.

2. Verify posts found on social media sites and recruitment websites

When you come across a job posting on third-party job platforms like Vietnamworks, Indeed, etc., don’t rush to send your application. Take the time to check whether the job is officially posted on the company’s website.

While not all businesses have a job posting section on their website, most reputable companies will list their open positions directly on their official website. Look for the 'Career Opportunities' or 'Recruitment' section on the company's website and check the information.

If you can't find information about a job position on the official website, while it appears on another platform, this could be a potential red flag. This doesn't necessarily mean it's a scam, but you should be extra cautious.

In case of doubt, contact the company's human resources department directly via email or phone number listed on the official website to verify the recruitment information. If you do not receive a clear answer or if the recruitment information cannot be verified, it is best to continue looking for other more reliable opportunities.

3. Don't give out your bank account information until you're hired.

During the recruitment process, scammers often subtly ask candidates to provide sensitive financial information, such as bank account details or even wire transfers. This is a clear sign of a scam.

Remember, a legitimate employer will never ask you for bank account information or financial details during the interview stage or before you receive a formal job offer.

Only after you have completed the signing of the employment contract and gone through the administrative procedures to set up the payment method (usually direct deposit into a bank account), will they ask for some basic information such as bank name, account number, etc.

4. Confirm the employer's identity

Don’t rush into accepting a job offer that’s only available through an email, phone call, or chat app message. A transparent and professional hiring process typically includes at least one in-person interview or a video interview via trusted platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet.

This interview not only helps you evaluate the hiring manager, but it also gives you the opportunity to verify their identity. Make sure the person you are talking to is actually a representative of the company.

If a recruiter refuses to do a video interview or avoids providing verification information, consider this a major red flag. A trustworthy company is always willing to be transparent about every step of the hiring process.

5. Be wary of requests for recruitment fees, especially via bank transfer.

Always be wary of any requests for payment during the hiring process. Scammers often ask you to pay for things like training, materials, or background checks. However, a reputable and legitimate employer will never ask a candidate to pay any fees to be hired or start a job.

In particular, consider this a major red flag if someone asks you to send money via wire transfer. Wire transfers are almost instantaneous, difficult to withdraw, and almost impossible to reverse. This means the scammer could disappear with your money before you even realize you’ve fallen for the scam.

Remember, in a trustworthy hiring process, money flows one way only from the company to the employee in the form of salary or benefits, not the other way around.

6. Don't share personal data with job search apps or social networking sites.

Never enter your national ID number or any other personally identifiable information into online forms on third-party job search websites. This sensitive information should only be provided directly to the human resources department or hiring manager of the company you intend to work for, once the recruitment process has officially begun.

7. If you have to enter important personal information, make sure the website is secure

Before entering any personal information, double-check the web address to make sure it starts with 'https://'. This is a sign that the site uses secure encryption, which helps protect your data.

However, you should only fill out the information after you have contacted the recruiter directly or made a video call to verify their legitimacy. This helps you ensure that you are communicating with an official representative of the company and not falling into a scam.