Business/Job Opportunity Imposter Scams

Scammers know that finding a job or a new business opportunity can be challenging. To trick people looking for honest work, scammers advertise job openings and business opportunities on the same sites where real employers and job placement firms do. If you’ve been in contact with someone who asks you to pay them to help you find a job or asked you to give them a debit or credit card number for security purposes before you can be considered for the opportunity, it’s likely a scam.

If you think you or someone you know has been scammed by a fake job opening or business opportunity, we recommend that you act immediately, by following our guidelines below, and then proceed to our Report, Recover, and Reinforce sections for further assistance.

Some Immediate Action Steps to Take*

Employers and employment firms shouldn’t ask you to pay for the promise of a job.
Stop all contact with that individual and company.
Don’t give out your credit card or bank account information over the phone to a company unless you’re familiar with them. Anyone who has your account information can use it.
Go to this site to see a copy of your free annual credit report.

Report

Reporting cybercrime incidents to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is very important! The more national reporting data that is collected, the better the chance law enforcement has to catch the criminals and decrease online crime. Although the FBI does not resolve individual complaints directly, they will make your report available to local, state and other law enforcement partners. The FAQs about reporting can be found here. Please read the FBI/IC3 privacy policy here. (If you believe that you’ve received a phishing email, please forward the email directly to spam@uce.gov and
reportphishing@apwg.org.)

Recover

These resources have been gathered, selected and vetted to help simplify the process of recovering after a cybercrime incident has taken place. You may need to contact organizations outside Fraudsupport.org. Results will vary depending on your circumstances.

DMAchoice.org: Remove Your Email From Commercial Mailing Lists
FTC: Business Opportunity Scams
Call “Victim Connect” for Victim Advocate Assistance (855-4-VICTIM)
Contact your state attorney general’s office for local victim resources

Reinforce

Once you have notified the appropriate organizations and you are on the road to recovery, it is time to reinforce the security of your accounts, using these resources and tools.

Improve Your Security: Find cybersecurity tools to enhance your online safety.
FTC: Signs and Tips about Job Scams
FTC: Staying Away From Nanny and Caregiver Job Scams
Balance Careers: Top Ten Job Scam Warning Signs
AARP: How to Recognize and Avoid Work From Home Scams

Resources for Children, Teens,
and Young Adults Resources for Older Adults
and Caregivers

Report the Scam to The Job Opportunity Site:

Contact the Money Service Company You May Have Used and Report the Fraud

MoneyGram (800-MONEYGRAM; 800-666-3947)
OFX (888-288-7354)
PayPal (888-221-1161)
Venmo (855-812-4430)
Western Union (800-325-6000)
Zelle (844-428-8542)

Contact Credit Reporting Agencies to Monitor Your Accounts

Experian (888-397-3742)
Equifax (800-525-6285)
TransUnion (800-680‑7289)

Implement Preventive Measures

Contact the company directly to find out if they are really hiring through the service.
Ask for the opportunity details — in writing.
Contact these organizations to check for complaints and for assistance:
For new business opportunities:
- Listen to sales presentations with a critical ear.
- If you don’t receive the information you know they have to provide, walk away.
- Consider getting professional advice. Ask a lawyer, accountant, or business advisor to read the paperwork before you proceed.

*More information on these general guidelines can be found on the FTC website.

Helpful Videos

FTC: Job Scams