It is no secret that we are in the midst of tough economic times. However, some people have founded a business through scams and exploitation of those most vulnerable during a recession. Internet scams of all forms are being widely distributed, primarily through emails. Just in 2007, the Consumer Protection Agency had received 6,000 complaints about different scams that were circulating throughout various the mediaries of the internet.
The most recent type of scam is not as brazen as the traditional "offshore bank account." Rather today's scam exploits unemployment in a subtle, yet believable fashion. Those who are unemployed have been targeted by scammers with emails saying that they either work for a job placement agency, or they are part of a corporation who wants to hire them. In turn, these scammers usually ask for a monetary deposit which tends to range from a couple hundred, to a few thousand dollars. Though most see this as a scam from the beginning, scammers are obviously profiting from their newest method.
If you are encountered with a potential scam, the Consumer Protection Agency advises to look for red flags such as asking excessive information that one would normally not ask at an introductory job interview. Also, unless you are explicitly commissioning an agency, it is irrational to be paying for a job interview. So, a mix of common sense and a bit of skepticism is the best way to protect yourself. And the saying goes, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
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