Fraudsters are getting better at sneaking scams in CU Boulder Student Jobs. They’ll often promote fake jobs in the same way honest employers do.  

Spotting a scammer

Search online: Look up the name of the company or the person who’s hiring you, plus the words “scam,” “review” or “complaint.”

Payment request: A potential employer should never ask you for money.

Fake check scam: Never cash a check that comes with “extra” money. No honest potential employer will ever send you a check to deposit and then tell you to send back part of the money or buy gift cards with it. The check will bounce, and the bank will want you to repay the amount of the fake check.

Odd offerings: Don’t take cashier’s checks, gift cards or money orders as a form of payment.

Have a bad feeling?

If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers are using several savvy techniques to grab your attention.

• Avoid jobs offering a lot of money for very little work.
• Ignore job opportunities sent right to your email. Student Employment will never directly email you jobs.
• Never give out personal information over email or the phone.
• Meet in a public place to better determine an employer’s intentions.

You’ll find more information on our Recognize & Avoid Job Scams webpage.