Job scams: Never pay to work
VA News ·
Learn the warning signs of job scams that target Veterans and military families, and how to protect your money, personal information and benefits.
Job scams rank among the top predatory schemes that Veterans and military families encounter.
In pursuit of remote work and higher income, anyone can easily become a target. Hiring scams are particularly deceiving, targeting not just money, but also personal information and sensitive documents.
These scams can take many forms, and can be equally as damaging. Veterans, service members and their families are specifically targeted due to their access to benefits. According to reports from the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau , they suffered a higher median dollar loss than non-military consumers, with total reported losses of $584 million.
VA is dedicated to safeguarding Veterans, service members and their beneficiaries from online threats. As technology advances, so do scammers’ strategies. VA aims to ensure Veterans and their loved ones are informed about these various scam techniques, enabling them to recognize fraud and protect themselves effectively.
Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, utilizing job scams that promise lucrative opportunities to eager candidates. Knowing how to recognize warning signs can help you avoid these scams:
It can be hard to tell if a job opportunity is real or a scam. Scammers post fake job ads online, on social media and even on job search websites. They sometimes make the ads look like they are from real companies. They do this to get money or personal information from you. They may also send texts to your personal phone.
Approach every job opportunity cautiously until you know the company and job are real.
It is essential that Veterans, service members and their families recognize common online scams and take measures to protect their personal information and benefits. VA is committed to providing a safer online environment for the military and Veteran communities.
Veterans and military families who suspect they have experienced fraud can find more and report to the appropriate agency at www.vsafe.gov , or by calling 833-38V-SAFE.