Freelance Content Writer, SEO Blogger, Ghostwriter – squareONE

Who would have thought that entire community groups are posting jobs and out to scam you?

Photo by Donald Giannatti on Unsplash

I recently explored Facebook communities for freelance writing jobs and found the most interesting thing.

Nearly every job advertisement is a scam, which is tough to pull off, even for scammers. Still, there are entire community groups called Freelancer Typing, Freelancing Jobs, Freelance Content Writing Jobs, and Wanted Freelance Writing Jobs, where many people are posing as legitimate hirers.

I am sharing how it’s done for job seekers who may turn to Facebook as a potential platform. Getting scammed does not just mean stealing sensitive information, which is the worst-case scenario and can lead to identity theft. It also means wasting time pursuing something that turns out to be a dead end when you could have explored other, more constructive opportunities.

Here’s some information on how it’s done so you are aware the next time you come across a Facebook job posting.

How It’s Done

The most interesting part of the hiring process is that once you comment on a post for a particular job, you will receive private messages from several people, not just the person who posted the original task. That was the first red flag. 🚩

They will claim they all work for the same company, but they will often require you to use different ways to contact the hiring manager for an interview or learn more about the writing task.

Some suggest contacting a WhatsApp number; others tell you to message the company director on a well-known messaging application and send a link. At first, this did not strike me as suspicious, but when they were all messaging me and telling me to use this to message their company hiring managers, that seemed odd. So, I did a quick Google search and found this article, which was the second red flag.🚩

When you ask about the job, they will explain how urgent it is, so they offer a good sum of money. They will make it seem like everything is very time-sensitive. They will claim it is for important clients, need your full attention, and ask if you are working on anything else. They will also say that if you need advance payment, you must sign up for a freelancing platform that requires a fee, which was the third red flag. 🚩

Facebook has a large user base, so creating a post and getting the attention of individuals looking for work is pretty straightforward. There is no vetting or way to ascertain whether these individuals are legitimate. The messaging application is often used for this purpose because it is easy to stay anonymous and use and has no moderation. It requires you to fill out personal information that the scammer can sometimes access.

How to Protect Yourself

What can you do to protect yourself when looking for freelancing jobs?

In addition to doing a quick Google search to verify the company from their official website, here are three things you can do to protect yourself if the company seems legitimate.

1. Do Not Download Anything

One of the first things scammers will try to do is get you to download something. Don’t download anything because they can try to access your laptop and sensitive information through a file with viruses or malware. Always ask to view shared documents through Google Docs or other document-sharing applications, and do not accept any files via email.

2. Do Not Give out Personal Info

This should be reasonably easy, but you don’t know how many people give out bank information, addresses, and phone numbers without verifying the job posting to see if the company is legitimate. Only give out personal information once you know the company is legitimate. This includes phone numbers, addresses, and social security numbers. This information is not pertinent, and if the hirer is pushing you, then you can be sure it is a scam.

3. Do Not Click on Payment Links

We know that it is a scam if the employer asks for money. But here is another way for them to get your hard-earned savings: by having you fill out a webpage with your banking information. Legitimate employers wait to ask for payment information. Still, if they push you, give your PayPal ID or other payment systems that have more robust security systems.

Keeping your information safe while job searching is not something that registers often but should be on your radar. Research the company before hitting the apply button, and you can thank me later!

I am interested in learning about other kinds of hiring scams that people may have encountered, so please feel free to share in the comments below!