There are many scam artists out there flooding Craigslist with fake job postings, or postings that are essentially “Work from home and make $4000 a month” type jobs. By identifying scams, increasing your chances of finding a real job, and dealing with scams you can help make Craigslist and appropriate job posting site.
Identifying Scams
- Use of the dollar sign in the title of the job:
- The word “Yours in the job title:
- Odd characters in the title
Increasing Your Chances
You should stay away from job postings that have a full page of details if it’s not a very technical position. Postings that have lots of details are typically posted on other job sites such as Monster.
If you’re looking for freelance work, it’s best to reply to postings that only have a line or two of a description. It’s even better if there are a couple of typos. That way you know that it’s a real person looking for real help. They don’t copy and paste a job description into Craig’s List.
Dealing with Scams
In order to help other people who are also looking for jobs, if you come across a scam, please flag is as either prohibited or spam/overpost.
October 1st, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Also I have found that if there is a link to an online application that has to be filled out then it is probably a scam. If it really is a legit local job then you can fill out an application before or after your interview.
January 21st, 2009 at 3:35 pm
The ones that link you to an online application are phishing for infomration. They take what you put into the form and then start spamming you to death. Also, beware job ads that say you have to send them your credit information before you can apply.
January 30th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Craigslist should not allow such things or make it so easy to do. They should force those so called job posters to give complete information about their companies. It is such a shame unemployed people are being given false hope of being employed.