With over 2 million jobs lost in 2008 and millions more expected to be lost in 2009, there are a huge number of people searching desperately for jobs right now. The Internet provides a wide array of sites for job seekers to search and hopefully find the right opportunity for them. However, an alarmingly high number of these job opportunities are too good to be true, and are actually a scam that could cost you thousands of dollars.

A growing number of job hunters are excited to get responses to resumes and applications submitted online. They prepare for the interview only to arrive and find out that they are actually in a sales pitch for a career marketing service. These services are designed to help people searching for jobs clean up their resumes, refine their searches to jobs that they are interested in and qualified for, and get connected with decision makers at prospective companies. Great services maybe, but not what these job seekers thought they were getting into.

These services can have heavy upfront and ongoing costs, and they can be made to sound extremely effective, potentially costing you thousands of dollars.

A recent survey of 132 different job-posting sites found that 39% of respondents frequently find ads on their sites that are misleading and intended to gather information about, or sell services to, those seeking jobs. The internet is a great tool if you’re looking for a job, but it can also be an easy place to fall into a scam.

There are a few key things to keep in mind if you’re looking online for a job.  First, use a reputable site. Most legitimate, major job-posting sites have teams dedicated to screening listings for misleading ads. Second, never give out your personal information, including Social Security and bank account numbers, to anyone without verifying their legitimacy first. Third, avoid postings that lack details about the company hiring, starting salary numbers, or the position you’re applying for.

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Tags: job losses, scams, unemployment

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