Stay Alert – Watch Out for Holiday Job Scams

Holiday jobs can be a great way to make extra money, and they can sometimes turn into a long-term employment opportunity. However, be careful if a job seems too good to be true.

The Better Business Bureau shares these tips to avoid holiday job scams:

• Employers will never ask for payment upfront for a job. It's a red flag if businesses ask applicants to pay for job supplies, an application, or training fees. These expenses are the employer's responsibility.
  
  
• Be wary of job offers that don't require an interview. Even during the peak hiring season, reputable companies prefer to talk to top job candidates before hiring them. If a job offer is presented without an interview (on the phone or in person), question the company's hiring practices and do more research.
  
  
• Big money for small jobs is suspicious. If an employer promises outrageously good wages for simple tasks such as reshipping packages, stuffing envelopes, or answering phones, it's probably a scam. These too-good-to-be-true offers are an attempt to steal your personal information from a fake job application.
  
  
• Never work for a company before they hire you. A legitimate company will not ask potential applicants to complete complex projects before making an official offer. Before beginning any work, request an offer letter or written confirmation of what the job entails, including an official start date and compensation details.  

If you're careful, you can prevent scammers from stealing your holiday spirit.