A Guide for Avoiding Fake Job Offers
In today’s digital job market, the proliferation of fake job offers has become a growing concern. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in Nigeria today issued warnings about the increasing trend of counterfeit job listings, especially in the oil and gas industry. Ghanaians are equally vulnerable to employment scams and with smartphone ownership now at 46% and rising quickly it’s important to know the signs of a scam and how to protect yourself. This guide sets out some essential advice and practical tips on discerning fraudulent offers, empowering you to navigate the job market safely.
Spotting the Red Flags of Fake Job Offers
Unsolicited Offers A telltale sign of a fake job offer is receiving an invitation for a position you never applied for. Legitimate companies typically don’t send offers without a formal application and interview process.
Payment Demands Any job offer that requires you to pay fees for interviews, training, or job placement is undoubtedly a scam. Authentic job recruitment processes do not involve such financial transactions. Fake job offers that promise easy money working from home may require victims to pay fees upfront and are a red flag.
Unrealistic Compensation If a job offer promises exceptionally high pay for minimal effort, proceed with caution. These too-good-to-be-true offers are classic bait used in fake job schemes. Also consider whether you actually have the skillset for the job and/or the pay grade – promises of upskilling you is most likely a red flag.
Unrealistic Jobs A school cook from Old Fadama, Accra, shared with us that she received a WhatsApp message offering her a position as a chef in Saudi Arabia, and she was seriously considering the opportunity. Any job offer has to be a close match to the job you are doing today or it falls into the “too good to be true” category.
Communication If the offer comes from a free email service or generic domain or if the employer communicates only via messaging service like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger these should all raise a red flag that it’s a fake job offer. Always be suspicious if the communications contain several grammatical and spelling errors.
With 46% of Ghanaians owning a smartphone it's imperative to know the signs of fake job scams
Unrealistic Compensation If a job offer promises exceptionally high pay, high pay for minimal effort, or significantly higher pay than your current job proceed with caution. These too-good-to-be-true offers are classic bait used in fake job schemes. Also, consider whether you have the skillset for the job and/or the pay grade – promises of upskilling you are most likely a red flag.
How to Verify the Legitimacy of Job Offers
Deep Dive into Company Research A genuine company will have a substantial online presence. Their website will be well designed and laid out with good page speed loading times. Icons to link to social media will link to genuine accounts. Check the website’s footer to see if it displays their company registration details. Investigate their social media and employee reviews to gauge their legitimacy. Fake job offers often originate from entities with minimal or no online footprint. Check if the company is registered with the Office of the Registrar of Companies
Confirm Job Listings Be vigilant of job postings on well-known boards that seem suspicious. Always cross-verify these opportunities directly through the company’s official channels.
Guard Your Personal Information One common goal of fake job offers is to harvest personal information. Protect your personal details and only share them when you are certain of the company’s legitimacy. A legitimate company would not ask for information (ex. Social Security, Ghana card, bank account, credit card) until late in the recruitment process and then most likely only in person.
Evaluate Communication The quality of communication from the potential employer can reveal much about the authenticity of the job offer. Official communications should be professional, free from errors, and originate from official company domains. For example, MTN’s domain is https://mtn.com.gh/ so do not entertain an email that comes from say mtn.jobs@gmail.com or say jobs@mtnjobs.com.gh
Analyze the Offer Legitimate job offers are detailed and follow a transparent recruitment process. Be wary of any offer that arrives unexpectedly, without any prior interaction with the company. Be wary of job offers that are time-limited where you are placed under pressure to interview immediately or the “opportunity” will be gone – a genuine employer would not pressure you to make a quick decision, rather they would give you a deadline.
Trust Your Instincts If an offer raises red flags or feels too good to be true, trust your instincts. Taking a moment to reassess can save you from falling victim to a fake job offer. Talk the offer over with friends and relatives, give them all the facts and don’t try to lead them in their evaluation of the situation.
In Conclusion
The rise of fake job offers in the digital age demands a new level of caution and awareness among job seekers in Ghana. By recognising the signs of fraudulent offers and taking steps to verify the authenticity of job opportunities, you can protect yourself from scams. Remember, if an opportunity seems too good to be true, it likely is. Stay informed, stay sceptical, seek the opinion of your friends and family and navigate your job search with confidence.
