Getting an offer quickly should also make you suspicious, Levin says. An on-the-spot offer might mean you are a target, not a potential employee.
Finally: “Trust your gut and ask questions,” Harper advises. Don’t ignore the feeling that something’s not right.
What to do if you think you were scammed
Whether you are applying for online jobs or not, your best protection against identity theft is a credit freeze. If someone has your Social Security number, a credit freeze can help keep them from opening new credit accounts using your personal data.
If you have given out credit card or bank account information, contact the issuer or financial institution as quickly as you can. Ask how you can limit the danger, whether that’s getting an updated credit card number or opening a different bank account.
You should also report an online job scam to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. The more information you are able to provide, in terms of names, emails, texts and the like, the better.
