Finding a job is a tough task, especially for college students with limited time and experience. The Career Management Center would like to remind students to always be on the lookout for job scams even if you are desperate to start working.

Dirk Welch, director of the Career Management Center, says the office works diligently to verify the legitimacy of each posting that is submitted to the www.MustangsHire.org system. However, with fraudulent job postings being found on job boards and websites everywhere it’s important for students to be aware of red flags.

Some red flags of potential cyber-crimes and job posting scams include:

• Offering you a job without ever interacting with you
• Paying you a large amount of money for doing little to no work
• The position requires an initial investment, such as a payment by wire service or courier
• The company is not listed with the Better Business Bureau
• The job interview is scheduled at a restaurant or anyplace other than a legitimate office
• The “employer” is requesting a copy of your passport, drivers license or social security card up front
• The company doesn’t have a legitimate website or an email address with a company domain name
•  You are asked to forward payments, by wire, courier, bank transfer, check, or through PayPal
• A high salary or wage is listed for a job that requires minimum skills
• The job is too good to be true

Students can protect themselves from scam artists that may prey upon your money, personal information and physical safety in many different ways.

Stephanie Sullivan, assistant director of the Career Management Center, advises students to research the company before applying. “Doing a quick Google search is really the first step. Legitimate companies are going to be listed with the Better Business Bureau,” Sullivan said.

The Career Management Center advises students and alumni that have any concerns about the legitimacy of a job posting to contact the Career Management Center.

“We want to address the issue immediately to ensure the safety of other students,” says Cindy Price, college coordinator of the Career Management Center. “If it happens on the MustangsHire system we will deactivate the [fraudulent] account and ban the user from all future posting,” Price said.

Recently, an MSU student identified the signs of a job scam posted on an off-campus website. The scammer planned to send the student money prior to even doing any work.

Luckily the student sought out advice and contacted the Career Management Center before accepting the money.

“We confirmed the student’s concern, advised the student to cease all communication with the ’employer’ and encouraged the student to meet with the MSU Police Department as well as alert the posting agency of the fraudulent job,” said Welch.

If you have questions or suspect any MustangsHire job or employer of unethical or criminal behavior, immediately report it to the Career Management Center at 940-397-4473. The CMC will take action to investigate the posting and related employer to protect other students from harm.

Cristina McCrary is the career consultant in the Career Management Center.