Know and avoid Canada’s fake job offer scams

Every day there is news about some person falling prey to scams that lure people by giving a job offer in Canada. These scammers have been actively taking advantage of the vulnerable situation of people, especially since the pandemic. Online scam cases have been on a continuous rise since then.

In the recent data released by Canada’s Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), the losses in 2021 were more than double of that in 2020, totaling up to $231 million. Moreover, the number of cases of fraud reported in 2021 exceeded 68,000, excluding the cases of December.

The desperate job seekers provide their personal information and sometimes even pay money to apply for and secure this fake job offer in Canada. Ammwaiy Careers advices some tips and solutions to help people become aware of such scams and start taking appropriate precautions to avoid falling for these.

The CAFC website, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and some other websites have a scam tracker that provides recent data on the reported cases of fraud. Being aware and having knowledge about scammers can definitely help in reducing the number of cases.

Ms Rashmi Khanna, with her experience of more than 21 years in the international immigration and education sector, points out some hints to help you identify a fake job offer. Along with that, Ms Payal Tandon offers some tips to avoid getting scammed. They also share some genuine methods to apply for jobs overseas to lessen these scams in India.

How to figure out a fake offer?

Here are some hints pointed out by Ms Rashmi Khanna that indicate a fake job offer:

1. Unknown Companies – The usual pattern shows that a fake job offer mostly comes from companies that a person didn’t apply to. The job offer would look attractive but one needs to carefully check whether they’ve applied for the job or not. If not, then it’s probably a fake offer.
2. Unreal Perks and Requirements – A fake job offer would lure a person with all sorts of perks and minimum qualification requirements, which makes it look like anyone is capable of doing it. They would offer a high salary package and ask for requirements like candidates with no experience or above 18 years, etc.
3. Sender’s Email Address – A legitimate firm’s email address would have its own domain name and not free email services like Gmail. Sometimes scammers hack the company’s email and send a fake job offer through that. If there is no contact information in the sender’s mail, do not reply to it. Instead, re-check with someone else in the company to see if they really reached out.
4. Asks For Money – It is always a fake job offer if anyone from the recruiting end asks for a transaction in order to get the position. A legitimate offer would never require any money or payment.
5. Asks For Personal Data – If the recruiter asks for personal information such as home address or the Social Insurance Number (SIN), it indicates a fake job offer. A legitimate employer would ask for the SIN after completing the hiring process. An SIN should be shared only when required legally.

Tips to avoid getting scammed

Ms Payal Tandon offers some advice to aspirants applying for jobs. These simple tricks can help them avoid becoming a victim of such scams.

• Do simple research before agreeing to anything.
• Do not click on any links, reply to any messages, or download anything until received from a satisfactory legitimate recruiter.
• Do a quick background check on the sender and the company they are representing. See if typing the company name along with “scam” turns up any results.
• If a fake job offer is suspected, report it to the CAFC and the BBB.

How to apply genuinely?

Ammwaiy Careers explains some genuine methods to apply for a job abroad. These can help you get genuine job offers in Canada.

1. Networking

• According to Linked-In, networking accounts for approximately 85% of job searches. Ask for leads from someone known in the country.
• A real job offer would be from a company that a person applied to or was introduced to through networking.

2. Various resources for a job offer

• People living in Canada can also look for employment services provided by the Municipality or Province.
• International students can use the University’s resources to find work.
• Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) offers free settlement and employment services on its website for newcomers to Canada.
• Canadian employers can also search for local and international talent through a job bank website.

3. Apply directly

• Send applications to the company website directly.
• Some designated employers can also be found on provincial websites participating in Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).
• Also, communities participating in the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) may have opportunities on their municipal web pages.

These are just a few tips offered by Ammwaiy Careers. They understand the desire of people to work and settle abroad and thus offer a wide range of counselling and guidance for all your immigration needs. Whether planning to study abroad or looking for a job that is not offered by scammers, Ammwaiy Careers provides an all round solution to fulfill your dream of migrating overseas.