TL;DR: Scam activity builds through May and June as graduation ceremonies happen nationwide and both new graduates and their families are more publicly identifiable and reachable online than usual. Treat any job offer that asks for money upfront as a scam, and verify a company's legitimacy independently before providing personal or banking information during a job application.
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Scam activity builds through May and June as graduation ceremonies happen nationwide and both new graduates and their families are more publicly identifiable and reachable online than usual.
How the Scam Plays Out
Fraudsters pose as employers with too-good-to-be-true job offers that require an upfront 'training fee,' or send fake congratulatory messages with malicious links timed to when a graduate is actively job hunting.
How to Protect Yourself
Treat any job offer that asks for money upfront as a scam, and verify a company's legitimacy independently before providing personal or banking information during a job application.
If this looks similar to something else you've seen, it's worth reading Halloween Costume and Delivery Scams.
This pattern shows up elsewhere too — see Holiday Package Delivery Scam Surge.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does this typically happen?
Scam activity builds through May and June as graduation ceremonies happen nationwide and both new graduates and their families are more publicly identifiable and reachable online than usual.
What tactics are used?
Fraudsters pose as employers with too-good-to-be-true job offers that require an upfront 'training fee,' or send fake congratulatory messages with malicious links timed to when a graduate is actively job hunting.
How can I protect myself?
Treat any job offer that asks for money upfront as a scam, and verify a company's legitimacy independently before providing personal or banking information during a job application.
What should I do if I’ve already been targeted?
Stop all payments immediately, contact your bank or card issuer to see if a transaction can be reversed or flagged, and report the incident to the appropriate consumer protection body.