Beware job offers involving certified checks.
Be on the lookout for emails with the subject line “Part-time job offer” or “IU paid job offer.” IU students and alumni are being targeted by scammers offering part-time work with high wages.
Respondents are asked to provide information like phone numbers, mailing addresses, gender, and date of birth. They also receive a “certified check” to deposit as an advance, and then are asked to send a personal check to receive supplies. The certified check is phony and will bounce, but not before the respondent’s check has been cashed.
The following tips will help determine if an email is part of this scam:
- The email comes from a Gmail or other public mail account, rather than a company email server.
- It claims to have gotten your name from the school database or directory—IU doesn’t provide such a thing.
- It asks you to deposit a check for work you haven’t done.
- The salary offered is high for the type of work being done.
Remember, if an offer looks too good to be true, it’s probably a scam. Find tips and strategies for avoiding email scams at Phishing.iu.edu.
If you receive an employment scam email, forward it to your campus Career Services Office with full headers.
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