Avoiding a job scam

“We are pleased to offer you the position of…” the words every job seeker wants to hear but what if those words are from a scammer? Yes, the job market has scammers and one of them attempted to scam me. Luckily my spidey-senses were functioning because I figured it out before they got any of my personal data. It really sucks that scammers are going after people who are quite possibly unemployed and trying to save every cent of their savings in hopes they can stay ahead of their bills until they find their next job. But then, they are scammers and that’s why they do, isn’t it? So here’s my cautionary tale that I want to tell so hopefully I can help save others from getting scammed.

I applied for a Scrum Master job posted on LinkedIn. Now, you’d think LinkedIn would be a safe place, but scammers go everywhere they can and LinkedIn doesn’t really have any more safety valves than any other job boards (other than the job boards who screen every job posting and you usually have to pay a fee).

The first hint for me was why would a nanny service be hiring a scrum master? I looked up the company online and saw they did have a web presence, so maybe they were going to make a big move and update their web presence from merely contact information to something more robust with possibly some AI? It’s possible.

Shortly after I applied, I got an email from someone claiming to be the Human Resources Manager telling me:

I would like to inform you that [*Name of company] reviewed your application profile via LinkedIn. We're looking to hire for the position of a Scrum Master working remotely.

We require your talents, and you are one of the individuals shortlisted for the available position, making you eligible to move on to the next stage.

[*Name of company] wants to ensure that your talents, goals, and ambitions match the culture of the company and the role. If you are still interested in this opportunity, please respond with "Interested" and acknowledge receipt of this email.

I immediately responded that I was interested and the next day I received the following email from the Human Resources Manager:

Please find attached the Screening test/interview Questions for the Screening/interview process. Duly note that there are no "Right or wrong answers" and this test will serve as your entry interview since we have made provision for 3-5 days training for all staff before work commences. We do not require a phone call to facilitate an interview hence the provision of our training scheme to induct newly recruited.

The interview and screening test questions are designed to assess your skills and provide insights into how you approach tasks related to the Scrum Master (Remote) position.

Your prompt response to our queries is essential. If you have any questions or need clarification, please don't hesitate to reach out so we can provide further guidance.

Best of Luck with the test.

I opened the document and found a list of 15 questions on what appeared to be company letterhead complete with logo that matched the website. The questions were the sort that one might get in an interview and centered on basic scrum topics and how you might handle certain situations a scrum master might encounter on the job. The only personal information requested was the applicant’s name. I spent some time answering the questions thoughtfully and returned my answers promptly because the email had said “Your prompt response to our queries is essential”.

Five and a half hours later I received the following email:

Following an exhaustive evaluation of all shortlisted candidates from the written screening interviews, your expertise, work ethic, and skills stood out. We are pleased to offer you the position of Scrum Master (Remote) on a full-time basis.

Congratulations on your achievement! [Name of company] is excited to extend an offer to you. Given your experience and skills, we are confident that you will be a valuable addition to our creative team and play a pivotal role in the company's success. Please take note of the following important details:

You will receive your daily duties via email and I shall be online (Consulting) to work you through your tasks. You will be undergoing a 3 to 5 days online training, via Zoom, immediately after setting up your custom mini office.

We are starting you with $82 per hour and you will receive your pay weekly or monthly via; wire transfer, direct deposit or check, depending on which you prefer. Benefits  include: Health and Dental Insurance, Vision insurance and 401(k) and 401(k) matching. You will be enrolled for other benefits after a period of 3 months of working with us.

We shall be communicating virtually during your 3-5 days of your training, subsequently a user and password shall be given to you including an up link to the company server and a list of contact phone numbers to various departments shall be handed to you including all necessary forms to fill out.

Before beginning your training, we will provide you with a payment (via check) to cover the cost of the bespoke office equipment, software, and installation necessary for your training and job tasks. Once we receive a signed copy of the Employment Letter from you, [Name of company] will send a check that covers the entire cost of the required equipment. Your training will kick off once all equipment and software are set up and installed. It's essential to manage your time effectively during this period, and further discussions on this topic will be held with your designated supervisor.

Your employment agreement shall be drafted and will require your signature. Our aim is that; you start training as soon as possible.

  Your details according to record needs an update: 

Your Full Name:

  Full Home Address:

  Phone number:  

  Your Email :

Kindly fill the above name and address for the draft of your employment agreement.

This is the point when the alarm bells sounded in earnest. First off, it had only been 5 hours since I returned my answers yet they are saying they did an exhaustive evaluation of all shortlisted candidates written screening interviews? Secondly, they are going to make me an offer sight unseen? Third, $82 per hour is way above what a scrum master is typically paid. $45-$58 per hour is the average. Fourth, the company is a nanny search firm so the high pay rate seems even more uncharacteristic.

I began doing some research. I looked up the name of this “Human Resources Manager” on LinkedIn. There was a person with that name on LinkedIn but her job title on LinkedIn was “Nanny” not “Human Resources Manager” and she had no job experience other than child care and nanny roles. I looked at other people listed on LinkedIn who worked for this company and didn’t find anyone with any sort of a tech job title. I looked at the email address for the sender and saw that other than coming from @company.com it was from @companycareers.com. The website I had looked at (and whose logo had been used on the fake company letterhead was company.com. When I entered companycareers.com into a browser, I got a “Can’t find server” error. At this point I decided to look at domain registrations to see if possibly the same owners owned both domains.The domain ownership for company.com was through Go Daddy and the domain ownership for companycareers.com was through Google, yet another mismatch.

I was being scammed! I did not reply with my personal details and I resigned myself to keep looking for that elusive job that must be out there somewhere for me.

Here are some tips to keep from getting scammed when job hunting:

• Be wary of job postings that seem too good to be true. If a job posting promises a lot of money, no experience required, or a work-from-home position with no interview, it's probably a scam.

• Do your research on the company. Before you apply for a job, take some time to research the company. Check out their website, read reviews, and see if they have a physical address.

• Be careful about providing personal information. Don't give out your social security number, bank account information, or other personal information until you're sure the job is legitimate.

• Avoid wire transfers. Scammers often ask job seekers to wire money as part of the application process. This is a red flag, and you should avoid doing it.

• Don't pay for a job. Legitimate companies don't charge job seekers to apply for jobs. If a company asks you to pay for a job, it's a scam.

• Be suspicious of emails from unknown senders. Scammers often send emails that look like they're from legitimate companies. If you receive an email from an unknown sender, be suspicious and don't click on any links in the email.

• Be wary of job postings that require you to pay for training or materials. Legitimate companies will never ask you to pay for training or materials before you start working.

• Be suspicious of job postings that ask you to provide your bank account information or credit card number. Legitimate companies will never ask for this information before you start working.

• Be careful about clicking on links in emails from unknown senders. Scammers often send emails with malicious links that can infect your computer with malware.

• If you're not sure about a job posting, you can always contact the company directly to verify its authenticity. You can find the company's contact information on their website.

• Trust your gut. If something feels off about a job posting or a company, it probably is. Don't be afraid to walk away from a job that you're not sure about.

*NOTE: I have not used the name of the company this scam was under because they are a legitimate company and were unaware of this scam being conducted in their name.