The forced transition to remote work in 2019-2020 due to the depression epidemic opened up unexpected business opportunities and caused changes in the labour market. At that time, we realised that remote work for IT specialists, hybrid jobs for designers, online work for marketers and copywriters was very convenient. And fraudsters are trying to catch us on the desire to feel all the benefits of online work.
It is not surprising that the demand for remote vacancies has increased among candidates on job search sites. The online job market in Ukraine is still growing rapidly. According to Ukrainian job search sites, the demand for remote employment for programmers has increased by 60% over the past year. According to research, 70% of IT specialists prefer remote work to full-time work.
In this regard, we quote the words of HR expert Olena Petrenko: "The online work market in Ukraine is experiencing a real boom. Companies are realising the benefits of hiring remote workers, and specialists are appreciating the comfort and flexibility of this format."
This explains why hybrid work for data analysts and flexible system administrator jobs are becoming increasingly popular. According to a study by the International Labour Organization (ILO), in 2023, the number of people working remotely increased by 24% compared to 2019. We are witnessing a global trend towards remote work."
But fraudsters could not help but take advantage of people's desire to find an online dream job and experience all the benefits of remote work. In this article, we'll look at the main fraudulent schemes and give specific advice on how not to fall for the scams."
The most common fraudulent schemes
You can recognize a fraudulent job in the following ways
So, you are most likely dealing with fraudsters if:
you are offered a salary that is much higher than all similar offers;
they cannot explain exactly what you will do;
they demand to pay money (employment, courses, diplomas, and anything else);
the company does not have its own website, pages in social networks, you cannot find reviews of its activities and, in general, no contacts;you are bothered with messages, calls, and pressure to speed up your consent;
suspicious tone of communication - you are immediately treated with panache, spoken to in a familiar manner, and written with mistakes.
Less common but no less dangerous schemes
Fraudsters who have failed will act less obviously and be more inventive next time. Be vigilant when you are asked to fulfil certain conditions when offered the next job:
in call centres and technical support - require you to install special (actually malicious) applications, gaining access to your personal data;
Also, recently, fraudsters have been using AI to create fake social media pages with artificially generated fake interviews, reviews, and convincing text content. They pretend to be recruiters and HR of various companies. It is very difficult to notice anything suspicious. However, by sending messages with job offers, scammers are trying to extract personal data or money from you.
But we have tips for you against these schemes as well
Check company reviews on employer review sites: To get an idea of the company's reputation and working conditions, use sites that collect employer reviews from former and current employees.
Checking the company's contact information via Google Maps: to make sure that this company actually exists, you can use the application to check its address and even view photos of the office and read reviews.
Using domain name checking services: this way you can find out the registration period of the company's website domain name. You should be wary if the registration took place recently.
Use of services for checking SSL certificates: It is effective to check whether the company's website has an SSL certificate. If it is, it guarantees the security of the data you transmit to the site.
Check reviews about the company on forums and social networks: In addition to special review sites, you can additionally use social networks and forums. A bonus here is the opportunity to talk to people in a personal chat and ask them more about the company.
Consulting a lawyer to check the employment contract: It is never a bad idea to check the employment contract before signing it. You will have information about possible risks and the ability to protect your rights.
Use VPN to protect personal data: your internet traffic will be encrypted and your IP address will be hidden.
Check the company through state registers: the Unified State Register contains information on the registration of companies, legal entities and individual entrepreneurs, as well as public organisations. If the company is registered there, it means that it really exists and its activities are legal.
