Information About Job Scams & Fraudulent Offers

As you search, apply, and interview for internships and jobs, it is important to be cautious of job scams and fraudulent job offers that can be found online. The Opportunity Hub is dedicated to educating and protecting students from job scams through our wide-reaching career exploration resources, like LSA Engage and LSA Connect, but it is up to each and every student to understand the risks involved and proceed with common sense and vigilance* (see disclaimer below). 

What is a job scam/fraudulent offer?

A job offer scam typically takes the form of a legitimate-looking email or message that can impersonate a company or a U-M department/faculty member, and may ask for money or sensitive information.

What job scams can look like, and what to watch out for

Some job scams are easy to identify, while others are harder to spot. Fraudulent offers can be emails, messages, or illegitimate job postings online. They typically include an  offer for a position that is too good to be true (no interview required, exorbitant salaries, such as $2,000 a week, etc.), and impersonate real recruiters or known U-M faculty members. Scams intend to first hook you, build your trust, and then pressure you into an urgent call-to-action, such as sending money or personal information. 

If you’re unsure whether a posting is a scam or not, check for the following:

• A “spoofed” email address — For example, instead of the email ending with @umich.edu, it might have umich.edu@gmail.com, indicating that they are not affiliated with the University.

• The offer is too good to be true — Fraudulent offers could include unreasonably high pay ($2,000/week) or indicate that no interview or experience is needed.

• It is difficult to find or verify an address, valid contact, or company name.

• The position requires an initial investment — The scammer could request a wire transfer or payment through money transfer apps.

• You are offered or sent a large sum of money as a reward for sharing personal details — This could include your social security number, bank account details, etc.

• You are asked to provide a photo of yourself.

If one or more of these criteria apply, the job posting may be fraudulent.

In addition to these methods, scammers use other ways to obtain sensitive information from you. If you ever feel unsure about whether or not to respond to a job offer or engage with the sender, contact the Hub via email (lsa-opphub@umich.edu) or set up a coaching appointment to learn more.

What to do if you come across a job offer scam

If you do recognize a job offer scam, or if you have concerns about a job posting being illegitimate, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself and the U-M community.

• Do not respond to any fraudulent offers and block the sender, if possible.

• Do not provide any personal information like a copy of your drivers license or your Social Security Number (SSN).

• Do not send any money via wire transfer apps, paypal, or other banking apps.

• Report any concerns about suspicious job postings or employers that you see on job sites and other platforms.

  • Note: All employer postings on LSA Engage are pre-approved by the Hub and are safe to engage with as you use the platform* (see disclaimer below).

• If the sender claims to be U-M faculty, search the faculty member’s contact information on MCommunity and contact them directly to verify.

What to do if you think you’ve been scammed

If you are concerned that you have given out personal information or payment to an illegitimate employer, immediately contact authorities and consider the following steps to keep yourself and others safe.

• File a police report. If you are on campus, contact the University of Michigan Police Department at 734-763-1131.

• Review IT’s resources regarding Identity Theft and Compromised Accounts if you believe that your personal information or U-M accounts have been compromised.

*Disclaimer for OCI & Job Listings page on LSA Engage (powered by 12Twenty): Organizations who collaborate with the Hub for recruiting purposes are required to follow all labor laws set forth by the United States Department of Labor FLSA Guidelines as they pertain to paid and unpaid positions and must adhere to the guidelines set forth by the Opportunity Hub’s Recruiting Policy. It should be noted however that the posting of professional and experiential opportunities found on LSA Engage does not represent an endorsement of said postings by the Opportunity Hub nor does it guarantee the accuracy of the information provided by the organizations. It is the responsibility of the individual student to determine if an opportunity is suitable to pursue.