Action 9 warns job scams on the rise during pandemic

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Action 9 has learned that the Better Business Bureau recently issued a warning to job seekers about an increase in employment scams.

According to the BBB, in 2020, 14 million people lost $2 billion in these types of scams. The average person lost $1,000 and most victims were between the ages of 25-34.

Now that the enhanced federal unemployment benefits have expired, more people may be looking for extra income, especially jobs that seem flexible.

But Action 9′s Jason Stoogenke says to watch out.

Dell Fincher said he thought he found a real estate job online.

“I was led to believe that I will be going out and actually looking at rental apartments to rent to people,” he told Stoogenke.

Fincher said the so-called employer sent him a “verification letter.”

“So it was like an official letter that I really believed I was employed now. Great, I got a job,” he said.

Unfortunately, it turned out to be a common con.

Fincher said the scammer sent him two checks and told him to deposit the checks in his bank account. He was told to keep a certain amount for himself then send the rest along to a vendor.

When Fincher tried to deposit the checks, a bank representative told him the checks were fake.

“It was so embarrassing to walk in the bank and be looked at as if you were trying to pass a fraudulent document when you’re really trying to just do what the people hired you for,” Fincher said.

Paul Bartholomy with the BBB told Stoogenke that many victims will provide the scammers with personal information such as their driver license, Social Security number and bank account.

“And from there, the scammers are able to take away what they want,” Bartholomy said.

Fincher said he demanded that the so-called company pay him the $3,500 that it promised him but he could not get a response.

“For people who really want to work, to prey on me or anyone like that … people don’t know the devastation it can have on a person’s life at that time,” he said.

Stoogenke offers these tips if you are looking for a job:

- Research the company. Do a simple web search and make sure there are no warnings posted about the business.

- Be suspicious if the employer expects you to use your personal bank account for work – that should be a red flag that something is not right.

- Watch out if someone sends you too much money and wants you to deposit it then send the extra money to someone else. This applies to any scam.

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