Unfortunately, COVID – 19 (Coronavirus) has affected many areas of our communities, and many people are now seeking employment or financial assistance. If you are seeking financial aid, first, be alert to stimulus payment scams, which will be on the rise. If you are also looking for employment, beware of scam job postings, fake recruiter emails, and work-at-home schemes. These cons often use real company names and can be very convincing. It may look as though you are starting a great new career, but you are really giving personal information or money to scammers.
The Better Business Bureau of Greater Houston and South Texas is warning everyone to beware of the following scams, as a result of the economic crisis:
Stimulus payment scams. In many cases, stimulus payments are expected to be issued automatically, with no action required from most people. No one will call, email or text you from the government about your check, and you should never pay any fees to receive your stimulus payment, nor should you receive a message on how to find out the status of your stimulus payment. To get the latest updates on economic impact payments, check the official irs.gov website regularly.
Employment scams. If you are looking for work and find an online job offer that sounds too good to be true, beware. Con artists use job offers to steal your identity or banking information. In addition, if you find yourself unemployed, only apply for unemployment benefits through official channels; otherwise, your personal information will be at risk.
BBB Tips to Avoid These Scams:
Remember no payment or personal information is required to receive a recovery check. The IRS has your tax information and will mail the check directly to you, or use the direct deposit information they have on file from your tax return.
No one will call or email you from the government regarding your stimulus check. If you get a text, phone call, email or social media message asking you for your personal information or payment, do not respond.
Watch out for on-the-spot job offers. You may be an excellent candidate for the job, but beware of offers made without an interview. A real company will want to talk to a candidate before hiring.
Don’t fall for an overpayment schemes. No legitimate job would ever overpay an employee and ask for money to be wired elsewhere. This is a common trick used by scammers.
Be cautious sharing personal information or any kind of pre-payment. Be careful if a company promises you great opportunities or big income as long as you pay for coaching, training, certifications or directories.
Get all details and contracts in writing. A legitimate recruiter will provide you with a complete contract for their services with cost, what you get, who pays (you or the employer), and what happens if you do not find a job.
Reach out. In general, it is a red flag if anyone contacts you, out of the blue, to get your personal information or money and then tries to rush you to a decision. Instead, ask someone you trust, like a family member or financial advisor, for advice. You may research businesses or learn more about scams at BBBHouston.org. Report any possible scams to the Better Business Bureau at BBBHouston.org/ScamTracker.
