Trust and Safety

At Hycareer, we are dedicated to providing you with a safe and reliable online experience. Learn how to identify frauds, understand the most prevalent ones, and obtain advice for protecting yourself using the tools on this page.

Fraudulent job postings are those that promote a job that doesn’t exist, or promote a job with false or misleading information. They may also ask you for money as part of the application process.

Here are some things to look out for when trying to identify fraudulent job postings:

• The job posting contains misspellings and bad grammar

• The contact information in the posting is incomplete or includes an email address from a free webmail service (e.g. Hotmail, Gmail)

• The employer asks you to provide personal information upfront, such as your Social Insurance Number or date of birth

• The employer asks you to pay for something as part of the application process, such as training, equipment, or background checks

• The job description seems too good to be true, or the salary is much higher than average

• You’re contacted by someone asking you to interview for a job that you didn’t apply for

The most common types of employment scams

There are many different types of employment scams, but some are more common than others. The following are three of the most common types of employment scams:

1. Job placement or recruitment fees

In this type of scam, an employer or recruitment agency will ask you to pay a fee in order for them to help you find a job, or to be considered for a position. This is a scam, as legitimate employers and agencies should not charge job seekers for their services.

Training fees

In this type of scam, an employer or training provider will ask you to pay a fee in order to receive training that is required for the job. This is a scam, as legitimate employers should not require you to pay for your own training.

Work-from-home scams

In this type of scam, an employer will offer you a work-from-home opportunity, but will require you to pay for equipment or supplies upfront. This is a scam, as legitimate employers should not require you to pay for your own equipment or supplies.

How to protect yourself from employment scams

There are a few things you can do to protect yourself from employment scams, such as:

• Research the employer or recruiter before applying for a job, or accepting an offer of employment

• Do not pay any fees upfront for a job, training, or supplies

• Be wary of work-from-home opportunities that require you to pay for equipment or supplies upfront

• If something seems too good to be true, it probably is – trust your instincts

By following these tips, you can help protect yourself from becoming a victim of an employment scam.