Tips On Avoiding Employment Scams (NAPSA)—If you’re looking for a job, you may see ads for firms that promise results. Unfortunately, some firms may misrepresent their services, promote out- dated or fictitious job offerings, or charge high fees in advance for services that may not lead to a job. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, says scammers advertise jobs exactly where legitimate employers do—on popular Web sites, in the classifieds and even on TV. The ads sound promising, whetherit’s for hourly workor an executive-level job. But ads placed by scammers come with a twist: You have to pay— and then, there’s no job. Many con artists are good at what they do. They can sound very convincing, especially when your defenses are down. They may say they have a job waiting for you...or they might guarantee to place you in a job. But you can’t believe the promises—even when you want to. Legitimate companies won’t guarantee you a job. The FTC urges job seekers to be awareof the red flags that may signal a job scam: If an employer or employment-service firm wants you to pay—evenif it saysit’s for certification, training materials or for its expenses placing you with a company—don’t do business with it. Legitimate employers and firms don’t ask you to pay for the promiseofa job. It’s wise to be skeptical of any employment-service firm that chargesfirst, even if it guaran- tees refunds. Some listing services and “consultants” write their ads or phone scripts to sound like they have jobs waiting for you. The truth is, they’re only selling information about looking for a job— information that’s generally available for free. If you’ve been thevictim of a job scam and paid someonefor a job that didn’t exist, the FTC wants to hear about it. Complain to the FTC at www.ftc.gov/complaint or call 1877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). Watch a new video, “How to File a Complaint,” at www.ftc.gov/video to learn more. Letting the FTC know about your experience can help put an employment scam out of business. For more information and to watch an educationalvideo, visit www.ftc.gov/jobscams.
