Employment Scams

Common Employment Scams and How to Avoid Them

Scammers are becoming more and more sophisticated. Unfortunately, international students are often a target. It is important for you to know what to look out for and how to protect yourself.

Never open an email attachment or click on a link from someone you don't know.
Do not provide personal information to anyone via phone or text unless you have initiated the contact.
Always verify the identity of the person you are speaking to before providing personal information over the phone or via text/email.
Do not accept payment from a company who has not formally hired you.
Do not provide bank details to a company who has not formally hired you.
Always trust your instict. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

Inconsistent information about job duties, wages or start date.
You are asked to provide personal details or application materials through improper channels.
You are offered a job without interviewing for the role.
Company provides excuses for not being able to meet in-person or virtually for a job interview.
Company requires you to work with a specific "government official" and pay fees to that person in order to work.
Employer offers to hire you for the sole purpose of stopping your OPT unemployment counter.
Job offers high pay for completion of a simple task or infrequent hours.
Provides a vague job description or makes it difficult to discern products or services offered.
You are rushed to start work without obtaining work authorization
Job posting has multiple typos and grammatical errors

Employer refuses to pay you for work performed, withholds pay or withholds form W2.
Employer asks you to work outside your authorization window.
Requires you to perform work that is unrelated to the job description or your degree.
Requires you to work full-time when you have only been authorized to work part-time.
You are asked to work in unsafe conditions.

Contact the UNT Police and ISSS to report what has happened
Forward email scams to phishing@untsystem.edu
For identity or financial theft make a police report
File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission
Compile any documentation you have from the scammer