Broadcast Time: 09:00
Date: Friday, October 14, 2022
Type: Community Safety Alert (CSA)
Warning Signs
A job ad claims that no skills or experience are required.
It offers high pay for little or no work.
They do not want to meet you in-person.
You're required to pay upfront for training, certifications, or materials.
They offer to send a cheque that will supposedly cover expenses, gift cards etc.
How to protect yourself from this scam
Research the company offering the job. Most reputable companies will have an online platform and a company email. Be suspicious of gmail or other easy to create accounts. Example, "businessname176231@gmail.co" or torontouniversity5@gmai.com
Ask detailed questions about the employment.
Don’t always assume an employment opportunity is legitimate because you saw it in a trusted job website. It could still be a scam. If you spot a suspicious listing, report it to the publication or site.
Don’t believe all website testimonials.
Don’t sign a contract or make a payment without doing homework about the company making the offer.
Campus Safety is reminding everyone to exercise care and to thoroughly research any prospective employers and be suspicious of activity that requires you to deal with quantities of money or cryptocurrency in a work from home setting. Remember - hit P.A.U.S.E. before responding to any communication that you are unsure about.
If you believe your email has been compromised please report this immediately to the U of T ITS Security Team and exercise caution when using Wi-Fi connections that are not known to be secure.
If you have questions about protecting yourself from fraud, the following is an excellent source of information: https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm
Become security savvy. Learn best practices for keeping your devices and online information secure by reporting phishing emails and reviewing the University of Toronto's information security awareness and education initiative.