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Fresh out of the military and looking for their next career change, new veterans are especially susceptible to job scams. Scammers take advantage of this by posting bogus aid ads that lure (and hope to cheat) veterans.

How the scam works:

The job market is tight, but you spot a job search ad for a security guard. The post says the company is specifically looking for veterans. You send in your resume and soon receive a call from the “hiring manager”. He says you are a good fit and offers you the job. There’s just one catch: you have to pay for the training before you can start working. Your new boss tells you to wire money or use a prepaid debit card. You need the job, so you follow its instructions. But when you show up for your first day of training, there’s no one around. Your new job is bogus, and you have run out of money.

Always be careful when applying for jobs and follow the tips below to spot fraudulent job postings:

• Read the announcement carefully: Jobs with grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and lots of exclamation marks are likely scams. Ads promoting jobs with generic titles, such as assistant administrator or customer service representative, and containing the phrases “Start now” and “No experience required” are popular in scam ads.
• Do some detective work online: If a job looks suspicious, google it. If the result appears in many other cities with the exact same position, it is most likely a scam. Also check the company’s website to make sure the opening is posted there. If you’re still skeptical, call the company to verify the position.
• We offer you the job on site. You might be a qualified candidate, but how does the hiring manager know? Hiring a candidate on the spot – especially after just a phone interview or an email exchange – is a big sign that there is no real job.
• You are asked for money or personal information: Be extra careful with any work that asks you to share personal information or hand over money. Scammers will often use the pretext of performing a credit check, setting up direct deposit, or paying for training.

Source: BBB North Alabama and BBB.org

In addition the AARP advises veterans to also be aware of the following scams:

• “The cash-for-benefit scheme: Predatory lenders target veterans in need of cash by offering money in exchange for future disability or pension payments. These buybacks are generally a fraction of the value of the benefit.
• Veterans Choice scam: The crooks set up a phone number almost identical to the number dialed by veterans to find out if they are eligible to use licensed healthcare providers outside of the VA system. The person answering the phone informs the caller of a discount they can get by providing credit card information. Make sure you dial the correct number for the PCV: 1-866-606-8198.

Source: AARP

For more scam alerts and tips for veterans, visit Watch out for veterans: scams targeting those who have served on the rise.

Go to BBB.org/ScamTracker to report a scam, check out other risky scams at BBB.org/ScamTips and visit our scam newsfeed.

Source: BBB.org