In what’s becoming an all too familiar story, the Denver Police Department has shed light on yet another job scam that’s fleecing hopeful job seekers. In a social media post on Saturday, a concerning incident was reported where an individual was scammed into purchasing office supplies, including a computer after engaging in what appeared to be a legitimate online job interview. The so-called employer had sent the victim a check to cover these costs and had asked the victim to return a portion of the money via mobile wallet apps and gift card redemption codes.
But this story didn’t end with the victim getting a new gig and some fancy office gear. After following the employer’s instructions, the victim learned the harsh truth when their bank flagged the check as fraudulent. This particular scenario, as outlined by the Denver Police Department, is a classic example of how scammers play on the hopes of job seekers to swindle them out of their hard-earned money.
Denver Police warn that job scammers have a playbook of tricks, including asking victims to cover costs for application or enrollment fees, materials, or even nebulous training expenses. “Remember, if someone wants you to pay a fee or buy something to get work such as office supplies, stop there because this is a sign that it’s a scam,” as per the Denver Police Department. Scammers thrive on complexity, often making transactions seem legitimate by using real-world items like checks and office supplies to confuse their prey…