Career Development

Life after Alvernia

Fraudulent Employer and Job Posting Warning Disclaimer

The Alvernia University Office of Career Development supports students and alumni in their job search by sharing job postings through various online resources such as Handshake, social media, and email. However, a posting does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Alvernia University or the Office of Career Development, nor does it confirm the accuracy of the information. The Office of Career Development makes every effort to screen employers and job opportunities but cannot guarantee the legitimacy of all postings. The University is not responsible for safety, wages, working conditions, or any other aspect of off-campus employment without limitation. Job seekers are encouraged to practice due diligence when applying for and
accepting off-campus employment and research private companies.

College students and job seekers are especially vulnerable to employment and phishing scams. The Office of Career Development encourages vigilance upon receiving an unsolicited email, text, or phone call regarding employment or other opportunities. If you are unsure about the legitimacy of an employment opportunity, contact the Office of Career Development for assistance.

Indicators That a Job May be Fraudulent

1. You are asked to provide personal financial information such as social security number, credit card information, bank and account details, PayPal account, or instructed to provide an initial investment such as a payment or deposit of a mailed check by wire service or courier.
2. You are offered a large payment or reward in exchange for using your bank account to deposit checks or transfer money.
3. You receive an unexpectedly large check to deposit in your bank account.
4. The representative tells you that the organization does not have an office set up in your area and will need you to help get the office up and running. This scam often includes a request for your banking information, supposedly to help the employer make transactions.
5. The positing includes several grammatical and spelling errors.
6. The posting neglects to mention the responsibilities of the job and instead focuses on the amount of money to be made.
7. You are offered the job with little to no interaction, and communication has been through text or email.
8. The employer contacts you by phone; however, there is no way to call them back – the number is unavailable.
9. The contact email address contains the domain @live.com or an @ that is not affiliated with the organization. Examples: @gmail, @yahoo, @hotmail. If this is the case, verify that the email address matches the organization's website.
10. The posting appears to be from a reputable, familiar organization—often a Fortune 500. Yet, the email handle in the contact's email address does not match the domain used by representatives of the organization; this is typically easy to determine from the organization's website. Another way to validate is to check the open positions on the organization's website by checking their careers/jobs webpage.
11. The employer responds to you immediately after you submit your resume. Typically, resumes sent to an employer are reviewed by multiple individuals or not viewed until the posting has closed. Note – this does not include an auto-response you may receive from the employer once you have sent your resume.
12. Watch for anonymity. If it is difficult to find an address, actual contact, organization name, or similar information, this is cause to proceed with caution.
13. The position indicates a "first year compensation" that is excessively higher than the average compensation for that position type or lists a very wide range (i.e., "employees can earn from $40K –$80K the first year!").
14. Look at the company's website. Does it have an index that tells you what the site is about, or does it contain information only about the job you are interested in? Scammers often create quick, basic web pages that seem legit at first glance.
15. When you Google the company name and the word "scam," the results show several scam reports concerning this company. Another source for scam reports is http://www.ripoffreport.com.

If You Have Become the Victim of a Scam

1. Contact Alvernia University Public Safety and the local police. The police are responsible for investigating (regardless of whether the scam artist is local or in another state).
2. Contact the Alvernia University Office of Career Development via phone at 610-790-2878 or email career.development@alvernia.edu so that the department can investigate the employer and posting, and staff can take appropriate action.
3. If it is a situation where you have sent money to a fraudulent employer, contact your bank or credit card company immediately to close the account and dispute the charges.
4. If the incident occurred entirely over the Internet, file an incident report with the United States Department of Justice or by calling the FTC at: 1 (877) FTC-HELP or 1(877) 382-4357.

For more information about fraudulent jobs, visit the FTC webpage on job scams.

 

Office Hours

In person Career Development services available:
Monday	8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday	8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday	8:30 AM - 7:00 PM*
Thursday	8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday	8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

 

*Additional evening hours are available by appointment.

Contact Information

Career Development Office:
400 Saint Bernardine Street
Bernardine Hall, Suite 103
Reading, PA 19607
Phone: 610-790-2878

 

Email: career.development@alvernia.edu