Employment Scams
Students are permitted to find a job on their own. However, we recommend using trusted websites and resources to find jobs. The Stevens Career Center, your Academic Departments, and Academic Advisors are great resources to assist you with your job search. Make sure that you are first eligible to work off campus before committing to any job opportunity.
There are many different scams that target international students (USCIS scams, tax scams, DHS scams, Social Security scams, etc.). One scam that is on the rise is the employment scam. The Stevens Career Center can help you with your job search and they can also help you identify a potential job scam.
ISSS is sharing some warning signs to look out for so you do not fall victim to an employment scam.
You never applied to the company/job position. A scam recruiter will call you or text you that they found your resume and that you are a perfect fit.
The pay is too good to be true.
Poorly written text that includes a lot of typos.
You get an immediate job offer. A legitimate company will talk to you first, interview other candidates, and then offer you a position within a few days or weeks.
You are being asked to pay for something, like an equipment purchase, up front.
The "company" sends you a check to deposit before you begin working. This is a very common scam. Please see the article referencing the nuances of this scam:
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/data-visualizations/data-spotlight/2020/02/dont-bank-cleared-check
Articles about Job Scams:
1. https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/08/success/job-scams/index.html
To report employment fraud/scams, you can make a report to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/
Please also review the ISSS Scam Alert Information for additional information on other common scams impacting international students. Reading this information and knowing the warning signs of scams will help protect you!