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Employment Scams

Job scams are carefully constructed job advertisements that do not actually offer a real job. Instead, they are meant to try and get people to give money or personal confidential information. Anyone can be targeted by job scams, and it is important to be aware of aspects that indicate whether a job advertisement is a scam or not. 

Below is a list of indicators that will help you to determine whether the job is a scam. 


If the answer is yes to several of these points, consider doing more research or asking a person you trust for their advice: 

The job advertisement: 

  • Are there several spelling mistakes or grammatical errors? 
  • Does it seem too good to be true? 
  • Are they promising an unusually high salary for the amount of experience, education, and hours that will be required? 
  • Does the ad suggest that the employer will allow you to work at any time? 
  • Is the description of the job too vague? 

The employer:

  • Where is the company located? 
  • Does the company website look professional? 
  • Is the email address one from a legitimate organization/company? 
  • Does the email or website seem odd or random? Generally, emails and websites will be simple and include the company’s name. 
  • Does the phone number have the correct area code for the location of the company? For example, 1-506-123-4567 is a New Brunswick number because of the 1-506 area code. You can search the area code online to be certain. 

Other items to watch out for: 

  • Are they asking for your SIN before you are employed? 
  • Are they asking for your banking information to apply for a job? 
  • Are they asking you for personal information? 
  • Did they contact you with a job offer either through phone or email, even if you never submitted an application? 
  • Are they offering to pay you upfront and in cash? 
  • Are they asking you to pay them before you start the job? 

A legitimate job advertisement will NEVER ask for your SIN, banking information, or other personal information before you are hired. An employer cannot ask you to transfer them money, or for you to send money to somebody else before even signing a contract. Once you are hired, you will be required to give your employer your SIN, but only after you are hired and a contract is signed. 

Companies will also never email or call people asking them if they want a job unless the person has previously applied. If you do receive a scam either through email or telephone, hang up the phone immediately, do not respond to the email, do not click any links in the email, and do not give them any information. 

Search the company that is hiring on the internet. When you look up the company, pay attention to the location of the company and compare it with the address given on the job ad. 

You should also pay attention to the professionalism of the ad and company website. Blatant spelling and grammatical errors may be indicators that the job is a scam. Unusual email domains and website URLs are also indicators of scams. 

What to do if you interacted with the job scam:

  • Do not provide any personal information to the scammers 
  • Do not provide your banking information 
  • Report the email as a phishing attempt to: phishing@stu.ca  
  • If they already have your contact information, please block them from using your email or cell phone number. 

If you have additional questions or need help blocking the scammers, please contact the STU ITS Helpdesk at helpdesk@stu.ca or call them at (506) 452-0635.