Yesterday, I nearly fell victim to a scam perpetrated by a party posing as a legitimate company, complete with misleading details. In remote work environments, it can be exceptionally challenging to distinguish genuine opportunities from deceptive ones. I had applied for a data analysis position with a pharmaceutical company and received an initial response via text.
The contact began messaging me persistently, insisting on conducting an interview over Microsoft Teams. Although the approach initially seemed a bit unusual, I agreed to proceed. However, as the interview progressed and I asked several basic questions, red flags emerged. The job promised a salary far above industry standards, free computer equipment, benefits, and more—an offer that seemed too good to be true. Feeling uneasy, I did some quick research and learned that interviews with such enticing details are often precursors to scams and potential identity theft.
Additional suspicious details only deepened my concerns. The interviewer repeatedly dropped peculiar hints, such as using an odd profile picture, claiming to be an HR representative from the company, and always referring to herself as “Mrs.” Upon further investigation, I discovered that the company wasn’t actually hiring for such a position, the interviewer’s name didn’t appear on any official employee roster, and although the company had a polished website, these inconsistencies were alarming. Things took an even stranger turn when she began incessantly demanding personal details like references and bank account information before even progressing with the interview process. At that point, I informed her I needed time to consider and promptly blocked her number.
Ultimately, the scam was unmistakable: it promised exorbitant compensation for a routine remote role, came from a seemingly small company with a professionally designed website, and even proposed to “pay” for office supplies by wiring a check. Recognizing the danger, I filed a detailed report with the FTC. While catching those behind the scam might be challenging, my hope is that sharing this experience will warn others of similar fraudulent schemes.
To submit a report of a job scam to the FTC: Visit ReportFraud.ftc.gov