Experts are warning of a new scam in which victims are being targeted with a fake invitation to apply for a job at Amazon that sounds too good to be true.
The Better Business Bureau issued the warning Wednesday, urging consumers to use caution when it comes to job opportunities. In this particular scam, victims are receiving a voicemail, text, email or message on social media inviting them to apply for a job at Amazon, according to the BBB.
Using names like "Amazon Cash Website, StockRetail.com, and WebStoreJobs.com," the message claims that the online retail giant is "hiring dozens of people to list products online, post reviews and do other website work," the BBB said in a statement.
Experts said the position is advertised as one that enables employees to work from home and earn anywhere between $20 per hour to $6000 a month.
But there's a catch - the scammers tell applicants that in order to begin working, they have to purchase a $200 "enrollment kit." And after they pay, the scammers and fake job offer disappear, the BBB warned.
The scammers are targeting a specific demographic, particularly moms and dads.
"Kids go back to school, parents now have some extra time, and they might be looking for an at-home opportunity," Tom Johnson, of the BBB serving Chicago and Northern Illinois, said.
"If it’s really a high-level company, and there’s really this great job opportunity? Check with that company too, and see if it’s for real," he continued.
Experts recommended being cautious of any job that asks applicants to share personal information or hand over money. Major red flags include running a credit check during the hiring process, setting up direct deposit during the interview stage, requiring preemptive payment for training, pressuring applicants to "act quickly" under the guise that only a designated number of spots are available, as well as advertising big paychecks for just a few hours of work - all things that legitimate companies and human resource departments would not do.
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Check the business' website for the position being advertised and call to confirm, the BBB said, recommending that job-seekers also search for a posting online. If the result comes up in other cities with the exact same listing, it's likely a scam.
"Job seekers need to be extra careful and always do their due diligence before agreeing to anything," Chicago BBB President and CEO Steve Bernas said in a statement, adding, "Don't trust an offer or job ad just because it's supposedly with a well-known corporation. Do your homework. No job should require you to pay them."
The BBB also asked that anyone who experiences this or any other scams report it via their online BBB Scam Tracker to help warn others.
