Safe Job Hunting

Protecting Yourself from Fraudulent Job Postings

The University Career Center posts positions for the convenience of students.  Any posting by an employer is not endorsed by the University, nor do we promote them.  The University does not make any guarantees on employment with any employer.  These postings, and our efforts, should be used as an assistance/connector for the students and the employers.  The University is not responsible for safety, wages, working conditions, or any other aspect of off-campus employment without limitations. The student’s responsibility is to research the employer and make a sound judgment on whether they should apply for the position.

We are dedicated to providing the safest possible environment for you to search for jobs and manage your career. To assist with that goal, we ask that you keep a few simple security precautions in mind when evaluating job postings.

Regardless of the job board or website used, be aware that fraudulent job postings exist.  Be cautious of any employer or job posting that:

  • Asks for your financial information such as credit card or bank account numbers
  • Does not have an e-mail that matches the company/organization domain (i.e. they use live, gmail, yahoo, or similar e-mail addresses)
  • Requires an initial financial investment
  • Promises you a payment or percentage in return for processing financial transactions
  • Asks you to send payment by wire service, courier (FedEx, UPS), or cashier’s check
  • Does not provide a phone number or when you call the phone number, no one answers
  • Posts a job that is overly vague or engages in “double speak” (verbose but doesn’t really convey anything)
  • Promises to get rich quick with little effort, work from home, etc. or it “sounds too good to be true”
  • Offers a “virtual” position and you never have the opportunity to meet with, or speak directly to them
  • Offers you a position simply by having you reply to the posting without interviewing you
  • Is poorly written and contains grammar and spelling errors
  • “Bait and switch” positions, meaning they post a legitimate sounding position then follow up with you about a different position that sounds questionable

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FBI Fraudulent Employment Alert

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Additional articles about fraudulent/scam employment:

Web sites to check for scam reports:

Filing a consumer complaint:

Report fraudulent emails to the University: 

If you suspect that you've been phished or have given up electronic info to an unknown source, change your UofL password immediately and contact the ITS HelpDesk.