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Health & Fitness

Looking for a job? Be Extra Careful Online

Finding a job has always been a frustrating experience, but now that things have moved online, it is also scary.

The economy isn't great, unemployment is high, summer is here and the living isn't so easy if you are looking for a job. Finding a job has always been a frustrating experience, but now that things have moved online, it is also scary.

So here's a warning for job seekers using the net to find their next gig. Con artists exploit the desperation of the jobless by tricking them into divulging personal and financial information. They lure you in with the potential of money, riches and a new job. There are a bunch of red flags to watch out for like employment services that charge an up-front fee. Precautions include checking with Consumer Affairs, the state Attorney General's office and the Better Business Bureau to see if complaints have been filed against the company.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky offers these red flags to watch out for:

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  • Requests for financial information (account numbers, credit card numbers, etc.)
  • Requests for a Social Security number
  • Requests to scan your ID card or for a scan of your ID card
  • Absence of a company name or contact information
  • A contact email address that is not a primary domain (for example, when the hiring company is "Omegacorp"@yahoo.com instead of @omegacorp.com)
  • Misspellings and grammatical errors
  • Promises to get you a job
  • Employment services that charge an up-front fee
  • Reluctance by the hiring firm to answer your questions
  • Ads containing terms such as "PayPal," "package-forwarding," "money transfers," "wiring funds," "eBay" or "foreign agent agreement"

So when you look for a job this summer, make sure to be careful. Go here for more tips.

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