Job scams are everywhere on the Internet, and they often target students looking for work. Here are some scams we have seen at MSVU.
Warning: IT&S does not and cannot warn the Mount community about all job scams and phishing emails. We only alert you in exceptional circumstances, so always be suspicious of unexpected emails.
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At the Mount, the most common job scam is email job tips appearing to come from an msvu.ca email address. People who create scams exploit our trust in @msvu.ca addresses. Unfortunately, fake email addresses can be created and email addresses can be compromised through password phishing. The job tip may appear to come from another student, but a person on the Internet looking to take money illegally from a student really sent the email.
From time to time, jobs posted on Internet job boards can be scams. Students are urged to research employers before applying to any position. Please see the Career Services Work and Volunteer web page for more information on how to research potential employers before applying.
Fake work-from-home UNICEF internship opportunity emails were very common over COVID, but also were fake work-from-home jobs from ‘employers.’ There are red flags – and you should not participate – if an employer is willing to hire you after an email or phone conversation without meeting you, promises a large salary and high responsibility or a prestigious title, and doesn’t check your references.
These scammers try to convince you to deposit fake cheque images using your mobile banking app. After you deposit the cheque, scammers ask you to send them the funds by e-transfer or through Bitcoin, but the cheque will bounce in a few days, leaving you owing money to your bank. If this happens, it you are unlikely to get your money back.
The best defence agains job scams is educating ourself.
Please see our Job Scam Prevention Tips webpage for more on what you can do to protect yourself from job scams.
The Mount offers free cybersecurity training to all students to help you learn more about scams and cybercrime. Please see msvu.ca/cyber to sign up for the training.
Getting scammed is very stressful, so please see our Fraud Recovery page for things you can do to protect yourself.