news-record.com

In depressed job markets, where job hunters vastly outnumber job openings, there are people who try to profit at job hunters’ expense.

There are “headhunters” who charge for access to a “hidden job market.”

There are Web pages that charge searchers to see “top-dollar” job opportunities.

There are scam artists who present job offers that in reality are attempts to steal your identity.

Even veteran job hunters say they sometimes get sucked in by seemingly perfect offers.

Repeat after me: If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Lyn Chitow-Oakes, an officer with TrustedID, an identity theft protection company, says work-at-home and pyramid business offers should send red lights flashing.

Do not click on the links they provide, and always check the veracity of the company before responding to an offer. Don’t respond directly to the e-mail address or the Web page without checking into it first.

Also try to find other evidence of a company’s existence. Do an online search, get help from reference librarians, check with the Better Business Bureau and your state attorney general’s office, and look for news stories about the company.

Never, ever fall for a pitch that asks for your Social Security number or any bank account information.

There are some legitimate work-from-home companies. If you’re sure you’ve found one, ask to speak with current employees and read their online employee chat boards. Most legitimate work-from-home employers will help you gain access.

Don’t get sucked in by promises of large incomes. Often those are pyramid scams that rely on you getting others to buy into the sales system.

Chitow-Oakes suggests that when you post your résumé on job boards, you can reduce the risk of your private information falling into the wrong hands by first setting up an e-mail account you can use solely for your online job search.

-Diane Stafford, McClatchy Newspapers