If you are on a job hunt to start the new year, first be wary of unscrupulous recruiters or scammers offering fake job interviews. Jobseekers have taken to social media to complain that they have been duped into paying up to Dh300 to scammers posing as recruiters. Police have cracked down on these fake recruiters in the past, shutting down offices in Dubai and Sharjah following complaints from victims. However, scammers still continue engaging in dishonest work, jobseekers say. “These scammers often use spam emails as bait to get victims to visit their office on the pretext of a job interview, and once there, they will ask money as a processing fee,” HR expert Olga Alvarez told Expat Media in a previous interview. So how can you tell a scam from the real deal? Here are tips from the experts.

1. Email not properly addressed to applicant

HR expert Shen Dee Quah tells Expat Media that getting an email with a generic salutation is a red flag. “When it says ‘Dear applicant’ instead of your name, take it as a sign that it might be spam,” Quah said. If you applied for the job, then the recruiter should know your name and contact you personally through their official email address or business telephone line.

2. Random job interview that you did not apply for

If you received an invitation for a job interview for a job you did not apply for, chances are it is from a spammer trying to lure you into a fake job interview.

3. Asking for CV, personal information

If they are asking you to bring a copy of your CV or passport for the job interview, then it is likely to be another scam. If the company contacted you after genuinely receiving your application, then they should presumably have a copy of your CV and don’t need to ask you for another one.

4. No company name

Do you know which company is inviting you for a job interview? If this is not indicated in their email, then it’s a red flag. Scammers will not include a company name in their letter because the company doesn’t exist in the first place.

5. No business telephone or company email

Was your interview offer sent through a personal email address? It might be a scam. Most genuine companies would not use Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail email accounts to send out official emails. Also, they would primarily contact you on their business telephone line, instead of a mobile number.

6. Asking for payment

If you have gone for an interview and have been asked to pay a reservation fee or processing fee, then take this as the biggest red flag of them all. Genuine companies will not ask you to pay for an interview or a job offer. ICA/Expat Media
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