Be aware of a job scam for artists!

Be aware of a job scam for artists!

  I recently received an email like the one below.

  I am an artist and self-employed. However, I also put my career on job search sites with short-term work or projects in mind from time to time. However, this email came first from a place where I had not applied. They called me as a applicant. (In this sense, I feel that it's weird) It's a big company called Software AG. 

The company is founded in 1969, Software AG is an enterprise software company with over 10,000 enterprise customers in over 70 countries. The company is the second largest software vendor in Germany, and the seventh largest in Europe.

In general, there is no reason to show interest in one artist first in such a large company personally, and in the case of such a large company, there is a department in charge of recruitment, and there is a public offering to recruit employees on a regular basis every year, and they recruit employees through such a route. It is common.​

  ​And the most suspicious thing is that they are not using a corporate mail account, but using Gmail as shown below.

  However, at that moment, I responded to the interview with the same mind as a reporter to know how suspicious are they and also how can I get an information to report them, know to avoid a scam. I decided to interview via zoom the next morning.

 ​First, they give information about the company like this and present perfect and fancy conditions.

  ​It sounds like a fantastic job where you can get $18 for training alone compared to other jobs where the minimum wage starts at $18 to $20. ​Oh! also the insurance and various benefits are great. In general, people with a lot of experience in job hunting are suspicious when they hear these perfect benefits.

  ​However, the concern is that people who have started job hunting for the first time, people who are very eager to get a job, and people who are isolated from the outside world like artists are likely to fall victim to this kind of scam.

And their scamming techniques have evolved over time, making them look like very standard interviews on the surface.

​They'll probably interview you and ask if you can work remotely, what you feel is important about working remotely, and so on. And will be very interested in you and ask you to send your portfolio. And after a few minutes it will look like you're reviewing it and then you'll be notified that you've been hired.

  They will congratulate you very often and compliment you on how well your experience and skills are a great fit for their company. But remember! Too good to be true!

So good that it is hard to believe, or seeming very good but not real: their new job offer sounds too good to be true.

 ​But inexperienced or eager people are more likely to fall into this trap. Because being in a state of wanting very eagerly in the heart means that they do not want doubt even the scammer because they want to get their fancy future or solve their financial problem. ​And for another reason, there are many people in the world who are pure enough to believe the words of scammers. Another reason is that scammers' tricks are so sophisticated that you can't be careful no matter how careful you are. And the last reason is the biggest reason for being scammed.

  In the case of the scammer I met, he said that I was very suitable for the remote job and that I would get the job after a two-week training period. And after 3 months, he said that I would be a full-time job receiving the 4 major insurances and benefits. And he said I would get money to buy related software and hardware for remote work. This amount will be sent in the form of a check, and paid from the company. With this check, the employee should purchase the product through the fixed vendor designated by the company.

 There is a very important pitfall here.
​I asked them why they had to buy all new software and hardware when I already had it. They replied that the company was obliged to pay for these things and you did not have to worry.

I think if there was a company like this, it would have already been widely known in the world and featured in the New York Times. Is there any company like this in the world? So I asked. What if I quit after getting everything and installing it? The scammer looked puzzled for a moment, then continued. Still, the company has an obligation to provide new equipment and software to employers. (It's a personal opinion, but did the scammer also get the equipment from the scam company?)

  ​After all, job seekers should never react when this kind of offer comes. And you have to be suspicious. No company in the world sends or remits money other than wages to job seekers, or makes them buy things instead. It is also illegal.

 Job seekers only get paid for their labor. In this case, there is a high probability that the check will bounce and you will lose your money. You have to be very careful with checks coming and going.

 Above all, I want artists to safely continue their artistic activities in a legally protected environment when they are looking for a job. Doing art work itself is an arduous and difficult task, but how great will the despair be if you end up being scammed? In every sense, scams must be avoided and scams must be cut off.

Let's keep it mindful. Equipment required by the company must be purchased and sent by the company. Company employees do not purchase with employee's credit cards. It's not like the company sends money and buys it with that money. Also, it is recommended that interviews be reported on video as much as possible. Because scammers won't show their faces.

Even at this hour, it is impossible to predict how many scammers, fake artists and related companies will be looking for scapegoats. It is true that it takes a lot of trial and error to discern these things. However, I hope that by distinguishing this kind of proposal without trial and error, any artists can continue their work without being victims. In that sense, today's post has been released.