How To Spot A Job Scam (Malaysian Example)

Ever received a message or a call from an unknown number, telling you they’re hiring for a job that pays very well for little effort? As tempting as it is, it very likely is a job scam!

What's A Job Scam?

If you’re wondering what a job scam is, they’re fraudulent schemes that target jobseekers with fake or misleading job offers. Job scammers may use various tactics to lure unsuspecting victims, such as:

• sending unsolicited messages on WhatsApp, Telegram or via email
• impersonating reputable companies
• posting job ads on social media with little to no information about the job

Job scams can cause the victims financial loss, identity theft, or even legal troubles.

6 Things To Keep An Eye Out For

1. If the offer is too good to be true.

Be wary of job offers that promise high salaries, flexible hours, or other benefits that seem unrealistic or disproportionate to the work needed. Job scammers may use these incentives to entice you to accept the offer without doing proper research.

Example: Daily pay of RM500 to RM1,000 for a few hours of simple data entry? That’s a red flag, please don’t proceed any further.

2. If money is involved.

A legitimate employer will never ask you to pay any fees for applying, processing, or training for a job. If you are asked to transfer money for any reason, such as recruitment fees, medical check, work pass application, or to attend the interview, it is likely a scam.

3. If the communication is unprofessional.

A legitimate employer will usually communicate with you through official channels, such as their website, email domain, or corporate social media account. However, in Malaysia, it’s highly likely that recruiters or HR personnel may reach out to you via WhatsApp as emails often go unread.

Regardless of how they contact you, how did they get your contact details?

• Phone: Is the person contacting you using a local number? (e.g. Malaysia's country code is +60 and the mobile numbers start with 01, followed by another 7 or 8 digits.)
  • Apps such as Truecaller or Getcontact crowdsource contact information. They can help wheedle out suspicious people and businesses that contact you via phone.
• Email: What does their email address look like? Is it a simple Hotmail or Gmail account, or a company email address?

4. If the interview process is suspicious.

A legitimate employer will conduct a formal and thorough interview process to assess your suitability for the job. If you are offered a job without an interview, or if the interview is conducted through a chat app or a phone call only, it may be a sign of a scam.

5. If the company information is vague or inconsistent.

A legitimate employer will provide clear and accurate information about their company, such as their name, address, contact details, and website. If you cannot find any information about the company online, or if the information does not match what they claim, it may be a sign of a scam.

6. If you’re not comfortable via their communication method.

Ask for their work email, company website, LinkedIn profile, or anything else that would make them credible (within reason).

Remember, if at any point you feel uncomfortable, you can:

• ask them questions to get clarification
• tell them you’re uncomfortable and don’t want to continue

How To Check A Company’s Validity

Other than directly contacting the relevant local authorities to check if a business exists, some questions that can be considered is:

• Can the company be found on a search engine like Google or Bing?
  • While searching, has anyone complained about the company being a scam?
• Does the company have a fixed address?
• Can the company be contacted via email or phone?

Malaysia-specific Methods

• Are they registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia - SSM)?
  • Registration required to check.
• If they are a recruitment or employment agency, are they registered with the Department of Labour (Jabatan Tenaga Kerja - JTK)?

Remember, always do your research and verify the legitimacy of any job offer before applying or accepting it, and if you’re looking for a job anywhere in the Asia Pacific, get in touch with us!