According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there was a reported 3.2 million unemployed Americans as of August 2021. With many people looking for employment, criminals have used this as an opportunity to trick unsuspecting individuals into giving over their information using fake job listings. In fact, the Better Business Bureau has reported more than 13,000 job listing scams this year.

With many jobseekers looking for Work from Home (WFH) and other work opportunities, Clark County Credit Union will help you spot red flags on job postings and avoid being scammed.

Examples of WFH Scams

• Job requires you to pay for the training.
• Secret Shopper or Mystery Shopper
• Job requires you to recruit others.
• The employer needs you to send money back from a check because of an overpayment.
• The job claims to pay full-time wages for part-time work.
• Medical billing positions where you buy your own equipment.

 Job Posting Red Flags

• Beware of trigger terms: quick money, unlimited earning potential, free work-from-home jobs.
• There is a sense of urgency, or the recruiter is pushing you to accept the job now. Any legitimate company won’t push anyone into accepting a job offer immediately.
• The job post or email has obvious grammatical or spelling errors.
• The “company” has an email domain from Gmail or other popular providers.
• The job description is unusually vague.
• You have to pay to work.
• There is little information on the company.

Tips to Avoid the Scam

• If a number is unknown or suspicious, do not respond to calls, texts or emails.
• Never share personal or financial information over email, text, or phone.
• Do not click on any links in a text message or email from an unknown sender.
• If you receive a call or text from someone claiming to be someone you know and it’s out of character, hang up, and call the person to make sure they weren’t hacked.
• Help prevent telemarketing by adding your number to the National Do Not Call Registry.

Remember, if it is too good to be true, it probably is. Be cautious of any job posting and do your own research into the company – a few simple steps can help you avoid fraud and protect yourself.

Back-to-school season can be a great time to consider how you plan to help your children or grandchildren fund their higher education.

529 plans are a popular savings vehicle and have continued to gain popularity since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changed the law to allow distributions to be used to cover the cost of attendance at a public, private, or religious K-12 school in addition to higher education.

A Roth IRA can also be a viable option to help fund college expenses. While a 529 plan does come with special tax breaks, a Roth IRA can provide more flexibility, allowing you to earmark as much or as little as you want for higher education expenses.

To learn more about these two options, click here to download “Planning to Save for High Education: Roth IRA vs. 529 Plan.”

For professional assistance with your education planning needs, contact The Investment Center at CCCU at 702-939-3201 to schedule a time for a visit.

Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC).  Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. Clark County Credit Union and The Investment Center at CCCU are not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using The Investment Center at CCCU and may also be employees of Clark County Credit Union.  These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of, Clark County Credit Union.  Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are: