7 simple steps to spot a legit remote job

Learn how to spot red flags so you can avoid remote job scams

Interest in working remotely has never been higher. Many leading employers have embraced remote work as a result. But to find legit remote jobs, you have to avoid the scammers. Here are a few tips to help you spot scams so you find legit remote jobs.

Use a reputable tool

Many of the traditional job boards are good for finding a job in your area. But they haven’t adapted to help you find legit remote jobs. Tools like NoCommute weed out scams. This helps find legit remote jobs hiring now. 

Recruiter email address

The first thing to check to see if it’s a legit work from home job is the recruiter email address. If they are using email from a free service like Yahoo or Hotmail, it’s a red flag. All recruiters are given corporate emails from their employer. There’s no reason for them to use a free email account.

Also, pay close attention to make sure the email isn’t coming from a spoofed address. For example, you may think you got a message from a recruiter at Airbnb. A legit email would come from recruiter@airbnb.com. But, a remote job scammer may be sending the email from recruiter@air8nb.com. They’re counting on you to be excited about a legit remote job. Be sure to check email addresses closely to make sure they’re not being spoofed.

If you weren’t looking closely, you may not notice that airbnb is misspelled in the sender’s email address. This is a red flag that the remote job isn’t legit.

Research the recruiter on LinkedIn

Any reputable recruiter will be on LinkedIn. So if you aren’t able to find their profile on the site, they are probably not offering you a legit remote job.

Research the company on Glassdoor

Insist the recruiter share the name of the company you would be working for. Then research that company on Glassdoor. If you are unable to find it, you should be skeptical of the offer. Also, be skeptical of any company that only has a few reviews. Be extra skeptical if those reviews are all five stars. The scammers may have built it to seem like they are hiring for legit remote jobs.

If there are only a few Glassdoor reviews and everyone is 5 stars with no downsides to working there, it may not be a legit remote job

Research the company’s website

Once the recruiter shares the company name, Google it to find their website. If they don’t have a website, it’s a major red flag. Also, check the quality of their site. Does it clearly explain what they do? Are there ways to contact them through the site? Does it share links to their social media sites like Facebook and Twitter? If not, they may not be offering legit remote jobs.

Grammatical errors

While we all make mistakes, repeated and obvious grammatical and spelling errors should be a red flag.

They want to send you a check to buy equipment

Scammers will try to send unsuspecting job seekers a fake check to “buy equipment.” Then, they will send a check that will eventually bounce. But the check will always be for more than is reasonably needed. Then, they’ll ask for you to send the leftover money back to them 

But if a potential employer wants to send you a check to buy equipment, it is not a legit remote job. Stop communicating with them and report the incident to your local law enforcement.

That legit remote job is out there for you! 

Finding a legit remote job can be tough. And the scammers trying to take advantage don’t make it easier. But, just stay aware of the red flags that will tip you off to work at home scams. And by subscribing to NoCommute for free, you’ll know every posting you see is a legit remote job that is hiring now.