How do I know if a job posting is a scam or not?

You're right to be worried about this. Use your instinct and trust your feelings. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of work at home jobs or jobs that advertise that they will pick you up for work every day. The latter is common in human trafficking rings. You can research the company on glassdoor.com or the Better Business Bureau to get an idea of their credibility. I would recommend applying for a business you're already familiar with. You do not need to share your social security number until you are offered a job. You do not need to include a physical mailing address on your resume. Over the phone, the questions should be about the job and your experience, not your mother's maiden name or pin number! One scam company asked applicants to use a certain resume format from a website that cost $1 and then continued to charge them monthly fees. But overall, this isn't a common way for your identity to be stolen.

Job postings that don't share a lot of specific details about the company and position are usually a scam. For example, " Marketing business based in Los Angeles looking for an accountant" or "Finance Company looking for talented individuals." If you feel after reading the job posting you still don't understand exactly what the position is, it's probably a scam. In other words, the more details and information you can find out about the company, the less likely it is a scam. However, if the job is posted by a recruiting/staffing firm the lack of details might not necessarily mean it's a scam. Staffing firms that recruit for companies might not reveal the company's information unless you are a serious candidate. Since you are a high school student, you probably won't be dealing with staffing/recruiting firms just yet. Job postings that sound really desperate or aggressive are usually a scam - "Amazing life changing opportunity!!!"

When it comes to searching for jobs, certain website are generally more trustworthy than others. Indeed and LinkedIn are generally trustworthy. Craigslist can be a hit or miss. Never give a company your social security number before being made an offer for a job. Stay away from jobs or companies that require you to pay for something when applying or during the hiring process. Most importantly, go with your gut. If it sounds too good to be true, for example - really high pay for a basic or entry level position, it's probably a scam.

This is a great question. Great advice above. Watch out for multi-level marketing (MLM) jobs, which tend to pray on people desire to make money quickly, be independent, and work flexible hours. There are many different MLM compnanies like Amway, LuluRoe, Mary Kay, Herbalife, World System Builders, etc more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_multi-level_marketing_companies). The basic pitch is that you can make money by selling a product or service for that company. But you can make more money if you recruit others to sell as a part of your team. The problem is that the compensation schemes for this programs are terrible. You need to spend money upfront (purchasing the product that you will sell down the line), you are pressured to sell to your family and friends, and recruit your family and friends to become sales people. More info below:

Useful resource to spot MLM jobs.

• https://www.businessinsider.com/5-signs-that-mlm-opportunity-might-be-a-scam-2013-1
• https://www.thebalancesmb.com/business-is-an-mlm-scam-1794756
• https://np.reddit.com/r/Edmonton/comments/57n0wd/avoid_acn_like_the_plague/d8tfrqv/

Common warning signs for scam jobs:

• you need to pay upfront (for training, materials, etc) or spend your own money in general.
• you need to provide a list of contact information for family and friends to the recruiter
• You need to provide bank account, social security and other personal information before before being hired.