Imagine thinking you’ve landed the perfect work-from-home job, only to find out it’s a scam.
That’s exactly what happened to Leigh Lawrence, a woman from metro Atlanta, when a recruiter on LinkedIn reached out to her about a job opportunity.
Leigh, who has been an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher for 16 years, was excited when the recruiter claimed to represent Pear Deck Learning, a legitimate company in distance education.
The job offer seemed perfect, especially with a high hourly pay that stood out in her field.
But Leigh didn’t let the excitement cloud her judgment. “I wanted to make sure the company and the recruiter were real,” she said.
Red Flags Start to Appear
Leigh did some research and found Pear Deck Learning was a real company.
However, when the recruiter sent her a $4,500 check to buy home office supplies, she knew something wasn’t right.
“This felt odd because I’ve worked from home before, and companies usually provide the equipment directly,” Leigh explained.
Her instincts were spot on. After checking with her bank and the credit union, Leigh discovered the check was fake.
If she had cashed it and spent the money, she would have been left on the hook for thousands of dollars.
How the Scam Works
This scam is all too common. Scammers use fake checks to make job seekers believe they have funds to buy equipment or supplies.
But when the check bounces, victims are left responsible for the money they’ve already spent.
In this case, the scammer was pretending to work for Pear Deck Learning.
However, the company confirmed the job offer was fake and not connected to them or their parent company, GoGuardian.
LinkedIn Responds
LinkedIn stated that they’re working hard to block fake accounts and scams. “We know these bad actors are getting more sophisticated,” LinkedIn said.
Between January and June, LinkedIn blocked nearly 100% of fake accounts using automated tools.
GoGuardian also confirmed the scam wasn’t from their company. “We take these situations seriously and will support law enforcement in investigating,” the company said.
Trust Your Gut
Leigh says she’s disappointed but grateful she caught the scam before losing money.
“If something feels off, trust your instincts,” she advises.
Scammers are getting smarter, but with a little caution, you can stay one step ahead.
Always research job offers, double-check details, and be wary of anyone asking for money or personal information upfront.