Career Services office at Fanshawe College
(Credit: Roger Farias)
A career counsellor at Fanshawe College is raising the alert about an increasing number of international students being targeted by scammers.
“If it sounds too good to be true, it pays too much for a very low-level position, if the hours are super flexible and you can do it anytime, anywhere on your own, it’s probably not legitimate,” says Rebecca Summerfield, Career Services Consultant at Fanshawe College.
“If a recruiter is asking you to send money and signatures ahead of having a legitimate interview with somebody, it’s also probably a scam,” she adds.
Rebecca Summerfield, Career Services Consultant (Credit: Roger Farias)
Summerfield says international students are often not familiar with employment practices in Canada. They’re also less likely to come forward and complain if they’re scammed because they’re embarrassed and scared. That makes them a bigger target.
She recommends going in person to apply for a job and drop off a resume. “Sometimes you’ll be told a hundred times to apply online, and that’s fine, but a lot of times students do have success attending the company,” says Summerfield. “You may have that extra opportunity to talk to somebody.”
In a note sent to Fanshawe faculty, Summerfield encouraged staff to remind students they cannot work under the table because they may not be paid and their student visas might be negatively impacted.
