You're home after spending the day at work, and you open your Facebook homepage. A job ad catches your eye and it sounds enticing. Decent money, work from home, not an MLM scheme - keywords that call out to you. The downside? It sounds a little too good to be true and you're not sure if it's a scammy job ad.
With a large number of vague, job advertisements that promise a high salary, how can you tell a real job ad from a fake one? Don't worry! Here's what you need to look out for during your next job search.
1. Keywords That Sound Too Good To Be True

Keep in mind that context is also important. Jobs that require years of specialization and experience with the words "no previous experience required" should be a red flag.
2. "Work From Home" Schemes

These scams aim to get two things out of you: your personal information and money from your wallet. Victims have reached out to Scam Alert Singapore with stories of agents asking for some money to purchase "starter packs", insurance, and membership fees before disappearing with the cash. In other cases, victims have been asked to reveal personal information such as their full names, IC numbers, phone numbers, security codes, and one time passwords (OTP's).
You can stay safe from such schemes by looking out for positions that require you to pay a sum of cash before you start your job, and jobs that offer high pay for little to no effort.
3. Ads Written in Bad English

What we mean by bad English are ads written with multiple grammatical mistakes, lack of capital letters where it SHOULD be, and wrong words used at the wrong points of the ad. Does the ad sound like it was written by a scammer? Chances are it is.
You should also take into consideration the ad's tone of voice. For instance, if the company claims to be an IT recruitment agency in Singapore then their ads should use good English, in the hopes of sounding professional.
4. Dubious Images Used


Try to look out for job ads with more in-depth information. Promising ads will feature memorable information such as working hours, salary, the job scope, the requirements needed, and ways to contact them.
5. General Lack Of Information

Ok, so what's a safe job ad?
- Do not ask for sensitive information like your credit card, bank information, and passwords
- Are reasonably designed and well-written
- Contain a job description, followed by job responsibilities, and contact information provided in the ad
Where can I find a BGC approved job ads?
Anything else?
Ask yourself, does a hiring manager really need your bank details before allowing you to sign a contract? Follow your gut or if unsure, do your own research. Call the company and ask to speak to a hiring manager or check them out online. For instance, if a company claims to be an IT recruitment agency in Singapore, make sure that their online credentials check out.
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