Updated: August 03, 2017

FINDING A STUDENT JOB THAT IS FLEXIBLE WITH SCHOOL SCHEDULES CAN SOMETIMES BE DIFFICULT AND SOME JOB OFFERS ARE REALLY TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.  AS THE FALL SCHOOL SEMESTER APPROACHES, THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INSURANCE'S DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS WANTS TO GIVE STUDENTS THE BASIC KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO AVOID JOB SCAMS.  CONSIDER THESE WHEN JOB HUNTING THIS SEMESTER: RESEARCH THE EMPLOYER AND JOB POSTING.  IF A JOB LOOKS SUSPICIOUS, SEARCH FOR IT ONLINE AND IF THE RESULT COMES UP IN OTHER CITIES WITH THE EXACT SAME JOB POST, IT IS LIKELY A SCAM.  IF THE LANGUAGE USED IN THE JOB AD IS POOR AND FULL OF GRAMMATICAL ERRORS, THIS COULD INDICATE A SCAM.  IF YOU RECEIVE A CHECK IN THE MAIL AS PART OF A JOB AND YOU ARE INSTRUCTED TO DEPOSIT THE CHECK, KEEP A PORTION FOR YOURSELF AND SEND THE REST BACK TO THE COMPANY IN MONEY CARDS, IT IS A SCAM.  DON'T AGREE TO A BACKGROUND CHECK UNLESS YOU HAVE MET THE EMPLOYER IN PERSON.  AND TO REPORT A JOB SCAM, FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION ONLINE AT FTCCOMPLAINTASSISTANCE.GOV OR CALL 877-382-4357.