Teens Looking to Enter the Workforce Need to Be Aware of Scams

Tuesday, May 10th, 2022 -- 10:01 AM

(Raymond Neupert, WRN) Teens looking to enter the workforce this summer need to be aware of some very common scams in the market.

State consumer protection director Michael Domke says one common scam is to have a new employee cash a check and then pay back some of the money. "To take that money and pay a vendor who they need for training or IT resources. And in essence, that check was fake, and then they're taken out of their own account."

Domke says mystery shopping sounds like a great idea if you like to shop, but you have to be careful and do your homework. "And in reality, very, very few of those mystery shopping jobs are legitimate. And the scam works there as they get you to pay upfront, whether it be $20 or $40, and that is kind of your enlistment fee."

Teens also need to be sure to find out the rules on how youth workers are expected and allowed to work, and make sure that employers aren't trying to make them do more than that.

Domke says that no legitimate job will require you to pay to sign up or apply. He says you should also be wary of anyone who asks you to cash a check for them and give them back some money.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.