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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Job Seekers Face Rising Number of Employment Scams</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/31/23 by <b>Jill Gambon</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The 50+ Job Seekers in Massachusetts networking program usually offers its members workshops on résumé writing, interviewing and the skills needed to land their next gig.<br><br>Last year, it added tips on how to keep criminals from landing <i>them</i> as fraud victims.<br><br>In December, the program hosted a workshop by <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network</a></span></span> volunteers to warn people about the growing risks for those in the job market — particularly amid the economy’s shift to remote work.<br><br>“Job seekers are very vulnerable,” says Karen Sowsy, who is a manager for the 50+ program. “People with long-term unemployment may be desperate. They’re often ready to jump at the first opportunity.”<br><br>Fake job postings on social media sites and online job boards, scammers posing as recruiters, and fraudulent offers sent by text and email for high-paying remote positions that require the purchase of software or work-from-home supplies are just some of the common schemes, says AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline volunteer Alice Diamond, 68, of Arlington. Swindlers are after money but also personal information — a key ingredient for identity theft.<br><br>“The last couple of years there has been a tremendous proliferation of scams,” says Diamond, who recently retired as associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University in Cambridge.<br><br>Nationwide, business and job opportunity reports ranked No. 12 on the list of most common consumer complaints and scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with 95,399 reports. That’s up from 38,451 reports in 2019.<br><br><b>‘Mystery shoppers’ targeted</b><br><br>AARP Massachusetts recently added employment scams as a topic covered in its fraud prevention programming.<br><br>“We saw people make decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to quit their jobs or retire,” says State Director Michael Festa. “Now some people are reconsidering those decisions and are reentering the workforce. The fraudsters know that.”<br><br>Mystery shoppers and virtual assistants are among the job categories that scammers frequently target, Diamond says. Mystery shoppers are hired to pose as regular customers and provide feedback to a retailer or restaurant about its service. Scammers try to charge applicants for phony training or certification. Or, they may send a bad check to the job hunter to cover purchases and ask that money be wired back to cover taxes, overpayment or other fees.<br><br>As for virtual assistants, Diamond says scammers will offer job seekers a high-paying remote position and request that the new hire pay for office supplies or other expenses up front, with the promise of reimbursement.<br><br>“Scammers are criminals, and they are sophisticated,” Diamond says. “Some of them could win an Emmy for their acting and a Pulitzer for the emails they write.”<br><br>Before engaging in any job-related transaction, Diamond says, people should do some digging to verify that the company or recruiter they’re dealing with is legitimate. Search your contacts for anyone who may be familiar with the firm or individual. Scrutinize email addresses for authenticity, and do an online map search for any physical address you’ve been given.<br><br>And if you do fall victim? AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Dennis Hohengasser, 73, of Taunton, says to reach out for help. “It’s important to talk about it,” he says. “That will help heal the trauma.”<br><br>For information on <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Massachusetts</a></span></span>’ Fraud Talk Tuesdays, the AARP Fraud Watch Network or upcoming fraud-related events, see <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/staying-safe-from-scams-this-holiday-season/?CMP=RDRCT-STATES-MA-FRAUD-121422" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mafraud</a></span></span>.<br><br>If you're looking for help finding a job, try the 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group. This program was created for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment, Check out some of the events here: <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F50plusjobseekers.org%2Fevents%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfcarey%40aarp.org%7C1a2b720a1c6f47eebc6d08db39bd77a7%7Ca395e38b4b754e4493499a37de460a33%7C0%7C0%7C638167258136448961%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kX%2BGnfZ%2FGLR%2F6HIIWf2qBmkhWcplfLhOfEaP1Q3Q6Nw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://50plusjobseekers.org/events/</a></span></span><br><br><br> <i>Jill Gambon is a writer living in West Newbury, Massachusetts. </i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><div class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-video-player data-module data-player-id="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6013936375001" data-video-title="Work from Home Scams" data-account-id="3772599298001" data-aspect-ratio="4x3" > <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/KM9xJAJa4_default/index.html?videoId=6013936375001" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen width="300" height="168" allow="autoplay" > </iframe> </div></div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Work from Home Scams</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>For more on scams and fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/phone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Identify and Avoid Common Phone Scams</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/finance/fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud, an AARP Benefit</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/ftc-cryptocurrency-warning.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 Things to Know About Cryptocurrency and Related Scams</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank">AARP Massachusetts</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/springfield-ma/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display == 'none' ? 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'' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . 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Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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They’re often ready to jump at the first opportunity.”<br><br>Fake job postings on social media sites and online job boards, scammers posing as recruiters, and fraudulent offers sent by text and email for high-paying remote positions that require the purchase of software or work-from-home supplies are just some of the common schemes, says AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline volunteer Alice Diamond, 68, of Arlington. Swindlers are after money but also personal information — a key ingredient for identity theft.<br><br>“The last couple of years there has been a tremendous proliferation of scams,” says Diamond, who recently retired as associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University in Cambridge.<br><br>Nationwide, business and job opportunity reports ranked No. 12 on the list of most common consumer complaints and scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with 95,399 reports. That’s up from 38,451 reports in 2019.<br><br><b>‘Mystery shoppers’ targeted</b><br><br>AARP Massachusetts recently added employment scams as a topic covered in its fraud prevention programming.<br><br>“We saw people make decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to quit their jobs or retire,” says State Director Michael Festa. “Now some people are reconsidering those decisions and are reentering the workforce. The fraudsters know that.”<br><br>Mystery shoppers and virtual assistants are among the job categories that scammers frequently target, Diamond says. Mystery shoppers are hired to pose as regular customers and provide feedback to a retailer or restaurant about its service. Scammers try to charge applicants for phony training or certification. Or, they may send a bad check to the job hunter to cover purchases and ask that money be wired back to cover taxes, overpayment or other fees.<br><br>As for virtual assistants, Diamond says scammers will offer job seekers a high-paying remote position and request that the new hire pay for office supplies or other expenses up front, with the promise of reimbursement.<br><br>“Scammers are criminals, and they are sophisticated,” Diamond says. “Some of them could win an Emmy for their acting and a Pulitzer for the emails they write.”<br><br>Before engaging in any job-related transaction, Diamond says, people should do some digging to verify that the company or recruiter they’re dealing with is legitimate. Search your contacts for anyone who may be familiar with the firm or individual. Scrutinize email addresses for authenticity, and do an online map search for any physical address you’ve been given.<br><br>And if you do fall victim? AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Dennis Hohengasser, 73, of Taunton, says to reach out for help. “It’s important to talk about it,” he says. “That will help heal the trauma.”<br><br>For information on <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Massachusetts</a></span></span>’ Fraud Talk Tuesdays, the AARP Fraud Watch Network or upcoming fraud-related events, see <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/staying-safe-from-scams-this-holiday-season/?CMP=RDRCT-STATES-MA-FRAUD-121422" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mafraud</a></span></span>.<br><br>If you're looking for help finding a job, try the 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group. This program was created for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment, Check out some of the events here: <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F50plusjobseekers.org%2Fevents%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfcarey%40aarp.org%7C1a2b720a1c6f47eebc6d08db39bd77a7%7Ca395e38b4b754e4493499a37de460a33%7C0%7C0%7C638167258136448961%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kX%2BGnfZ%2FGLR%2F6HIIWf2qBmkhWcplfLhOfEaP1Q3Q6Nw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://50plusjobseekers.org/events/</a></span></span><br><br><br> <i>Jill Gambon is a writer living in West Newbury, Massachusetts. </i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><div class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-video-player data-module data-player-id="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6013936375001" data-video-title="Work from Home Scams" data-account-id="3772599298001" data-aspect-ratio="4x3" > <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/KM9xJAJa4_default/index.html?videoId=6013936375001" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen width="300" height="168" allow="autoplay" > </iframe> </div></div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Work from Home Scams</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>For more on scams and fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/phone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Identify and Avoid Common Phone Scams</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/finance/fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud, an AARP Benefit</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/ftc-cryptocurrency-warning.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 Things to Know About Cryptocurrency and Related Scams</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank">AARP Massachusetts</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/springfield-ma/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Job Seekers Face Rising Number of Employment Scams</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/31/23 by <b>Jill Gambon</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The 50+ Job Seekers in Massachusetts networking program usually offers its members workshops on résumé writing, interviewing and the skills needed to land their next gig.<br><br>Last year, it added tips on how to keep criminals from landing <i>them</i> as fraud victims.<br><br>In December, the program hosted a workshop by <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network</a></span></span> volunteers to warn people about the growing risks for those in the job market — particularly amid the economy’s shift to remote work.<br><br>“Job seekers are very vulnerable,” says Karen Sowsy, who is a manager for the 50+ program. “People with long-term unemployment may be desperate. They’re often ready to jump at the first opportunity.”<br><br>Fake job postings on social media sites and online job boards, scammers posing as recruiters, and fraudulent offers sent by text and email for high-paying remote positions that require the purchase of software or work-from-home supplies are just some of the common schemes, says AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline volunteer Alice Diamond, 68, of Arlington. Swindlers are after money but also personal information — a key ingredient for identity theft.<br><br>“The last couple of years there has been a tremendous proliferation of scams,” says Diamond, who recently retired as associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University in Cambridge.<br><br>Nationwide, business and job opportunity reports ranked No. 12 on the list of most common consumer complaints and scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with 95,399 reports. That’s up from 38,451 reports in 2019.<br><br><b>‘Mystery shoppers’ targeted</b><br><br>AARP Massachusetts recently added employment scams as a topic covered in its fraud prevention programming.<br><br>“We saw people make decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to quit their jobs or retire,” says State Director Michael Festa. “Now some people are reconsidering those decisions and are reentering the workforce. The fraudsters know that.”<br><br>Mystery shoppers and virtual assistants are among the job categories that scammers frequently target, Diamond says. Mystery shoppers are hired to pose as regular customers and provide feedback to a retailer or restaurant about its service. Scammers try to charge applicants for phony training or certification. Or, they may send a bad check to the job hunter to cover purchases and ask that money be wired back to cover taxes, overpayment or other fees.<br><br>As for virtual assistants, Diamond says scammers will offer job seekers a high-paying remote position and request that the new hire pay for office supplies or other expenses up front, with the promise of reimbursement.<br><br>“Scammers are criminals, and they are sophisticated,” Diamond says. “Some of them could win an Emmy for their acting and a Pulitzer for the emails they write.”<br><br>Before engaging in any job-related transaction, Diamond says, people should do some digging to verify that the company or recruiter they’re dealing with is legitimate. Search your contacts for anyone who may be familiar with the firm or individual. Scrutinize email addresses for authenticity, and do an online map search for any physical address you’ve been given.<br><br>And if you do fall victim? AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Dennis Hohengasser, 73, of Taunton, says to reach out for help. “It’s important to talk about it,” he says. “That will help heal the trauma.”<br><br>For information on <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Massachusetts</a></span></span>’ Fraud Talk Tuesdays, the AARP Fraud Watch Network or upcoming fraud-related events, see <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/staying-safe-from-scams-this-holiday-season/?CMP=RDRCT-STATES-MA-FRAUD-121422" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mafraud</a></span></span>.<br><br>If you're looking for help finding a job, try the 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group. This program was created for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment, Check out some of the events here: <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F50plusjobseekers.org%2Fevents%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfcarey%40aarp.org%7C1a2b720a1c6f47eebc6d08db39bd77a7%7Ca395e38b4b754e4493499a37de460a33%7C0%7C0%7C638167258136448961%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kX%2BGnfZ%2FGLR%2F6HIIWf2qBmkhWcplfLhOfEaP1Q3Q6Nw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://50plusjobseekers.org/events/</a></span></span><br><br><br> <i>Jill Gambon is a writer living in West Newbury, Massachusetts. </i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><div class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-video-player data-module data-player-id="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6013936375001" data-video-title="Work from Home Scams" data-account-id="3772599298001" data-aspect-ratio="4x3" > <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/KM9xJAJa4_default/index.html?videoId=6013936375001" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen width="300" height="168" allow="autoplay" > </iframe> </div></div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Work from Home Scams</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>For more on scams and fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/phone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Identify and Avoid Common Phone Scams</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/finance/fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud, an AARP Benefit</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/ftc-cryptocurrency-warning.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 Things to Know About Cryptocurrency and Related Scams</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank">AARP Massachusetts</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/springfield-ma/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . 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Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Massachusetts Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Massachusetts Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Massachusetts</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MA@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MA@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Massachusetts</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-massachusetts/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SPRINGFIELD-MA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPMA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpmassachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); 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They’re often ready to jump at the first opportunity.”<br><br>Fake job postings on social media sites and online job boards, scammers posing as recruiters, and fraudulent offers sent by text and email for high-paying remote positions that require the purchase of software or work-from-home supplies are just some of the common schemes, says AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline volunteer Alice Diamond, 68, of Arlington. Swindlers are after money but also personal information — a key ingredient for identity theft.<br><br>“The last couple of years there has been a tremendous proliferation of scams,” says Diamond, who recently retired as associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University in Cambridge.<br><br>Nationwide, business and job opportunity reports ranked No. 12 on the list of most common consumer complaints and scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with 95,399 reports. That’s up from 38,451 reports in 2019.<br><br><b>‘Mystery shoppers’ targeted</b><br><br>AARP Massachusetts recently added employment scams as a topic covered in its fraud prevention programming.<br><br>“We saw people make decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to quit their jobs or retire,” says State Director Michael Festa. “Now some people are reconsidering those decisions and are reentering the workforce. The fraudsters know that.”<br><br>Mystery shoppers and virtual assistants are among the job categories that scammers frequently target, Diamond says. Mystery shoppers are hired to pose as regular customers and provide feedback to a retailer or restaurant about its service. Scammers try to charge applicants for phony training or certification. Or, they may send a bad check to the job hunter to cover purchases and ask that money be wired back to cover taxes, overpayment or other fees.<br><br>As for virtual assistants, Diamond says scammers will offer job seekers a high-paying remote position and request that the new hire pay for office supplies or other expenses up front, with the promise of reimbursement.<br><br>“Scammers are criminals, and they are sophisticated,” Diamond says. “Some of them could win an Emmy for their acting and a Pulitzer for the emails they write.”<br><br>Before engaging in any job-related transaction, Diamond says, people should do some digging to verify that the company or recruiter they’re dealing with is legitimate. Search your contacts for anyone who may be familiar with the firm or individual. Scrutinize email addresses for authenticity, and do an online map search for any physical address you’ve been given.<br><br>And if you do fall victim? AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Dennis Hohengasser, 73, of Taunton, says to reach out for help. “It’s important to talk about it,” he says. “That will help heal the trauma.”<br><br>For information on <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Massachusetts</a></span></span>’ Fraud Talk Tuesdays, the AARP Fraud Watch Network or upcoming fraud-related events, see <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/staying-safe-from-scams-this-holiday-season/?CMP=RDRCT-STATES-MA-FRAUD-121422" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mafraud</a></span></span>.<br><br>If you're looking for help finding a job, try the 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group. This program was created for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment, Check out some of the events here: <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F50plusjobseekers.org%2Fevents%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfcarey%40aarp.org%7C1a2b720a1c6f47eebc6d08db39bd77a7%7Ca395e38b4b754e4493499a37de460a33%7C0%7C0%7C638167258136448961%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kX%2BGnfZ%2FGLR%2F6HIIWf2qBmkhWcplfLhOfEaP1Q3Q6Nw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://50plusjobseekers.org/events/</a></span></span><br><br><br> <i>Jill Gambon is a writer living in West Newbury, Massachusetts. </i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><div class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-video-player data-module data-player-id="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6013936375001" data-video-title="Work from Home Scams" data-account-id="3772599298001" data-aspect-ratio="4x3" > <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/KM9xJAJa4_default/index.html?videoId=6013936375001" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen width="300" height="168" allow="autoplay" > </iframe> </div></div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Work from Home Scams</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>For more on scams and fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/phone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Identify and Avoid Common Phone Scams</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/finance/fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud, an AARP Benefit</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/ftc-cryptocurrency-warning.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 Things to Know About Cryptocurrency and Related Scams</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank">AARP Massachusetts</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/springfield-ma/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display == 'none' ? 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Job Seekers Face Rising Number of Employment Scams</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/31/23 by <b>Jill Gambon</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The 50+ Job Seekers in Massachusetts networking program usually offers its members workshops on résumé writing, interviewing and the skills needed to land their next gig.<br><br>Last year, it added tips on how to keep criminals from landing <i>them</i> as fraud victims.<br><br>In December, the program hosted a workshop by <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network</a></span></span> volunteers to warn people about the growing risks for those in the job market — particularly amid the economy’s shift to remote work.<br><br>“Job seekers are very vulnerable,” says Karen Sowsy, who is a manager for the 50+ program. “People with long-term unemployment may be desperate. They’re often ready to jump at the first opportunity.”<br><br>Fake job postings on social media sites and online job boards, scammers posing as recruiters, and fraudulent offers sent by text and email for high-paying remote positions that require the purchase of software or work-from-home supplies are just some of the common schemes, says AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline volunteer Alice Diamond, 68, of Arlington. Swindlers are after money but also personal information — a key ingredient for identity theft.<br><br>“The last couple of years there has been a tremendous proliferation of scams,” says Diamond, who recently retired as associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University in Cambridge.<br><br>Nationwide, business and job opportunity reports ranked No. 12 on the list of most common consumer complaints and scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with 95,399 reports. That’s up from 38,451 reports in 2019.<br><br><b>‘Mystery shoppers’ targeted</b><br><br>AARP Massachusetts recently added employment scams as a topic covered in its fraud prevention programming.<br><br>“We saw people make decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to quit their jobs or retire,” says State Director Michael Festa. “Now some people are reconsidering those decisions and are reentering the workforce. The fraudsters know that.”<br><br>Mystery shoppers and virtual assistants are among the job categories that scammers frequently target, Diamond says. Mystery shoppers are hired to pose as regular customers and provide feedback to a retailer or restaurant about its service. Scammers try to charge applicants for phony training or certification. Or, they may send a bad check to the job hunter to cover purchases and ask that money be wired back to cover taxes, overpayment or other fees.<br><br>As for virtual assistants, Diamond says scammers will offer job seekers a high-paying remote position and request that the new hire pay for office supplies or other expenses up front, with the promise of reimbursement.<br><br>“Scammers are criminals, and they are sophisticated,” Diamond says. “Some of them could win an Emmy for their acting and a Pulitzer for the emails they write.”<br><br>Before engaging in any job-related transaction, Diamond says, people should do some digging to verify that the company or recruiter they’re dealing with is legitimate. Search your contacts for anyone who may be familiar with the firm or individual. Scrutinize email addresses for authenticity, and do an online map search for any physical address you’ve been given.<br><br>And if you do fall victim? AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Dennis Hohengasser, 73, of Taunton, says to reach out for help. “It’s important to talk about it,” he says. “That will help heal the trauma.”<br><br>For information on <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Massachusetts</a></span></span>’ Fraud Talk Tuesdays, the AARP Fraud Watch Network or upcoming fraud-related events, see <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/staying-safe-from-scams-this-holiday-season/?CMP=RDRCT-STATES-MA-FRAUD-121422" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mafraud</a></span></span>.<br><br>If you're looking for help finding a job, try the 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group. This program was created for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment, Check out some of the events here: <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F50plusjobseekers.org%2Fevents%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfcarey%40aarp.org%7C1a2b720a1c6f47eebc6d08db39bd77a7%7Ca395e38b4b754e4493499a37de460a33%7C0%7C0%7C638167258136448961%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kX%2BGnfZ%2FGLR%2F6HIIWf2qBmkhWcplfLhOfEaP1Q3Q6Nw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://50plusjobseekers.org/events/</a></span></span><br><br><br> <i>Jill Gambon is a writer living in West Newbury, Massachusetts. </i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><div class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-video-player data-module data-player-id="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6013936375001" data-video-title="Work from Home Scams" data-account-id="3772599298001" data-aspect-ratio="4x3" > <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/KM9xJAJa4_default/index.html?videoId=6013936375001" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen width="300" height="168" allow="autoplay" > </iframe> </div></div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Work from Home Scams</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>For more on scams and fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/phone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Identify and Avoid Common Phone Scams</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/finance/fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud, an AARP Benefit</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/ftc-cryptocurrency-warning.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 Things to Know About Cryptocurrency and Related Scams</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank">AARP Massachusetts</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/springfield-ma/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display == 'none' ? 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Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); 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They’re often ready to jump at the first opportunity.”<br><br>Fake job postings on social media sites and online job boards, scammers posing as recruiters, and fraudulent offers sent by text and email for high-paying remote positions that require the purchase of software or work-from-home supplies are just some of the common schemes, says AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline volunteer Alice Diamond, 68, of Arlington. Swindlers are after money but also personal information — a key ingredient for identity theft.<br><br>“The last couple of years there has been a tremendous proliferation of scams,” says Diamond, who recently retired as associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University in Cambridge.<br><br>Nationwide, business and job opportunity reports ranked No. 12 on the list of most common consumer complaints and scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with 95,399 reports. That’s up from 38,451 reports in 2019.<br><br><b>‘Mystery shoppers’ targeted</b><br><br>AARP Massachusetts recently added employment scams as a topic covered in its fraud prevention programming.<br><br>“We saw people make decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to quit their jobs or retire,” says State Director Michael Festa. “Now some people are reconsidering those decisions and are reentering the workforce. The fraudsters know that.”<br><br>Mystery shoppers and virtual assistants are among the job categories that scammers frequently target, Diamond says. Mystery shoppers are hired to pose as regular customers and provide feedback to a retailer or restaurant about its service. Scammers try to charge applicants for phony training or certification. Or, they may send a bad check to the job hunter to cover purchases and ask that money be wired back to cover taxes, overpayment or other fees.<br><br>As for virtual assistants, Diamond says scammers will offer job seekers a high-paying remote position and request that the new hire pay for office supplies or other expenses up front, with the promise of reimbursement.<br><br>“Scammers are criminals, and they are sophisticated,” Diamond says. “Some of them could win an Emmy for their acting and a Pulitzer for the emails they write.”<br><br>Before engaging in any job-related transaction, Diamond says, people should do some digging to verify that the company or recruiter they’re dealing with is legitimate. Search your contacts for anyone who may be familiar with the firm or individual. Scrutinize email addresses for authenticity, and do an online map search for any physical address you’ve been given.<br><br>And if you do fall victim? AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Dennis Hohengasser, 73, of Taunton, says to reach out for help. “It’s important to talk about it,” he says. “That will help heal the trauma.”<br><br>For information on <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Massachusetts</a></span></span>’ Fraud Talk Tuesdays, the AARP Fraud Watch Network or upcoming fraud-related events, see <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/staying-safe-from-scams-this-holiday-season/?CMP=RDRCT-STATES-MA-FRAUD-121422" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mafraud</a></span></span>.<br><br>If you're looking for help finding a job, try the 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group. This program was created for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment, Check out some of the events here: <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F50plusjobseekers.org%2Fevents%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfcarey%40aarp.org%7C1a2b720a1c6f47eebc6d08db39bd77a7%7Ca395e38b4b754e4493499a37de460a33%7C0%7C0%7C638167258136448961%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kX%2BGnfZ%2FGLR%2F6HIIWf2qBmkhWcplfLhOfEaP1Q3Q6Nw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://50plusjobseekers.org/events/</a></span></span><br><br><br> <i>Jill Gambon is a writer living in West Newbury, Massachusetts. </i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><div class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-video-player data-module data-player-id="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6013936375001" data-video-title="Work from Home Scams" data-account-id="3772599298001" data-aspect-ratio="4x3" > <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/KM9xJAJa4_default/index.html?videoId=6013936375001" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen width="300" height="168" allow="autoplay" > </iframe> </div></div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Work from Home Scams</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>For more on scams and fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/phone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Identify and Avoid Common Phone Scams</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/finance/fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud, an AARP Benefit</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/ftc-cryptocurrency-warning.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 Things to Know About Cryptocurrency and Related Scams</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank">AARP Massachusetts</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/springfield-ma/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . 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Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Massachusetts Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Massachusetts Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Massachusetts</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MA@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MA@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Massachusetts</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-massachusetts/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SPRINGFIELD-MA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPMA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpmassachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Job Seekers Face Rising Number of Employment Scams</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/31/23 by <b>Jill Gambon</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The 50+ Job Seekers in Massachusetts networking program usually offers its members workshops on résumé writing, interviewing and the skills needed to land their next gig.<br><br>Last year, it added tips on how to keep criminals from landing <i>them</i> as fraud victims.<br><br>In December, the program hosted a workshop by <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network</a></span></span> volunteers to warn people about the growing risks for those in the job market — particularly amid the economy’s shift to remote work.<br><br>“Job seekers are very vulnerable,” says Karen Sowsy, who is a manager for the 50+ program. “People with long-term unemployment may be desperate. They’re often ready to jump at the first opportunity.”<br><br>Fake job postings on social media sites and online job boards, scammers posing as recruiters, and fraudulent offers sent by text and email for high-paying remote positions that require the purchase of software or work-from-home supplies are just some of the common schemes, says AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline volunteer Alice Diamond, 68, of Arlington. Swindlers are after money but also personal information — a key ingredient for identity theft.<br><br>“The last couple of years there has been a tremendous proliferation of scams,” says Diamond, who recently retired as associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University in Cambridge.<br><br>Nationwide, business and job opportunity reports ranked No. 12 on the list of most common consumer complaints and scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with 95,399 reports. That’s up from 38,451 reports in 2019.<br><br><b>‘Mystery shoppers’ targeted</b><br><br>AARP Massachusetts recently added employment scams as a topic covered in its fraud prevention programming.<br><br>“We saw people make decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to quit their jobs or retire,” says State Director Michael Festa. “Now some people are reconsidering those decisions and are reentering the workforce. The fraudsters know that.”<br><br>Mystery shoppers and virtual assistants are among the job categories that scammers frequently target, Diamond says. Mystery shoppers are hired to pose as regular customers and provide feedback to a retailer or restaurant about its service. Scammers try to charge applicants for phony training or certification. Or, they may send a bad check to the job hunter to cover purchases and ask that money be wired back to cover taxes, overpayment or other fees.<br><br>As for virtual assistants, Diamond says scammers will offer job seekers a high-paying remote position and request that the new hire pay for office supplies or other expenses up front, with the promise of reimbursement.<br><br>“Scammers are criminals, and they are sophisticated,” Diamond says. “Some of them could win an Emmy for their acting and a Pulitzer for the emails they write.”<br><br>Before engaging in any job-related transaction, Diamond says, people should do some digging to verify that the company or recruiter they’re dealing with is legitimate. Search your contacts for anyone who may be familiar with the firm or individual. Scrutinize email addresses for authenticity, and do an online map search for any physical address you’ve been given.<br><br>And if you do fall victim? AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Dennis Hohengasser, 73, of Taunton, says to reach out for help. “It’s important to talk about it,” he says. “That will help heal the trauma.”<br><br>For information on <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Massachusetts</a></span></span>’ Fraud Talk Tuesdays, the AARP Fraud Watch Network or upcoming fraud-related events, see <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/staying-safe-from-scams-this-holiday-season/?CMP=RDRCT-STATES-MA-FRAUD-121422" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mafraud</a></span></span>.<br><br>If you're looking for help finding a job, try the 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group. This program was created for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment, Check out some of the events here: <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F50plusjobseekers.org%2Fevents%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfcarey%40aarp.org%7C1a2b720a1c6f47eebc6d08db39bd77a7%7Ca395e38b4b754e4493499a37de460a33%7C0%7C0%7C638167258136448961%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kX%2BGnfZ%2FGLR%2F6HIIWf2qBmkhWcplfLhOfEaP1Q3Q6Nw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://50plusjobseekers.org/events/</a></span></span><br><br><br> <i>Jill Gambon is a writer living in West Newbury, Massachusetts. </i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><div class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-video-player data-module data-player-id="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6013936375001" data-video-title="Work from Home Scams" data-account-id="3772599298001" data-aspect-ratio="4x3" > <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/KM9xJAJa4_default/index.html?videoId=6013936375001" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen width="300" height="168" allow="autoplay" > </iframe> </div></div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Work from Home Scams</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>For more on scams and fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/phone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Identify and Avoid Common Phone Scams</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/finance/fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud, an AARP Benefit</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/ftc-cryptocurrency-warning.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 Things to Know About Cryptocurrency and Related Scams</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank">AARP Massachusetts</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/springfield-ma/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display == 'none' ? 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'' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . 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Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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They’re often ready to jump at the first opportunity.”<br><br>Fake job postings on social media sites and online job boards, scammers posing as recruiters, and fraudulent offers sent by text and email for high-paying remote positions that require the purchase of software or work-from-home supplies are just some of the common schemes, says AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline volunteer Alice Diamond, 68, of Arlington. Swindlers are after money but also personal information — a key ingredient for identity theft.<br><br>“The last couple of years there has been a tremendous proliferation of scams,” says Diamond, who recently retired as associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University in Cambridge.<br><br>Nationwide, business and job opportunity reports ranked No. 12 on the list of most common consumer complaints and scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with 95,399 reports. That’s up from 38,451 reports in 2019.<br><br><b>‘Mystery shoppers’ targeted</b><br><br>AARP Massachusetts recently added employment scams as a topic covered in its fraud prevention programming.<br><br>“We saw people make decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to quit their jobs or retire,” says State Director Michael Festa. “Now some people are reconsidering those decisions and are reentering the workforce. The fraudsters know that.”<br><br>Mystery shoppers and virtual assistants are among the job categories that scammers frequently target, Diamond says. Mystery shoppers are hired to pose as regular customers and provide feedback to a retailer or restaurant about its service. Scammers try to charge applicants for phony training or certification. Or, they may send a bad check to the job hunter to cover purchases and ask that money be wired back to cover taxes, overpayment or other fees.<br><br>As for virtual assistants, Diamond says scammers will offer job seekers a high-paying remote position and request that the new hire pay for office supplies or other expenses up front, with the promise of reimbursement.<br><br>“Scammers are criminals, and they are sophisticated,” Diamond says. “Some of them could win an Emmy for their acting and a Pulitzer for the emails they write.”<br><br>Before engaging in any job-related transaction, Diamond says, people should do some digging to verify that the company or recruiter they’re dealing with is legitimate. Search your contacts for anyone who may be familiar with the firm or individual. Scrutinize email addresses for authenticity, and do an online map search for any physical address you’ve been given.<br><br>And if you do fall victim? AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Dennis Hohengasser, 73, of Taunton, says to reach out for help. “It’s important to talk about it,” he says. “That will help heal the trauma.”<br><br>For information on <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Massachusetts</a></span></span>’ Fraud Talk Tuesdays, the AARP Fraud Watch Network or upcoming fraud-related events, see <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/staying-safe-from-scams-this-holiday-season/?CMP=RDRCT-STATES-MA-FRAUD-121422" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mafraud</a></span></span>.<br><br>If you're looking for help finding a job, try the 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group. This program was created for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment, Check out some of the events here: <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F50plusjobseekers.org%2Fevents%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfcarey%40aarp.org%7C1a2b720a1c6f47eebc6d08db39bd77a7%7Ca395e38b4b754e4493499a37de460a33%7C0%7C0%7C638167258136448961%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kX%2BGnfZ%2FGLR%2F6HIIWf2qBmkhWcplfLhOfEaP1Q3Q6Nw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://50plusjobseekers.org/events/</a></span></span><br><br><br> <i>Jill Gambon is a writer living in West Newbury, Massachusetts. </i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><div class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-video-player data-module data-player-id="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6013936375001" data-video-title="Work from Home Scams" data-account-id="3772599298001" data-aspect-ratio="4x3" > <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/KM9xJAJa4_default/index.html?videoId=6013936375001" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen width="300" height="168" allow="autoplay" > </iframe> </div></div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Work from Home Scams</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>For more on scams and fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/phone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Identify and Avoid Common Phone Scams</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/finance/fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud, an AARP Benefit</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/ftc-cryptocurrency-warning.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 Things to Know About Cryptocurrency and Related Scams</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank">AARP Massachusetts</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/springfield-ma/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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The 50+ Job Seekers in Massachusetts networking program usually offers its members workshops on résumé writing, interviewing and the skills needed to land their next gig.
Last year, it added tips on how to keep criminals from landing them as fraud victims.
In December, the program hosted a workshop by AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteers to warn people about the growing risks for those in the job market — particularly amid the economy’s shift to remote work.
“Job seekers are very vulnerable,” says Karen Sowsy, who is a manager for the 50+ program. “People with long-term unemployment may be desperate. They’re often ready to jump at the first opportunity.”
Fake job postings on social media sites and online job boards, scammers posing as recruiters, and fraudulent offers sent by text and email for high-paying remote positions that require the purchase of software or work-from-home supplies are just some of the common schemes, says AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline volunteer Alice Diamond, 68, of Arlington. Swindlers are after money but also personal information — a key ingredient for identity theft.
“The last couple of years there has been a tremendous proliferation of scams,” says Diamond, who recently retired as associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University in Cambridge.
Nationwide, business and job opportunity reports ranked No. 12 on the list of most common consumer complaints and scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with 95,399 reports. That’s up from 38,451 reports in 2019.
‘Mystery shoppers’ targeted
AARP Massachusetts recently added employment scams as a topic covered in its fraud prevention programming.
“We saw people make decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to quit their jobs or retire,” says State Director Michael Festa. “Now some people are reconsidering those decisions and are reentering the workforce. The fraudsters know that.”
Mystery shoppers and virtual assistants are among the job categories that scammers frequently target, Diamond says. Mystery shoppers are hired to pose as regular customers and provide feedback to a retailer or restaurant about its service. Scammers try to charge applicants for phony training or certification. Or, they may send a bad check to the job hunter to cover purchases and ask that money be wired back to cover taxes, overpayment or other fees.
As for virtual assistants, Diamond says scammers will offer job seekers a high-paying remote position and request that the new hire pay for office supplies or other expenses up front, with the promise of reimbursement.
“Scammers are criminals, and they are sophisticated,” Diamond says. “Some of them could win an Emmy for their acting and a Pulitzer for the emails they write.”
Before engaging in any job-related transaction, Diamond says, people should do some digging to verify that the company or recruiter they’re dealing with is legitimate. Search your contacts for anyone who may be familiar with the firm or individual. Scrutinize email addresses for authenticity, and do an online map search for any physical address you’ve been given.
And if you do fall victim? AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Dennis Hohengasser, 73, of Taunton, says to reach out for help. “It’s important to talk about it,” he says. “That will help heal the trauma.”
For information on AARP Massachusetts’ Fraud Talk Tuesdays, the AARP Fraud Watch Network or upcoming fraud-related events, see aarp.org/mafraud.
If you're looking for help finding a job, try the 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group. This program was created for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment, Check out some of the events here: https://50plusjobseekers.org/events/
Jill Gambon is a writer living in West Newbury, Massachusetts.
For more on scams and fraud
This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the AARP Massachusetts page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Job Seekers Face Rising Number of Employment Scams</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/31/23 by <b>Jill Gambon</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The 50+ Job Seekers in Massachusetts networking program usually offers its members workshops on résumé writing, interviewing and the skills needed to land their next gig.<br><br>Last year, it added tips on how to keep criminals from landing <i>them</i> as fraud victims.<br><br>In December, the program hosted a workshop by <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network</a></span></span> volunteers to warn people about the growing risks for those in the job market — particularly amid the economy’s shift to remote work.<br><br>“Job seekers are very vulnerable,” says Karen Sowsy, who is a manager for the 50+ program. “People with long-term unemployment may be desperate. They’re often ready to jump at the first opportunity.”<br><br>Fake job postings on social media sites and online job boards, scammers posing as recruiters, and fraudulent offers sent by text and email for high-paying remote positions that require the purchase of software or work-from-home supplies are just some of the common schemes, says AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline volunteer Alice Diamond, 68, of Arlington. Swindlers are after money but also personal information — a key ingredient for identity theft.<br><br>“The last couple of years there has been a tremendous proliferation of scams,” says Diamond, who recently retired as associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University in Cambridge.<br><br>Nationwide, business and job opportunity reports ranked No. 12 on the list of most common consumer complaints and scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with 95,399 reports. That’s up from 38,451 reports in 2019.<br><br><b>‘Mystery shoppers’ targeted</b><br><br>AARP Massachusetts recently added employment scams as a topic covered in its fraud prevention programming.<br><br>“We saw people make decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to quit their jobs or retire,” says State Director Michael Festa. “Now some people are reconsidering those decisions and are reentering the workforce. The fraudsters know that.”<br><br>Mystery shoppers and virtual assistants are among the job categories that scammers frequently target, Diamond says. Mystery shoppers are hired to pose as regular customers and provide feedback to a retailer or restaurant about its service. Scammers try to charge applicants for phony training or certification. Or, they may send a bad check to the job hunter to cover purchases and ask that money be wired back to cover taxes, overpayment or other fees.<br><br>As for virtual assistants, Diamond says scammers will offer job seekers a high-paying remote position and request that the new hire pay for office supplies or other expenses up front, with the promise of reimbursement.<br><br>“Scammers are criminals, and they are sophisticated,” Diamond says. “Some of them could win an Emmy for their acting and a Pulitzer for the emails they write.”<br><br>Before engaging in any job-related transaction, Diamond says, people should do some digging to verify that the company or recruiter they’re dealing with is legitimate. Search your contacts for anyone who may be familiar with the firm or individual. Scrutinize email addresses for authenticity, and do an online map search for any physical address you’ve been given.<br><br>And if you do fall victim? AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Dennis Hohengasser, 73, of Taunton, says to reach out for help. “It’s important to talk about it,” he says. “That will help heal the trauma.”<br><br>For information on <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Massachusetts</a></span></span>’ Fraud Talk Tuesdays, the AARP Fraud Watch Network or upcoming fraud-related events, see <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/staying-safe-from-scams-this-holiday-season/?CMP=RDRCT-STATES-MA-FRAUD-121422" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mafraud</a></span></span>.<br><br>If you're looking for help finding a job, try the 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group. This program was created for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment, Check out some of the events here: <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F50plusjobseekers.org%2Fevents%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfcarey%40aarp.org%7C1a2b720a1c6f47eebc6d08db39bd77a7%7Ca395e38b4b754e4493499a37de460a33%7C0%7C0%7C638167258136448961%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kX%2BGnfZ%2FGLR%2F6HIIWf2qBmkhWcplfLhOfEaP1Q3Q6Nw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://50plusjobseekers.org/events/</a></span></span><br><br><br> <i>Jill Gambon is a writer living in West Newbury, Massachusetts. </i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><div class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-video-player data-module data-player-id="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6013936375001" data-video-title="Work from Home Scams" data-account-id="3772599298001" data-aspect-ratio="4x3" > <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/KM9xJAJa4_default/index.html?videoId=6013936375001" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen width="300" height="168" allow="autoplay" > </iframe> </div></div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Work from Home Scams</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>For more on scams and fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/phone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Identify and Avoid Common Phone Scams</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/finance/fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud, an AARP Benefit</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/ftc-cryptocurrency-warning.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 Things to Know About Cryptocurrency and Related Scams</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank">AARP Massachusetts</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/springfield-ma/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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They’re often ready to jump at the first opportunity.”<br><br>Fake job postings on social media sites and online job boards, scammers posing as recruiters, and fraudulent offers sent by text and email for high-paying remote positions that require the purchase of software or work-from-home supplies are just some of the common schemes, says AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline volunteer Alice Diamond, 68, of Arlington. Swindlers are after money but also personal information — a key ingredient for identity theft.<br><br>“The last couple of years there has been a tremendous proliferation of scams,” says Diamond, who recently retired as associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University in Cambridge.<br><br>Nationwide, business and job opportunity reports ranked No. 12 on the list of most common consumer complaints and scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with 95,399 reports. That’s up from 38,451 reports in 2019.<br><br><b>‘Mystery shoppers’ targeted</b><br><br>AARP Massachusetts recently added employment scams as a topic covered in its fraud prevention programming.<br><br>“We saw people make decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to quit their jobs or retire,” says State Director Michael Festa. “Now some people are reconsidering those decisions and are reentering the workforce. The fraudsters know that.”<br><br>Mystery shoppers and virtual assistants are among the job categories that scammers frequently target, Diamond says. Mystery shoppers are hired to pose as regular customers and provide feedback to a retailer or restaurant about its service. Scammers try to charge applicants for phony training or certification. Or, they may send a bad check to the job hunter to cover purchases and ask that money be wired back to cover taxes, overpayment or other fees.<br><br>As for virtual assistants, Diamond says scammers will offer job seekers a high-paying remote position and request that the new hire pay for office supplies or other expenses up front, with the promise of reimbursement.<br><br>“Scammers are criminals, and they are sophisticated,” Diamond says. “Some of them could win an Emmy for their acting and a Pulitzer for the emails they write.”<br><br>Before engaging in any job-related transaction, Diamond says, people should do some digging to verify that the company or recruiter they’re dealing with is legitimate. Search your contacts for anyone who may be familiar with the firm or individual. Scrutinize email addresses for authenticity, and do an online map search for any physical address you’ve been given.<br><br>And if you do fall victim? AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Dennis Hohengasser, 73, of Taunton, says to reach out for help. “It’s important to talk about it,” he says. “That will help heal the trauma.”<br><br>For information on <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Massachusetts</a></span></span>’ Fraud Talk Tuesdays, the AARP Fraud Watch Network or upcoming fraud-related events, see <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/staying-safe-from-scams-this-holiday-season/?CMP=RDRCT-STATES-MA-FRAUD-121422" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mafraud</a></span></span>.<br><br>If you're looking for help finding a job, try the 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group. This program was created for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment, Check out some of the events here: <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F50plusjobseekers.org%2Fevents%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfcarey%40aarp.org%7C1a2b720a1c6f47eebc6d08db39bd77a7%7Ca395e38b4b754e4493499a37de460a33%7C0%7C0%7C638167258136448961%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kX%2BGnfZ%2FGLR%2F6HIIWf2qBmkhWcplfLhOfEaP1Q3Q6Nw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://50plusjobseekers.org/events/</a></span></span><br><br><br> <i>Jill Gambon is a writer living in West Newbury, Massachusetts. </i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><div class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-video-player data-module data-player-id="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6013936375001" data-video-title="Work from Home Scams" data-account-id="3772599298001" data-aspect-ratio="4x3" > <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/KM9xJAJa4_default/index.html?videoId=6013936375001" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen width="300" height="168" allow="autoplay" > </iframe> </div></div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Work from Home Scams</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>For more on scams and fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/phone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Identify and Avoid Common Phone Scams</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/finance/fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud, an AARP Benefit</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/ftc-cryptocurrency-warning.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 Things to Know About Cryptocurrency and Related Scams</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank">AARP Massachusetts</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/springfield-ma/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . 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Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Massachusetts Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Massachusetts Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Massachusetts</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MA@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MA@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Massachusetts</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-massachusetts/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SPRINGFIELD-MA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPMA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpmassachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242]Code Context<?php // if (!$nowrapper) (Globals::$language == 'es') ? include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer_es.html") : include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer.html"); ?>
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Job Seekers Face Rising Number of Employment Scams</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/31/23 by <b>Jill Gambon</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The 50+ Job Seekers in Massachusetts networking program usually offers its members workshops on résumé writing, interviewing and the skills needed to land their next gig.<br><br>Last year, it added tips on how to keep criminals from landing <i>them</i> as fraud victims.<br><br>In December, the program hosted a workshop by <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network</a></span></span> volunteers to warn people about the growing risks for those in the job market — particularly amid the economy’s shift to remote work.<br><br>“Job seekers are very vulnerable,” says Karen Sowsy, who is a manager for the 50+ program. “People with long-term unemployment may be desperate. They’re often ready to jump at the first opportunity.”<br><br>Fake job postings on social media sites and online job boards, scammers posing as recruiters, and fraudulent offers sent by text and email for high-paying remote positions that require the purchase of software or work-from-home supplies are just some of the common schemes, says AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline volunteer Alice Diamond, 68, of Arlington. Swindlers are after money but also personal information — a key ingredient for identity theft.<br><br>“The last couple of years there has been a tremendous proliferation of scams,” says Diamond, who recently retired as associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University in Cambridge.<br><br>Nationwide, business and job opportunity reports ranked No. 12 on the list of most common consumer complaints and scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with 95,399 reports. That’s up from 38,451 reports in 2019.<br><br><b>‘Mystery shoppers’ targeted</b><br><br>AARP Massachusetts recently added employment scams as a topic covered in its fraud prevention programming.<br><br>“We saw people make decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to quit their jobs or retire,” says State Director Michael Festa. “Now some people are reconsidering those decisions and are reentering the workforce. The fraudsters know that.”<br><br>Mystery shoppers and virtual assistants are among the job categories that scammers frequently target, Diamond says. Mystery shoppers are hired to pose as regular customers and provide feedback to a retailer or restaurant about its service. Scammers try to charge applicants for phony training or certification. Or, they may send a bad check to the job hunter to cover purchases and ask that money be wired back to cover taxes, overpayment or other fees.<br><br>As for virtual assistants, Diamond says scammers will offer job seekers a high-paying remote position and request that the new hire pay for office supplies or other expenses up front, with the promise of reimbursement.<br><br>“Scammers are criminals, and they are sophisticated,” Diamond says. “Some of them could win an Emmy for their acting and a Pulitzer for the emails they write.”<br><br>Before engaging in any job-related transaction, Diamond says, people should do some digging to verify that the company or recruiter they’re dealing with is legitimate. Search your contacts for anyone who may be familiar with the firm or individual. Scrutinize email addresses for authenticity, and do an online map search for any physical address you’ve been given.<br><br>And if you do fall victim? AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Dennis Hohengasser, 73, of Taunton, says to reach out for help. “It’s important to talk about it,” he says. “That will help heal the trauma.”<br><br>For information on <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Massachusetts</a></span></span>’ Fraud Talk Tuesdays, the AARP Fraud Watch Network or upcoming fraud-related events, see <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/staying-safe-from-scams-this-holiday-season/?CMP=RDRCT-STATES-MA-FRAUD-121422" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mafraud</a></span></span>.<br><br>If you're looking for help finding a job, try the 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group. This program was created for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment, Check out some of the events here: <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F50plusjobseekers.org%2Fevents%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfcarey%40aarp.org%7C1a2b720a1c6f47eebc6d08db39bd77a7%7Ca395e38b4b754e4493499a37de460a33%7C0%7C0%7C638167258136448961%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kX%2BGnfZ%2FGLR%2F6HIIWf2qBmkhWcplfLhOfEaP1Q3Q6Nw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://50plusjobseekers.org/events/</a></span></span><br><br><br> <i>Jill Gambon is a writer living in West Newbury, Massachusetts. </i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><div class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-video-player data-module data-player-id="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6013936375001" data-video-title="Work from Home Scams" data-account-id="3772599298001" data-aspect-ratio="4x3" > <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/KM9xJAJa4_default/index.html?videoId=6013936375001" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen width="300" height="168" allow="autoplay" > </iframe> </div></div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Work from Home Scams</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>For more on scams and fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/phone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Identify and Avoid Common Phone Scams</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/finance/fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud, an AARP Benefit</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/ftc-cryptocurrency-warning.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 Things to Know About Cryptocurrency and Related Scams</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank">AARP Massachusetts</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/springfield-ma/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display == 'none' ? 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"/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Massachusetts Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Massachusetts Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Massachusetts</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MA@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MA@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Massachusetts</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-massachusetts/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SPRINGFIELD-MA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPMA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpmassachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); 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They’re often ready to jump at the first opportunity.”<br><br>Fake job postings on social media sites and online job boards, scammers posing as recruiters, and fraudulent offers sent by text and email for high-paying remote positions that require the purchase of software or work-from-home supplies are just some of the common schemes, says AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline volunteer Alice Diamond, 68, of Arlington. Swindlers are after money but also personal information — a key ingredient for identity theft.<br><br>“The last couple of years there has been a tremendous proliferation of scams,” says Diamond, who recently retired as associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University in Cambridge.<br><br>Nationwide, business and job opportunity reports ranked No. 12 on the list of most common consumer complaints and scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with 95,399 reports. That’s up from 38,451 reports in 2019.<br><br><b>‘Mystery shoppers’ targeted</b><br><br>AARP Massachusetts recently added employment scams as a topic covered in its fraud prevention programming.<br><br>“We saw people make decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to quit their jobs or retire,” says State Director Michael Festa. “Now some people are reconsidering those decisions and are reentering the workforce. The fraudsters know that.”<br><br>Mystery shoppers and virtual assistants are among the job categories that scammers frequently target, Diamond says. Mystery shoppers are hired to pose as regular customers and provide feedback to a retailer or restaurant about its service. Scammers try to charge applicants for phony training or certification. Or, they may send a bad check to the job hunter to cover purchases and ask that money be wired back to cover taxes, overpayment or other fees.<br><br>As for virtual assistants, Diamond says scammers will offer job seekers a high-paying remote position and request that the new hire pay for office supplies or other expenses up front, with the promise of reimbursement.<br><br>“Scammers are criminals, and they are sophisticated,” Diamond says. “Some of them could win an Emmy for their acting and a Pulitzer for the emails they write.”<br><br>Before engaging in any job-related transaction, Diamond says, people should do some digging to verify that the company or recruiter they’re dealing with is legitimate. Search your contacts for anyone who may be familiar with the firm or individual. Scrutinize email addresses for authenticity, and do an online map search for any physical address you’ve been given.<br><br>And if you do fall victim? AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Dennis Hohengasser, 73, of Taunton, says to reach out for help. “It’s important to talk about it,” he says. “That will help heal the trauma.”<br><br>For information on <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Massachusetts</a></span></span>’ Fraud Talk Tuesdays, the AARP Fraud Watch Network or upcoming fraud-related events, see <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/staying-safe-from-scams-this-holiday-season/?CMP=RDRCT-STATES-MA-FRAUD-121422" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mafraud</a></span></span>.<br><br>If you're looking for help finding a job, try the 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group. This program was created for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment, Check out some of the events here: <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F50plusjobseekers.org%2Fevents%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfcarey%40aarp.org%7C1a2b720a1c6f47eebc6d08db39bd77a7%7Ca395e38b4b754e4493499a37de460a33%7C0%7C0%7C638167258136448961%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kX%2BGnfZ%2FGLR%2F6HIIWf2qBmkhWcplfLhOfEaP1Q3Q6Nw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://50plusjobseekers.org/events/</a></span></span><br><br><br> <i>Jill Gambon is a writer living in West Newbury, Massachusetts. </i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><div class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-video-player data-module data-player-id="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6013936375001" data-video-title="Work from Home Scams" data-account-id="3772599298001" data-aspect-ratio="4x3" > <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/KM9xJAJa4_default/index.html?videoId=6013936375001" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen width="300" height="168" allow="autoplay" > </iframe> </div></div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Work from Home Scams</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>For more on scams and fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/phone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Identify and Avoid Common Phone Scams</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/finance/fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud, an AARP Benefit</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/ftc-cryptocurrency-warning.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 Things to Know About Cryptocurrency and Related Scams</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank">AARP Massachusetts</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/springfield-ma/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Job Seekers Face Rising Number of Employment Scams</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/31/23 by <b>Jill Gambon</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The 50+ Job Seekers in Massachusetts networking program usually offers its members workshops on résumé writing, interviewing and the skills needed to land their next gig.<br><br>Last year, it added tips on how to keep criminals from landing <i>them</i> as fraud victims.<br><br>In December, the program hosted a workshop by <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network</a></span></span> volunteers to warn people about the growing risks for those in the job market — particularly amid the economy’s shift to remote work.<br><br>“Job seekers are very vulnerable,” says Karen Sowsy, who is a manager for the 50+ program. “People with long-term unemployment may be desperate. They’re often ready to jump at the first opportunity.”<br><br>Fake job postings on social media sites and online job boards, scammers posing as recruiters, and fraudulent offers sent by text and email for high-paying remote positions that require the purchase of software or work-from-home supplies are just some of the common schemes, says AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline volunteer Alice Diamond, 68, of Arlington. Swindlers are after money but also personal information — a key ingredient for identity theft.<br><br>“The last couple of years there has been a tremendous proliferation of scams,” says Diamond, who recently retired as associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University in Cambridge.<br><br>Nationwide, business and job opportunity reports ranked No. 12 on the list of most common consumer complaints and scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with 95,399 reports. That’s up from 38,451 reports in 2019.<br><br><b>‘Mystery shoppers’ targeted</b><br><br>AARP Massachusetts recently added employment scams as a topic covered in its fraud prevention programming.<br><br>“We saw people make decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to quit their jobs or retire,” says State Director Michael Festa. “Now some people are reconsidering those decisions and are reentering the workforce. The fraudsters know that.”<br><br>Mystery shoppers and virtual assistants are among the job categories that scammers frequently target, Diamond says. Mystery shoppers are hired to pose as regular customers and provide feedback to a retailer or restaurant about its service. Scammers try to charge applicants for phony training or certification. Or, they may send a bad check to the job hunter to cover purchases and ask that money be wired back to cover taxes, overpayment or other fees.<br><br>As for virtual assistants, Diamond says scammers will offer job seekers a high-paying remote position and request that the new hire pay for office supplies or other expenses up front, with the promise of reimbursement.<br><br>“Scammers are criminals, and they are sophisticated,” Diamond says. “Some of them could win an Emmy for their acting and a Pulitzer for the emails they write.”<br><br>Before engaging in any job-related transaction, Diamond says, people should do some digging to verify that the company or recruiter they’re dealing with is legitimate. Search your contacts for anyone who may be familiar with the firm or individual. Scrutinize email addresses for authenticity, and do an online map search for any physical address you’ve been given.<br><br>And if you do fall victim? AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Dennis Hohengasser, 73, of Taunton, says to reach out for help. “It’s important to talk about it,” he says. “That will help heal the trauma.”<br><br>For information on <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Massachusetts</a></span></span>’ Fraud Talk Tuesdays, the AARP Fraud Watch Network or upcoming fraud-related events, see <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/staying-safe-from-scams-this-holiday-season/?CMP=RDRCT-STATES-MA-FRAUD-121422" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mafraud</a></span></span>.<br><br>If you're looking for help finding a job, try the 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group. This program was created for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment, Check out some of the events here: <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F50plusjobseekers.org%2Fevents%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfcarey%40aarp.org%7C1a2b720a1c6f47eebc6d08db39bd77a7%7Ca395e38b4b754e4493499a37de460a33%7C0%7C0%7C638167258136448961%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kX%2BGnfZ%2FGLR%2F6HIIWf2qBmkhWcplfLhOfEaP1Q3Q6Nw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://50plusjobseekers.org/events/</a></span></span><br><br><br> <i>Jill Gambon is a writer living in West Newbury, Massachusetts. </i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><div class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-video-player data-module data-player-id="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6013936375001" data-video-title="Work from Home Scams" data-account-id="3772599298001" data-aspect-ratio="4x3" > <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/KM9xJAJa4_default/index.html?videoId=6013936375001" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen width="300" height="168" allow="autoplay" > </iframe> </div></div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Work from Home Scams</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>For more on scams and fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/phone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Identify and Avoid Common Phone Scams</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/finance/fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud, an AARP Benefit</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/ftc-cryptocurrency-warning.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 Things to Know About Cryptocurrency and Related Scams</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank">AARP Massachusetts</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/springfield-ma/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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They’re often ready to jump at the first opportunity.”<br><br>Fake job postings on social media sites and online job boards, scammers posing as recruiters, and fraudulent offers sent by text and email for high-paying remote positions that require the purchase of software or work-from-home supplies are just some of the common schemes, says AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline volunteer Alice Diamond, 68, of Arlington. Swindlers are after money but also personal information — a key ingredient for identity theft.<br><br>“The last couple of years there has been a tremendous proliferation of scams,” says Diamond, who recently retired as associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University in Cambridge.<br><br>Nationwide, business and job opportunity reports ranked No. 12 on the list of most common consumer complaints and scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with 95,399 reports. That’s up from 38,451 reports in 2019.<br><br><b>‘Mystery shoppers’ targeted</b><br><br>AARP Massachusetts recently added employment scams as a topic covered in its fraud prevention programming.<br><br>“We saw people make decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to quit their jobs or retire,” says State Director Michael Festa. “Now some people are reconsidering those decisions and are reentering the workforce. The fraudsters know that.”<br><br>Mystery shoppers and virtual assistants are among the job categories that scammers frequently target, Diamond says. Mystery shoppers are hired to pose as regular customers and provide feedback to a retailer or restaurant about its service. Scammers try to charge applicants for phony training or certification. Or, they may send a bad check to the job hunter to cover purchases and ask that money be wired back to cover taxes, overpayment or other fees.<br><br>As for virtual assistants, Diamond says scammers will offer job seekers a high-paying remote position and request that the new hire pay for office supplies or other expenses up front, with the promise of reimbursement.<br><br>“Scammers are criminals, and they are sophisticated,” Diamond says. “Some of them could win an Emmy for their acting and a Pulitzer for the emails they write.”<br><br>Before engaging in any job-related transaction, Diamond says, people should do some digging to verify that the company or recruiter they’re dealing with is legitimate. Search your contacts for anyone who may be familiar with the firm or individual. Scrutinize email addresses for authenticity, and do an online map search for any physical address you’ve been given.<br><br>And if you do fall victim? AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Dennis Hohengasser, 73, of Taunton, says to reach out for help. “It’s important to talk about it,” he says. “That will help heal the trauma.”<br><br>For information on <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Massachusetts</a></span></span>’ Fraud Talk Tuesdays, the AARP Fraud Watch Network or upcoming fraud-related events, see <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/staying-safe-from-scams-this-holiday-season/?CMP=RDRCT-STATES-MA-FRAUD-121422" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mafraud</a></span></span>.<br><br>If you're looking for help finding a job, try the 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group. This program was created for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment, Check out some of the events here: <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F50plusjobseekers.org%2Fevents%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfcarey%40aarp.org%7C1a2b720a1c6f47eebc6d08db39bd77a7%7Ca395e38b4b754e4493499a37de460a33%7C0%7C0%7C638167258136448961%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kX%2BGnfZ%2FGLR%2F6HIIWf2qBmkhWcplfLhOfEaP1Q3Q6Nw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://50plusjobseekers.org/events/</a></span></span><br><br><br> <i>Jill Gambon is a writer living in West Newbury, Massachusetts. </i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><div class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-video-player data-module data-player-id="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6013936375001" data-video-title="Work from Home Scams" data-account-id="3772599298001" data-aspect-ratio="4x3" > <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/KM9xJAJa4_default/index.html?videoId=6013936375001" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen width="300" height="168" allow="autoplay" > </iframe> </div></div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Work from Home Scams</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>For more on scams and fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/phone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Identify and Avoid Common Phone Scams</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/finance/fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud, an AARP Benefit</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/ftc-cryptocurrency-warning.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 Things to Know About Cryptocurrency and Related Scams</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank">AARP Massachusetts</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/springfield-ma/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . 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Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Massachusetts Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Massachusetts Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Massachusetts</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MA@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MA@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Massachusetts</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-massachusetts/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SPRINGFIELD-MA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPMA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpmassachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Job Seekers Face Rising Number of Employment Scams</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/31/23 by <b>Jill Gambon</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The 50+ Job Seekers in Massachusetts networking program usually offers its members workshops on résumé writing, interviewing and the skills needed to land their next gig.<br><br>Last year, it added tips on how to keep criminals from landing <i>them</i> as fraud victims.<br><br>In December, the program hosted a workshop by <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network</a></span></span> volunteers to warn people about the growing risks for those in the job market — particularly amid the economy’s shift to remote work.<br><br>“Job seekers are very vulnerable,” says Karen Sowsy, who is a manager for the 50+ program. “People with long-term unemployment may be desperate. They’re often ready to jump at the first opportunity.”<br><br>Fake job postings on social media sites and online job boards, scammers posing as recruiters, and fraudulent offers sent by text and email for high-paying remote positions that require the purchase of software or work-from-home supplies are just some of the common schemes, says AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline volunteer Alice Diamond, 68, of Arlington. Swindlers are after money but also personal information — a key ingredient for identity theft.<br><br>“The last couple of years there has been a tremendous proliferation of scams,” says Diamond, who recently retired as associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University in Cambridge.<br><br>Nationwide, business and job opportunity reports ranked No. 12 on the list of most common consumer complaints and scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with 95,399 reports. That’s up from 38,451 reports in 2019.<br><br><b>‘Mystery shoppers’ targeted</b><br><br>AARP Massachusetts recently added employment scams as a topic covered in its fraud prevention programming.<br><br>“We saw people make decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to quit their jobs or retire,” says State Director Michael Festa. “Now some people are reconsidering those decisions and are reentering the workforce. The fraudsters know that.”<br><br>Mystery shoppers and virtual assistants are among the job categories that scammers frequently target, Diamond says. Mystery shoppers are hired to pose as regular customers and provide feedback to a retailer or restaurant about its service. Scammers try to charge applicants for phony training or certification. Or, they may send a bad check to the job hunter to cover purchases and ask that money be wired back to cover taxes, overpayment or other fees.<br><br>As for virtual assistants, Diamond says scammers will offer job seekers a high-paying remote position and request that the new hire pay for office supplies or other expenses up front, with the promise of reimbursement.<br><br>“Scammers are criminals, and they are sophisticated,” Diamond says. “Some of them could win an Emmy for their acting and a Pulitzer for the emails they write.”<br><br>Before engaging in any job-related transaction, Diamond says, people should do some digging to verify that the company or recruiter they’re dealing with is legitimate. Search your contacts for anyone who may be familiar with the firm or individual. Scrutinize email addresses for authenticity, and do an online map search for any physical address you’ve been given.<br><br>And if you do fall victim? AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Dennis Hohengasser, 73, of Taunton, says to reach out for help. “It’s important to talk about it,” he says. “That will help heal the trauma.”<br><br>For information on <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Massachusetts</a></span></span>’ Fraud Talk Tuesdays, the AARP Fraud Watch Network or upcoming fraud-related events, see <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/staying-safe-from-scams-this-holiday-season/?CMP=RDRCT-STATES-MA-FRAUD-121422" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mafraud</a></span></span>.<br><br>If you're looking for help finding a job, try the 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group. This program was created for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment, Check out some of the events here: <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F50plusjobseekers.org%2Fevents%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfcarey%40aarp.org%7C1a2b720a1c6f47eebc6d08db39bd77a7%7Ca395e38b4b754e4493499a37de460a33%7C0%7C0%7C638167258136448961%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kX%2BGnfZ%2FGLR%2F6HIIWf2qBmkhWcplfLhOfEaP1Q3Q6Nw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://50plusjobseekers.org/events/</a></span></span><br><br><br> <i>Jill Gambon is a writer living in West Newbury, Massachusetts. </i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><div class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-video-player data-module data-player-id="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6013936375001" data-video-title="Work from Home Scams" data-account-id="3772599298001" data-aspect-ratio="4x3" > <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/KM9xJAJa4_default/index.html?videoId=6013936375001" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen width="300" height="168" allow="autoplay" > </iframe> </div></div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Work from Home Scams</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>For more on scams and fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/phone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Identify and Avoid Common Phone Scams</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/finance/fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud, an AARP Benefit</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/ftc-cryptocurrency-warning.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 Things to Know About Cryptocurrency and Related Scams</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank">AARP Massachusetts</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/springfield-ma/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Massachusetts Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Massachusetts Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Massachusetts</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MA@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MA@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Massachusetts</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-massachusetts/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SPRINGFIELD-MA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPMA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpmassachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); 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They’re often ready to jump at the first opportunity.”<br><br>Fake job postings on social media sites and online job boards, scammers posing as recruiters, and fraudulent offers sent by text and email for high-paying remote positions that require the purchase of software or work-from-home supplies are just some of the common schemes, says AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline volunteer Alice Diamond, 68, of Arlington. Swindlers are after money but also personal information — a key ingredient for identity theft.<br><br>“The last couple of years there has been a tremendous proliferation of scams,” says Diamond, who recently retired as associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University in Cambridge.<br><br>Nationwide, business and job opportunity reports ranked No. 12 on the list of most common consumer complaints and scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with 95,399 reports. That’s up from 38,451 reports in 2019.<br><br><b>‘Mystery shoppers’ targeted</b><br><br>AARP Massachusetts recently added employment scams as a topic covered in its fraud prevention programming.<br><br>“We saw people make decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to quit their jobs or retire,” says State Director Michael Festa. “Now some people are reconsidering those decisions and are reentering the workforce. The fraudsters know that.”<br><br>Mystery shoppers and virtual assistants are among the job categories that scammers frequently target, Diamond says. Mystery shoppers are hired to pose as regular customers and provide feedback to a retailer or restaurant about its service. Scammers try to charge applicants for phony training or certification. Or, they may send a bad check to the job hunter to cover purchases and ask that money be wired back to cover taxes, overpayment or other fees.<br><br>As for virtual assistants, Diamond says scammers will offer job seekers a high-paying remote position and request that the new hire pay for office supplies or other expenses up front, with the promise of reimbursement.<br><br>“Scammers are criminals, and they are sophisticated,” Diamond says. “Some of them could win an Emmy for their acting and a Pulitzer for the emails they write.”<br><br>Before engaging in any job-related transaction, Diamond says, people should do some digging to verify that the company or recruiter they’re dealing with is legitimate. Search your contacts for anyone who may be familiar with the firm or individual. Scrutinize email addresses for authenticity, and do an online map search for any physical address you’ve been given.<br><br>And if you do fall victim? AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Dennis Hohengasser, 73, of Taunton, says to reach out for help. “It’s important to talk about it,” he says. “That will help heal the trauma.”<br><br>For information on <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Massachusetts</a></span></span>’ Fraud Talk Tuesdays, the AARP Fraud Watch Network or upcoming fraud-related events, see <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/staying-safe-from-scams-this-holiday-season/?CMP=RDRCT-STATES-MA-FRAUD-121422" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mafraud</a></span></span>.<br><br>If you're looking for help finding a job, try the 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group. This program was created for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment, Check out some of the events here: <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F50plusjobseekers.org%2Fevents%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfcarey%40aarp.org%7C1a2b720a1c6f47eebc6d08db39bd77a7%7Ca395e38b4b754e4493499a37de460a33%7C0%7C0%7C638167258136448961%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kX%2BGnfZ%2FGLR%2F6HIIWf2qBmkhWcplfLhOfEaP1Q3Q6Nw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://50plusjobseekers.org/events/</a></span></span><br><br><br> <i>Jill Gambon is a writer living in West Newbury, Massachusetts. </i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><div class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-video-player data-module data-player-id="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6013936375001" data-video-title="Work from Home Scams" data-account-id="3772599298001" data-aspect-ratio="4x3" > <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/KM9xJAJa4_default/index.html?videoId=6013936375001" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen width="300" height="168" allow="autoplay" > </iframe> </div></div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Work from Home Scams</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>For more on scams and fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/phone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Identify and Avoid Common Phone Scams</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/finance/fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud, an AARP Benefit</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/ftc-cryptocurrency-warning.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 Things to Know About Cryptocurrency and Related Scams</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank">AARP Massachusetts</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/springfield-ma/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Job Seekers Face Rising Number of Employment Scams</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/31/23 by <b>Jill Gambon</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The 50+ Job Seekers in Massachusetts networking program usually offers its members workshops on résumé writing, interviewing and the skills needed to land their next gig.<br><br>Last year, it added tips on how to keep criminals from landing <i>them</i> as fraud victims.<br><br>In December, the program hosted a workshop by <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network</a></span></span> volunteers to warn people about the growing risks for those in the job market — particularly amid the economy’s shift to remote work.<br><br>“Job seekers are very vulnerable,” says Karen Sowsy, who is a manager for the 50+ program. “People with long-term unemployment may be desperate. They’re often ready to jump at the first opportunity.”<br><br>Fake job postings on social media sites and online job boards, scammers posing as recruiters, and fraudulent offers sent by text and email for high-paying remote positions that require the purchase of software or work-from-home supplies are just some of the common schemes, says AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline volunteer Alice Diamond, 68, of Arlington. Swindlers are after money but also personal information — a key ingredient for identity theft.<br><br>“The last couple of years there has been a tremendous proliferation of scams,” says Diamond, who recently retired as associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University in Cambridge.<br><br>Nationwide, business and job opportunity reports ranked No. 12 on the list of most common consumer complaints and scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with 95,399 reports. That’s up from 38,451 reports in 2019.<br><br><b>‘Mystery shoppers’ targeted</b><br><br>AARP Massachusetts recently added employment scams as a topic covered in its fraud prevention programming.<br><br>“We saw people make decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to quit their jobs or retire,” says State Director Michael Festa. “Now some people are reconsidering those decisions and are reentering the workforce. The fraudsters know that.”<br><br>Mystery shoppers and virtual assistants are among the job categories that scammers frequently target, Diamond says. Mystery shoppers are hired to pose as regular customers and provide feedback to a retailer or restaurant about its service. Scammers try to charge applicants for phony training or certification. Or, they may send a bad check to the job hunter to cover purchases and ask that money be wired back to cover taxes, overpayment or other fees.<br><br>As for virtual assistants, Diamond says scammers will offer job seekers a high-paying remote position and request that the new hire pay for office supplies or other expenses up front, with the promise of reimbursement.<br><br>“Scammers are criminals, and they are sophisticated,” Diamond says. “Some of them could win an Emmy for their acting and a Pulitzer for the emails they write.”<br><br>Before engaging in any job-related transaction, Diamond says, people should do some digging to verify that the company or recruiter they’re dealing with is legitimate. Search your contacts for anyone who may be familiar with the firm or individual. Scrutinize email addresses for authenticity, and do an online map search for any physical address you’ve been given.<br><br>And if you do fall victim? AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Dennis Hohengasser, 73, of Taunton, says to reach out for help. “It’s important to talk about it,” he says. “That will help heal the trauma.”<br><br>For information on <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Massachusetts</a></span></span>’ Fraud Talk Tuesdays, the AARP Fraud Watch Network or upcoming fraud-related events, see <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/staying-safe-from-scams-this-holiday-season/?CMP=RDRCT-STATES-MA-FRAUD-121422" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mafraud</a></span></span>.<br><br>If you're looking for help finding a job, try the 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group. This program was created for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment, Check out some of the events here: <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F50plusjobseekers.org%2Fevents%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfcarey%40aarp.org%7C1a2b720a1c6f47eebc6d08db39bd77a7%7Ca395e38b4b754e4493499a37de460a33%7C0%7C0%7C638167258136448961%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kX%2BGnfZ%2FGLR%2F6HIIWf2qBmkhWcplfLhOfEaP1Q3Q6Nw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://50plusjobseekers.org/events/</a></span></span><br><br><br> <i>Jill Gambon is a writer living in West Newbury, Massachusetts. </i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><div class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-video-player data-module data-player-id="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6013936375001" data-video-title="Work from Home Scams" data-account-id="3772599298001" data-aspect-ratio="4x3" > <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/KM9xJAJa4_default/index.html?videoId=6013936375001" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen width="300" height="168" allow="autoplay" > </iframe> </div></div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Work from Home Scams</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>For more on scams and fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/phone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Identify and Avoid Common Phone Scams</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/finance/fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud, an AARP Benefit</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/ftc-cryptocurrency-warning.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 Things to Know About Cryptocurrency and Related Scams</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank">AARP Massachusetts</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/springfield-ma/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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They’re often ready to jump at the first opportunity.”<br><br>Fake job postings on social media sites and online job boards, scammers posing as recruiters, and fraudulent offers sent by text and email for high-paying remote positions that require the purchase of software or work-from-home supplies are just some of the common schemes, says AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline volunteer Alice Diamond, 68, of Arlington. Swindlers are after money but also personal information — a key ingredient for identity theft.<br><br>“The last couple of years there has been a tremendous proliferation of scams,” says Diamond, who recently retired as associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University in Cambridge.<br><br>Nationwide, business and job opportunity reports ranked No. 12 on the list of most common consumer complaints and scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with 95,399 reports. That’s up from 38,451 reports in 2019.<br><br><b>‘Mystery shoppers’ targeted</b><br><br>AARP Massachusetts recently added employment scams as a topic covered in its fraud prevention programming.<br><br>“We saw people make decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to quit their jobs or retire,” says State Director Michael Festa. “Now some people are reconsidering those decisions and are reentering the workforce. The fraudsters know that.”<br><br>Mystery shoppers and virtual assistants are among the job categories that scammers frequently target, Diamond says. Mystery shoppers are hired to pose as regular customers and provide feedback to a retailer or restaurant about its service. Scammers try to charge applicants for phony training or certification. Or, they may send a bad check to the job hunter to cover purchases and ask that money be wired back to cover taxes, overpayment or other fees.<br><br>As for virtual assistants, Diamond says scammers will offer job seekers a high-paying remote position and request that the new hire pay for office supplies or other expenses up front, with the promise of reimbursement.<br><br>“Scammers are criminals, and they are sophisticated,” Diamond says. “Some of them could win an Emmy for their acting and a Pulitzer for the emails they write.”<br><br>Before engaging in any job-related transaction, Diamond says, people should do some digging to verify that the company or recruiter they’re dealing with is legitimate. Search your contacts for anyone who may be familiar with the firm or individual. Scrutinize email addresses for authenticity, and do an online map search for any physical address you’ve been given.<br><br>And if you do fall victim? AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Dennis Hohengasser, 73, of Taunton, says to reach out for help. “It’s important to talk about it,” he says. “That will help heal the trauma.”<br><br>For information on <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Massachusetts</a></span></span>’ Fraud Talk Tuesdays, the AARP Fraud Watch Network or upcoming fraud-related events, see <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/staying-safe-from-scams-this-holiday-season/?CMP=RDRCT-STATES-MA-FRAUD-121422" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mafraud</a></span></span>.<br><br>If you're looking for help finding a job, try the 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group. This program was created for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment, Check out some of the events here: <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F50plusjobseekers.org%2Fevents%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfcarey%40aarp.org%7C1a2b720a1c6f47eebc6d08db39bd77a7%7Ca395e38b4b754e4493499a37de460a33%7C0%7C0%7C638167258136448961%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kX%2BGnfZ%2FGLR%2F6HIIWf2qBmkhWcplfLhOfEaP1Q3Q6Nw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://50plusjobseekers.org/events/</a></span></span><br><br><br> <i>Jill Gambon is a writer living in West Newbury, Massachusetts. </i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><div class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-video-player data-module data-player-id="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6013936375001" data-video-title="Work from Home Scams" data-account-id="3772599298001" data-aspect-ratio="4x3" > <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/KM9xJAJa4_default/index.html?videoId=6013936375001" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen width="300" height="168" allow="autoplay" > </iframe> </div></div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Work from Home Scams</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>For more on scams and fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/phone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Identify and Avoid Common Phone Scams</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/finance/fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud, an AARP Benefit</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/ftc-cryptocurrency-warning.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 Things to Know About Cryptocurrency and Related Scams</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank">AARP Massachusetts</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/springfield-ma/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . 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Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Massachusetts Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Massachusetts Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Massachusetts</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MA@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MA@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Massachusetts</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-massachusetts/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SPRINGFIELD-MA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPMA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpmassachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Job Seekers Face Rising Number of Employment Scams</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/31/23 by <b>Jill Gambon</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The 50+ Job Seekers in Massachusetts networking program usually offers its members workshops on résumé writing, interviewing and the skills needed to land their next gig.<br><br>Last year, it added tips on how to keep criminals from landing <i>them</i> as fraud victims.<br><br>In December, the program hosted a workshop by <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Fraud Watch Network</a></span></span> volunteers to warn people about the growing risks for those in the job market — particularly amid the economy’s shift to remote work.<br><br>“Job seekers are very vulnerable,” says Karen Sowsy, who is a manager for the 50+ program. “People with long-term unemployment may be desperate. They’re often ready to jump at the first opportunity.”<br><br>Fake job postings on social media sites and online job boards, scammers posing as recruiters, and fraudulent offers sent by text and email for high-paying remote positions that require the purchase of software or work-from-home supplies are just some of the common schemes, says AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline volunteer Alice Diamond, 68, of Arlington. Swindlers are after money but also personal information — a key ingredient for identity theft.<br><br>“The last couple of years there has been a tremendous proliferation of scams,” says Diamond, who recently retired as associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University in Cambridge.<br><br>Nationwide, business and job opportunity reports ranked No. 12 on the list of most common consumer complaints and scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with 95,399 reports. That’s up from 38,451 reports in 2019.<br><br><b>‘Mystery shoppers’ targeted</b><br><br>AARP Massachusetts recently added employment scams as a topic covered in its fraud prevention programming.<br><br>“We saw people make decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to quit their jobs or retire,” says State Director Michael Festa. “Now some people are reconsidering those decisions and are reentering the workforce. The fraudsters know that.”<br><br>Mystery shoppers and virtual assistants are among the job categories that scammers frequently target, Diamond says. Mystery shoppers are hired to pose as regular customers and provide feedback to a retailer or restaurant about its service. Scammers try to charge applicants for phony training or certification. Or, they may send a bad check to the job hunter to cover purchases and ask that money be wired back to cover taxes, overpayment or other fees.<br><br>As for virtual assistants, Diamond says scammers will offer job seekers a high-paying remote position and request that the new hire pay for office supplies or other expenses up front, with the promise of reimbursement.<br><br>“Scammers are criminals, and they are sophisticated,” Diamond says. “Some of them could win an Emmy for their acting and a Pulitzer for the emails they write.”<br><br>Before engaging in any job-related transaction, Diamond says, people should do some digging to verify that the company or recruiter they’re dealing with is legitimate. Search your contacts for anyone who may be familiar with the firm or individual. Scrutinize email addresses for authenticity, and do an online map search for any physical address you’ve been given.<br><br>And if you do fall victim? AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Dennis Hohengasser, 73, of Taunton, says to reach out for help. “It’s important to talk about it,” he says. “That will help heal the trauma.”<br><br>For information on <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Massachusetts</a></span></span>’ Fraud Talk Tuesdays, the AARP Fraud Watch Network or upcoming fraud-related events, see <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/staying-safe-from-scams-this-holiday-season/?CMP=RDRCT-STATES-MA-FRAUD-121422" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mafraud</a></span></span>.<br><br>If you're looking for help finding a job, try the 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group. This program was created for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment, Check out some of the events here: <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F50plusjobseekers.org%2Fevents%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfcarey%40aarp.org%7C1a2b720a1c6f47eebc6d08db39bd77a7%7Ca395e38b4b754e4493499a37de460a33%7C0%7C0%7C638167258136448961%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kX%2BGnfZ%2FGLR%2F6HIIWf2qBmkhWcplfLhOfEaP1Q3Q6Nw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://50plusjobseekers.org/events/</a></span></span><br><br><br> <i>Jill Gambon is a writer living in West Newbury, Massachusetts. </i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><div class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-video-player data-module data-player-id="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6013936375001" data-video-title="Work from Home Scams" data-account-id="3772599298001" data-aspect-ratio="4x3" > <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/KM9xJAJa4_default/index.html?videoId=6013936375001" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen width="300" height="168" allow="autoplay" > </iframe> </div></div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Work from Home Scams</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>For more on scams and fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/phone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Identify and Avoid Common Phone Scams</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/finance/fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud, an AARP Benefit</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/ftc-cryptocurrency-warning.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 Things to Know About Cryptocurrency and Related Scams</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank">AARP Massachusetts</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/springfield-ma/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display == 'none' ? 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'' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Massachusetts Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Massachusetts Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Massachusetts</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MA@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MA@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Massachusetts</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-massachusetts/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SPRINGFIELD-MA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPMA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpmassachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); 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They’re often ready to jump at the first opportunity.”<br><br>Fake job postings on social media sites and online job boards, scammers posing as recruiters, and fraudulent offers sent by text and email for high-paying remote positions that require the purchase of software or work-from-home supplies are just some of the common schemes, says AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline volunteer Alice Diamond, 68, of Arlington. Swindlers are after money but also personal information — a key ingredient for identity theft.<br><br>“The last couple of years there has been a tremendous proliferation of scams,” says Diamond, who recently retired as associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University in Cambridge.<br><br>Nationwide, business and job opportunity reports ranked No. 12 on the list of most common consumer complaints and scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with 95,399 reports. That’s up from 38,451 reports in 2019.<br><br><b>‘Mystery shoppers’ targeted</b><br><br>AARP Massachusetts recently added employment scams as a topic covered in its fraud prevention programming.<br><br>“We saw people make decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to quit their jobs or retire,” says State Director Michael Festa. “Now some people are reconsidering those decisions and are reentering the workforce. The fraudsters know that.”<br><br>Mystery shoppers and virtual assistants are among the job categories that scammers frequently target, Diamond says. Mystery shoppers are hired to pose as regular customers and provide feedback to a retailer or restaurant about its service. Scammers try to charge applicants for phony training or certification. Or, they may send a bad check to the job hunter to cover purchases and ask that money be wired back to cover taxes, overpayment or other fees.<br><br>As for virtual assistants, Diamond says scammers will offer job seekers a high-paying remote position and request that the new hire pay for office supplies or other expenses up front, with the promise of reimbursement.<br><br>“Scammers are criminals, and they are sophisticated,” Diamond says. “Some of them could win an Emmy for their acting and a Pulitzer for the emails they write.”<br><br>Before engaging in any job-related transaction, Diamond says, people should do some digging to verify that the company or recruiter they’re dealing with is legitimate. Search your contacts for anyone who may be familiar with the firm or individual. Scrutinize email addresses for authenticity, and do an online map search for any physical address you’ve been given.<br><br>And if you do fall victim? AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Dennis Hohengasser, 73, of Taunton, says to reach out for help. “It’s important to talk about it,” he says. “That will help heal the trauma.”<br><br>For information on <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Massachusetts</a></span></span>’ Fraud Talk Tuesdays, the AARP Fraud Watch Network or upcoming fraud-related events, see <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/staying-safe-from-scams-this-holiday-season/?CMP=RDRCT-STATES-MA-FRAUD-121422" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mafraud</a></span></span>.<br><br>If you're looking for help finding a job, try the 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group. This program was created for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment, Check out some of the events here: <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F50plusjobseekers.org%2Fevents%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfcarey%40aarp.org%7C1a2b720a1c6f47eebc6d08db39bd77a7%7Ca395e38b4b754e4493499a37de460a33%7C0%7C0%7C638167258136448961%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kX%2BGnfZ%2FGLR%2F6HIIWf2qBmkhWcplfLhOfEaP1Q3Q6Nw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://50plusjobseekers.org/events/</a></span></span><br><br><br> <i>Jill Gambon is a writer living in West Newbury, Massachusetts. </i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><div class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-video-player data-module data-player-id="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6013936375001" data-video-title="Work from Home Scams" data-account-id="3772599298001" data-aspect-ratio="4x3" > <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/KM9xJAJa4_default/index.html?videoId=6013936375001" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen width="300" height="168" allow="autoplay" > </iframe> </div></div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">Work from Home Scams</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>For more on scams and fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/phone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Identify and Avoid Common Phone Scams</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/finance/fraud-watch-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud, an AARP Benefit</a></span></span> </li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/ftc-cryptocurrency-warning.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 Things to Know About Cryptocurrency and Related Scams</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank">AARP Massachusetts</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/springfield-ma/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20debfd7-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66daa20decde2-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66daa20decde2-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SPRINGFIELD-MA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Massachusetts Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Massachusetts Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Massachusetts</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MA@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MA@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Massachusetts</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-massachusetts/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SPRINGFIELD-MA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPMA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpmassachusetts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); 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--primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $highlighting = '' $location = '<a href="/springfield-ma/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Springfield, MA</a>' $no_header = false $header_title = '<a href="/springfield-ma/happenings/">News Feed</a>' $header_subtitle = '' $isPR = false $navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse"> <div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div> <ul class="secondary-menu" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true"> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/springfield-ma/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/springfield-ma/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li> <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/springfield-ma/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/springfield-ma/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/springfield-ma/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/springfield-ma/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more"> <span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span> <ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu"> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/springfield-ma/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/springfield-ma/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/springfield-ma/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/springfield-ma/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/springfield-ma/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/springfield-ma/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/springfield-ma/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118