Students, We want to bring to your attention an important matter regarding a scam that is affecting our student community. We have recently become aware of fraudulent emails offering high-paying jobs for a minimal amount of work to Hunter students. Your safety and well-being are of paramount importance to us, and we want to ensure that you are equipped to safeguard yourselves against any fraudulent activities. Here is an example of this type of email scam:“ Remote Personal Assistant Service All Email recipients of HUNTER COLLEGE are encouraged to be a part of this amazing offer. This is a part time job that will not affect your present employment or study at the campus & you’ll be working from home. It’s fun, rewarding, and flexible. 2-3 hours daily (12 hours weekly) Eight Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($850) Part-Time Job with flexible hours” Here are a few tips to help you recognize and avoid such scams:
- Sent from students’ email: It was sent to you via a student email ending with @myhunter.cuny.edu. Hunter’s Career Center only uses one email — career@hunter.cuny.edu — to send out job opportunities.
- No Interview Required or Too-Good-to-Be-True Offers: If you’re offered a job without an interview or the offer seems too good to be true (e.g., extremely high pay for minimal work), it is likely a scam.
- Request for Personal Information or Money: Legitimate employers will not ask for personal information such as your social security number or bank details in the initial stages of communication. Be wary of any request for up-front payments or fees.
- Check the Communication: Pay attention to the quality of communication. Poor grammar, misspellings, and unprofessional emails are red flags.
- Google the Contact Information: Search for the provided contact information to verify its authenticity. Scammers often reuse the same contact details for multiple fraudulent offers. If the offer is coming from someone at Hunter, when you google their name you will find that they are connected to the College.
- Trust Your Instincts: If something feels off about the job offer or the communication, trust your instincts and proceed with caution.
If you come across any suspicious job offers or encounter situations that seem questionable, please report them to our career services department or Public Safety immediately and to IT at ITSecurity@hunter.cuny.edu. We are here to support you and ensure that your job search experience is safe and successful. Remember, your safety and well-being are our top priorities. By staying informed and cautious, you can avoid falling victim to job scams and focus on finding genuine employment opportunities that align with your career goals. Best, Eija Ayravainen Vice President of Student Affairs
