Is the Houston Career Abroad Program Legit? Spotting Student Job Scams

Have you received an exciting job offer email that seems too good to be true, especially one related to a “career abroad program” and mentioning the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD)? It’s wise to be cautious. Unfortunately, many of these offers are not legitimate and are designed to scam students out of their money and personal information. This article will help you determine if that Houston career abroad program or student job opportunity is legit and how to protect yourself from falling victim to these scams.

It’s common for scammers to target university students, and UHD students are no exception. These scams often start with emails like the example below, promising easy work-from-home jobs with high pay for minimal hours.

**From:** [Redacted] <[redacted]@gmail.com>
**Subject:** JOB POSITION OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENT

Dear Student,

I'm very happy to inform you about the job opportunity in conjunction with your school (The University of Houston-Downtown) we got your mail from your school data base. Our reputable company ( CiscoSystems Company) is running a student empowerment program. This program is to help the hardworking student to secure a work at home job, this will not stop you from your daily works and your school activities. All you need is jst an hour or two to carry out the job weekly. Your wages will be $350 USD per week.

Kindly get back to us with your PHONE NUMBER AND PERSONAL EMAIL IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE JOB POSITION

PHONE NUMBER:
PERSONAL EMAIL:

Regards

[Redacted] Recruiting Manager CiscoSystems

This email, while appearing enticing, is a classic example of a job scam. Scammers often use publicly available UHD email addresses to target students, hoping to trick them into providing personal information or even participating in illegal activities. Before responding to any unsolicited job offers, especially those promising opportunities related to a Houston career abroad program or similar, always verify their legitimacy. Contact the UHD career center to confirm the employer and representative before engaging in any communication.

Red Flags: How to Identify a Job Scam

Knowing the warning signs is crucial in distinguishing between a legitimate opportunity and a scam. Here are key indicators that an email job offer might be fraudulent:

• Generic Email Address: Scam emails often originate from generic email addresses like Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook. Legitimate companies will always use their corporate email accounts. UHD and reputable organizations will not promote jobs from employers lacking corporate email addresses.
• Mass Emailing: If you notice you are not the sole recipient of the job offer email, it’s a red flag. Legitimate companies do not typically send mass emails for job offers.
• Impersonal Greetings: Scam emails often use generic greetings like “Dear Student” or “Good Morning” instead of addressing you by name. Even if they mention obtaining your information from a job board or school database, a genuine recruiter would personalize the email.
• Misleading Company Names: To appear credible, scammers frequently use the names of well-known, legitimate companies. However, the individuals contacting you have no actual affiliation with these companies. Always independently verify the company’s existence and the recruiter’s connection to it.
• Requests to Communicate via Text: Scammers may push to continue the conversation through text messaging. This tactic makes it harder to document the scam. Legitimate job offer discussions should primarily occur via email for record-keeping.
• Immediate Requests for Personal Information: Be wary if an email asks for sensitive personal information upfront. Legitimate job applications usually involve official applications through the company’s website, not immediate email exchanges of personal details.
• Poor Grammar and Spelling: Scam emails are notorious for grammatical errors and typos. Reputable companies maintain professional standards in their communication.
• Missing Contact Information: A legitimate email from a company’s HR or recruiting department will always include a signature line with the sender’s name, title, and full contact information.
• Links to Non-Official Websites: Be cautious if the email directs you to a website that is not associated with UHD or the purported company. UHD will only direct you to official campus career center websites.

If an email exhibits these characteristics, it is highly likely a scam. The best course of action is to delete it immediately without responding. If you are uncertain about the legitimacy of an email, forward it to [email protected] for verification.

What To Do If You Suspect a Job Scam

If you have already responded to a job opportunity and now suspect it might be a scam, take these steps immediately to protect yourself:

1. Contact UHD Information Security: Notify Information Security at [email protected] or call 713-221-8638. Provide them with your PeopleSoft ID and forward any email or text message exchanges you’ve had with the scammer.
2. Secure Your UHD Account: Enhance your UHD account security by setting up PeopleSoft password security questions and then resetting both your PeopleSoft and UHD account passwords. This helps prevent unauthorized access to your information.
3. Report to UHD Police Department: File a report with the UHD Police Department located at One Main Street, Suite N118, TX 77002, or by phone at 713-221-8065. Inform them that Information Security advised you to make the report.

By staying vigilant and informed, you can protect yourself from job scams and ensure your search for legitimate career opportunities, including any Houston career abroad program, is safe and successful. Always verify before you respond and utilize the resources available at UHD to confirm the legitimacy of job offers.