Protect Yourself and Others from Fraudulent Job Offers
Job scams targeting students are on the rise. These scams are often disguised as legitimate remote work or on-campus opportunities and can lead to stolen identities, financial loss, or even legal trouble.
Common Red Flags to Watch For:
- “You’ve been selected!” with no application
If you didn’t apply but suddenly get an offer, it’s probably fake.
- Payment requests
Real employers never ask you to send money, buy gift cards, or deposit checks and send money back.
- Generic email addresses
Legit employers use official company emails — not Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook. Scammers have also used compromised CSU email addresses to impersonate CSU staff.
- Email addresses that don’t match official domains
Scammers may use @csu-careers.com or other lookalike domains instead of @colostate.edu
- Poor grammar and urgent tone
Scammers rush you, so you don’t think critically or have a chance to second-guess.
Past Examples
How to Stay Safe
- Use Handshake or official CSU job portals
- Verify the company before replying (check company website)
- Reach out to official contacts to verify a message
- Never give your SSN, bank info, or address to unverified contacts
- Report suspicious emails
- Follow cybersecurity best practices