Some of the USPS job scams you should be scared of
Not every job advert you see around with a federal name tag on it is legit. Job scammers have invented a subtle method of tricking their prey. This new way targets persons who are looking for legitimate jobs from the federal government and post office as their new dupes. These cons operate in many ways. They may place an ad on the classified section in your local dailies claiming they can help you get and secure federal or post office jobs with a certain price tagged on it. These scammers also offer enticements and incredible assertions about work opportunities, claiming no questions asked, hire on the spot, and guaranteed vacancy. "A lot of work-from-home adverts that you bump around anytime you are online promising unbelievable living are all scams,"warns the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumer information department. However, these sophisticated methods do not target only the work-from-home jobs seekers. Check out these USPS job scams you should be aware of and how to avoid them in this post.

USPS job scams to watch out for and how to avoid them.

1.Online interview with "real company secretary."
A con poses as an online recruiter from USPS or a mailing company you can find on the web. You are asked to send your resume, after which the purported hiring officer calls you for an interview, though not in person. Instead, you are told to use instant messages or download software to give answers about your achievements. "Congratulations, you are hired," you receive such a message afterward. After being "hired," scammers access and steal money and your personal information by requesting you to submit your bank account number and social security number. To stay away from this kind of scam: 

•  Look for the job online. If the post feature in other cities, it is probably a scam.
• Reach the real company to make sure that the job post is valid. Search online for the actual website of the company and confirm if they have the job vacancy you are applying for.
• Regardless of how talented you are, be very skeptical if you are told you are hired on the spot.

2.Reshipping scam.
In this type of scam, you get an email from generic sounding human resource manager telling you to apply for a position of a shipping officer. They lure you with job tasks such as receiving, checking, consolidating, and reshipping various packages. You would later start receiving home packages, mostly gadgets such as iPhones or laptops. After testing, you reship them to the prescribed address overseas. However, the items were purchased fraudulently online with stolen credit cards, and all of a sudden, and you are a smuggler. You could end up being charged with mail fraud and robbery, particularly since the reshipping postage labelsmight also be fraudulent. To avoid fall victim to this scam:

• Don't provide personal information to a company or persons you don't know.
• Confirm the company with the relevant federal bodies such as FTC, Better Business Bureau, or the state attorney general's office. 
• Understand the titles these scammers use, like "Reshipper," has usually been related to scammers. Also, be aware of other new titles such as packaging processing assistant, merchandising manager, etc.
• Acquaint yourself with the types of duties offered. Beware of responsibilities such as receiving, checking, processing, and mailing parcels to overseas addresses with pre-paid postal label sent via email.
• Be skeptical with offers with exaggerated pay or require working with an overseas company. .

3.Post office job scam.
Scammers use online or print advertisements to help job hunters get and apply for postal or federal jobs in exchange for a "refundable" fee. They also offer to help you with postal exams or even sell you academic materials with a money-back guarantee in case you fail the test. These scammers might also hoodwink you into believing that there exists some hidden federal and postal jobs only they can get access to. To avoid this scam:

• Always shun any job post from the federal government or postal services asking for some fee in return for some favors. Any information concerning job vacancies with the federal government or postal services are not charged and is available to everyone.
• Ensure that any application for the U.S postal services job vacancies is made through their website usps.com/careers. Be keen with official-sounding titles or names such as "the Postal Employment Services or U.S career Advancement agency," which do not exist. 

4.Fake job posts on social media.
Social media is the newest ground for scammers, and there is no social site immune from these practices. Be careful of any job advert or recruiter from the social sites. There are a lot of fake Facebook groups created by the scammers and branded with the mailing company's name or Federal government logo where "jobs" are posted for applications. These fake jobs are also posted on valid Facebook pages. These scammers do not end their targets on Facebook only; fake LinkedIn profiles are formed and used to post "opportunities" on LinkedIn groups. Just like Facebook, bogus opportunities are also posted on real LinkedIn profiles. However, LinkedIn is always trying to remove fake profiles and minimize access or remove the account altogether if a person with a real profile feeds a lot of junk in LinkedIn. The scams can also be spread on Twitter, where you are sent a link with a shortened URL from a fake or real account. These links with shortened URL can lead to unknown sites which can be used to exploit you. To stay away from the social media scams:

• Confirm that the social media accounts of the recruiter or employer are legitimate.
• Search the recruiter's name on google.
• Be cautious with a Twitter account with less than 500 followers, more so, if the name of the claimed employer is well known. To avoid being prey to such scams mentioned above, there are a lot of things you should have at your fingertips to help you discern a real job advert and a fake one. Below are extra ways you should know to help you differentiate the reality.
• Watch your money.
  The FTC is constantly warning the members of the public against giving money to any person to help them with postal exams materials or to pass the test. Therefore giving money for either exam materials or tip sheets is ridiculous. Valid jobs do not need application fees, and no jobs will ask you to get money, keep a portion, and send the remaining. Also, do not fall victim to the "work-from-home" adverts promising to tell you how to make money from the comfort of your home
• Watch where you post your resume.
  Some con artists will create a very official-looking company title to hoodwink you that they operate directly with USPS. The Federal Trade Commission highlights that these scammers use names such as "Postal Employment authority" or "Federal Agency For career development." So, don't become a fool falling for these official-sounding titles. Search on Google if in doubt of any name. 
• Don't give out your banking details.
  Job scammers are continually trying to fetch your sensitive details for malicious intentions. Be aware of job posts that require you to click on a certain link or are persuasively asking for your financial or personal information. A prospective employer will not need such information over the phone or via email while you are still a job candidate. The only time you will need to produce your banking details is after being offered a job formally by your employer.
• Check grammar and the layout of the message sent to you.
  Though the messages from scammers will look like an official email or phone call, if you are keen enough, you will notice some lousy grammar and communication typos. Restrain from job posts with typos and grammar errors; these are likely scams with malicious intentions. Beef up your security against job scams by practicing the following recommended security practices.
  1. Change your passwords on other online platforms if you are fond of re-using passwords.
  2. Apply all the required software patches from software vendors and operating systems.
  3. Install and keep your anti-virus updated.
  4. Use multi-factor authentication and available security measures outlined by other online service providers.

  Conclusion.
  A lot of people think that job scams are apparent and can easily be avoided, but scammers are constantly updating their methods, as seen in the latest USPS job scams findings. Job scammers will go to any length to get your money. Be extremely careful and very cautious while going about your job hunting to avoid potential job scams. Remember, applying for USPS or federal jobs is always free and accessible to anybody. There are no hidden jobs from these departments that can only be accessed by a particular group of people. Every piece of information concerning vacancies are posted on their website and available to thepublic domain.