US postal jobs are one of the most rewarding career opportunities that promise you high wages, flexible work hours, and excellent career growth. However, in order to begin with the process of applying for a job at USPS, a candidate should be able to differentiate a genuine job advertisement from a US postal job scam.

Over the last few years, the number of deceptive claims about federal jobs has significantly increased, and as a result, thousands of individuals have been deceived by these scammers. Considering the increasing frequency of these events, the Federal Trade Commission has issued certain guidelines to help job seekers spot the scams and report them to the authorities.

In this article, we are sharing some tips that can help you avoid being a scam victim and save you from spending your hard-earned money on the false job advertisements posted by scammers.

1. Pay Attention to the Content of the Advertisement

When seeking a job at the USPS, remember that the US postal service publishes postal job advertisements on its official website only. The job advertisements that you see on social media websites, in search engine results, or receive through emails are most likely to redirect you to the official website of the USPS, or alternatively, to a scam website.

In order to spot a false job advertisement, watch out for the following warning signs:

• Advertisements that claim to provide information about ‘hidden’ or unadvertised jobs at the USPS.
• Advertisements that claim that the posted job requires no experience or do not have any other eligibility requirements.
• Advertisements that direct you to call at a pay-per-call number.

2. Look for Reviews before Buying a Study Guide

Since the USPS offers no official study guide for test preparation, candidates look for alternative ways to prepare for the US postal exam. While there are websites that offer you useful information and can help you get a high score, it is important to do your research before purchasing a study guide. The handiest resource for this purpose is customer reviews. Read customer testimonials published on the website, as well as on social media websites. Google reviews can also help you make a well-informed purchasing decision.

Reading the posts published on the blog of the website can also provide you an idea about the authenticity of the provider. Websites that have a well-maintained blog with informative articles regarding the US postal exam are likely to be genuine.

3. Report a Scam to the Authorities                     

Following the two tips mentioned above, if you believe that you have encountered a false US postal job advertisement, it is important that you report it immediately to the authorities. There are three ways you can do so.

1. Call the FTC at 1-877-382-4357.
2. Contact US Postal Inspection Service.
3. Contact your local Better Business Bureau.

Using these tips, you can spot a scam US postal job advertisement and report it to the concerned authorities.