On October 25, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate released a statement via its official WeChat account emphasizing the crucial role of employment in safeguarding people’s livelihoods. The procuratorial authorities are diligently implementing the guidance from the “Opinions on Promoting High-Quality and Full Employment through an Employment-First Strategy” issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council. They are launching a special initiative known as “Protecting Livelihoods” to combat various forms of job-seeking fraud more strictly by leveraging the rule of law to support quality employment. Between January 2022 and August 2024, procuratorial agencies across the country have prosecuted 4,708 individuals involved in job-related scams.
These crimes often exploit the aspirations of job seekers for “high salaries” and “stability” by creating elaborate “employment traps” that waste both time and money for many applicants, some of whom even find themselves in legal trouble. Therefore, it’s essential for the public, especially job seekers, to remain vigilant and develop an awareness of fraud prevention and identification.
Firstly, some fraudsters create fake job postings with the intention of extracting fees from applicants. Investigations reveal that certain job-seeking scams have adopted systematic and standardized methods: fraudsters post exaggerated job advertisements through labor mediation agencies or online platforms, luring victims with inflated salary promises and charging them deposits. Some even go as far as creating fictitious employment locations, organizing fake job interviews, and processing false onboarding procedures to give victims the illusion of legitimate employment. For instance, individuals like Li and Jiang participated in a scam where Li set up a company claiming to offer “high-end employment and paid services,” only to collect a 10% deposit and later demand an additional 90% upon passing a job interview. The scheme ultimately defrauded over 40 victims of around 8.7 million yuan.
Secondly, some criminal groups pose as legitimate organizations, recruiting employees while secretly engaging in illegal activities such as fraud, gambling, and pyramid schemes. For example, Liu and Zhang, along with ten others, created a biotech company that advertised positions for recent college graduates. They exploited these graduates by promoting a dubious health product, resulting in a fraud that accumulated 4.33 million yuan. Particularly alarming is the tactic where criminals break down their schemes into various steps, recruiting unwitting individuals as “part-time workers” who unknowingly contribute to illegal activities. In one case, a victim named Luo was enticed to make calls under the guise of customer service, ultimately facilitating fraud by collecting personal information from potential victims.
Thirdly, some scam artists fabricate stories about “internal referrals” to deceive job seekers into paying fees. For instance, a perpetrator named Guo preyed on recent graduates by falsely claiming he could internally recommend them to jobs at reputable airports and shipping companies, cheating 88 graduates out of over 13 million yuan. Other fraudsters falsely present themselves as individuals with connections, misleading victims with promises of securing jobs through “backdoor” channels, charging “service fees” or “kickbacks.” An example includes Zhu, who impersonated a government official and defrauded victims of over 500 million yuan.
Lastly, some scammers target flexible employment groups using new work paradigms. As this category of workers grows, fraudsters leverage their adaptable work schedules by promoting part-time opportunities through social media and short video platforms. In one case, individuals seeking temporary work fell into a scam involving an app that promised earnings through tasks like order brushing, ultimately defrauding victims of nearly 190,000 yuan.
The procuratorial authorities remind the public that these job traps can be deceitful and urge job seekers to be cautious when searching for employment. It’s crucial for individuals to enhance their awareness of fraud and not fall for unrealistic salary promises, avoid disclosing personal information carelessly, and refrain from making unwarranted payments. If they encounter false job advertisements or illegal activities, they should report these incidents to appropriate authorities while preserving evidence to defend their rights legally.
