Reader Safety: Job & Money Scams

Scammers often target people who are looking for jobs, scholarships, loans or ways to earn money. This page explains the warning signs and where to report problems. It is general guidance based on advice from US government consumer-protection agencies.

Binnz will never ask you for money

• We do not charge fees for jobs, interviews, training, scholarships, admissions, loans or “processing”.
• We do not offer jobs or loans, and we do not collect job applications.
• We will never ask for your passwords, bank or card details, Social Security number or one-time codes.
• Our emails only come from addresses ending in @binnz.com.

If someone uses our name and asks for money or personal information, it is a scam. Please report it to [email protected].

Common warning signs of job scams

• You are asked to pay before you start: for training, equipment, certification, background checks or a “placement fee”.
• The job is guaranteed, or the pay sounds too good for the work involved.
• You get a cheque and are told to deposit it and send part of the money back, or to buy gift cards or cryptocurrency.
• The “employer” only communicates by chat apps, will not give a company address, or uses a free email address.
• Someone offers “secret” or “previously undisclosed” government jobs. Federal job openings are published publicly on USAJOBS.gov.

Warning signs of money, loan and scholarship scams

• Upfront fees for a loan, grant, scholarship or debt relief, especially by gift card, wire transfer or crypto.
• Pressure to act immediately or keep the offer secret.
• Promises of guaranteed approval, guaranteed returns or “risk-free” profits.
• Requests for your login details, one-time passcodes or remote access to your device.

How to protect yourself

1. Research the company or person: search their name with words like “scam”, “review” or “complaint”.
2. Apply only through the employer’s or institution’s official website.
3. Never pay to get a job, and never send money to someone you have not verified.
4. Talk to someone you trust before you act on an offer.
5. Look for legitimate job listings on official sites such as CareerOneStop (sponsored by the US Department of Labor) and USAJOBS.gov.

Where to report a scam

• Federal Trade Commission: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: IC3.gov
• FTC guidance on job scams: consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams
• If you paid a scammer, see consumer.gov/scams for steps that may help.

If you are outside the United States, contact your local police or national consumer-protection authority.