Learn how to protect yourself from predatory employment scams by verifying all university job offers through the Human Resources office and recognizing the signs of fraudulent "remote" assistant positions.
The Mandatory Verification Rule
To protect against sophisticated phishing attempts, you must verify every university job offer by contacting the NCU Office of Human Resources at 612.343.4412. Do not rely on email signatures or phone numbers provided within an unsolicited offer—always use official university contact channels.
Authentic NCU Positions
Legitimate university jobs follow a standardized, high-security protocol:
- Verified Domain: Official communication only comes from @northcentral.edu.
- HR Coordination: All hiring is logged with Human Resources.
- Real Interviews: Requires a substantive, face-to-face or video interview process.
- Standard Pay: Compensation matches established university student worker pay scales.
Fraudulent Scam Indicators
Be suspicious of any offer containing these red flags:
- Unsolicited Selection: Claims you were "chosen from a directory" for a job you never applied for.
- Extreme Wages: Promises $350–$500 per week for only 6–10 hours of work.
- Personal Email Use: The sender uses @gmail.com, @outlook.com, or @mail.northcentral.edu.
- Immediate "Hiring": Offers you the position without a formal interview or application process.
Crucial: How to Verify with HR
Scammers often impersonate instructors, deans, or department heads to build trust. If you receive an offer from a university member:
- Contact HR Directly: Call 612.343.4412 and ask to verify the job offer.
- Independent Verification: Look up the department online and call their official number listed on the NCU website.
- NEVER use the phone number or reply-to email provided in the initial message.
Anatomy of a Phishing Scam
The PowerPoint slides below detail the common two-phase approach used by scammers to access your financial information.
Phase 1: The Hook
"I need a remote personal assistant... make $450/weekly."
The Trap: They use high wages to create excitement and move the conversation to personal text/email (Gmail/Outlook) to avoid university security detection.
Phase 2: The Financial Sting
"Mobile deposit this check, then Zelle funds to our 'office vendor'."
The Trap: They send a fraudulent check. When you Zelle money to their "vendor," you are sending your own cash. The fake check will bounce within days, leaving you responsible for the debt.
Information to NEVER Share
Stop all communication if an unverified "employer" asks for:
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Bank Account or Credit Card numbers
- Photos of your Driver's License or Passport
- Security question answers (e.g., Mother's maiden name)
- Zelle, Venmo, or Bitcoin payments
- Buying/Sending Gift Card codes
Next Steps & Reporting
- Report Fraud: Forward all suspicious messages to incident@northcentral.edu or use the "Report Phishing" button in Gmail.
- Validate the Sender: Ensure the "From" email matches the signature. Scammers often compromise an account and then impersonate a staff member using a different signature.
For more details on protecting yourself, see our articles on Reporting Scams and Compromised Accounts.