Usually, if something sounds too good to be true, it is. Be wary of job offers in hard-to-get-into fields like modeling and acting, as well as offers in remote areas, faraway states, and foreign cities. Dangerous individuals may try to get people to be alone and away from their friends and family.

Some signs of a false job offer could be:

• • • There seems to be a mismatch between the pay and the job description (for example, a high hourly salary for a typically low-paying job).
    • The employer doesn’t ask you for any information about your past jobs.
      
    • As part of the application process, the employer asks for a picture of you.
      
    • The employer asks you a lot of questions about yourself that don’t have anything to do with the job.
      
    • The employer wants a big fee to pay for things like uniforms or other costs.
      
    • The job is a secret, or the employer wants you to lie about your age.
      

People who want to take advantage of others will use emotional, mental, and financial support to gain trust and make potential victims dependent on them.

Signs that your partner might be trying to take advantage of you include:

• • • Demands that you always let them know where you are.
    • You have to ask permission to leave the house or hang out with other people.
    • You can’t talk as much with your friends, family, and loved ones.
    • If you don’t do what they say, they’ll hurt you or someone you care about.
    • Keeps your money, identification cards, and other personal items safe.
    • You feel like you can’t trust them.
    • You can get money from this person, but you have to ask for it when you need it.
    • You are forced to work at a job where you do not get paid.
    • You are forced to do sexual acts for them or other people in exchange for money or other valuable things, like drugs.

People who want to exploit others might find victims online since they don’t always know how to be safe. Predators typically monitor social media platforms to find victims.

Here are a few safety tips to remember when you’re online and using social media:

• • • Don’t talk about private things (where you live, work, go to school, or details about your personal life).
    • Set up your profile so that only your real-life friends can see it.
    • Don’t add anyone you don’t know in real life as a friend on your social media accounts.
    • Don’t give anyone photos that you wouldn’t want your parents, guardians, or close friends to see.
    • If you do share a photo and someone uses it to threaten or blackmail you, you have choices. Talk to an adult you can trust about how to stay safe or get help.
    • If you want to meet someone you met online in person, you should do so in a public place, like a restaurant or coffee shop, and tell a friend who you trust who you will be meeting and when.
    • Do your research on a job offer that seems too good to be true. You can read reviews on websites that rate companies or talk to current or former employees to find out more about the job.
    • Tell a trusted adult if you think someone isn’t who they say they are or if you think you’re being led into a situation where you could be abused. If you told someone about the person, they might not be able to use other people.
    • Trust yourself! If something feels off about a conversation you are having with someone online, stop the conversation and block the profile.