Community Service Announcements

What does a job offer scam look like?

Job offer scams typically work like this: someone contacts you, usually by email, and invites you to apply for or start a job. These job offers are almost always unsolicited—meaning you never applied or interviewed for the job. In some cases, the scam starts with someone offering to help you with your resume or find a placement in a job. The email will look like it originates from an etsu.edu email but if you look close, it will end in something like .gmail, .com, or something other than our etsu.edu

There are many different kinds of scams. On the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website, you can read about a common scam targeting college students, where you are offered a position as an assistant, you are sent a fake check and asked to handle, transfer, or spend the money for seemingly legitimate purposes like ordering office or pet supplies.  But the money is an illusion. Although you will receive a check, that check will be for several thousand dollars and you are asked to deposit the check into your account. You will then be instructed to keep your pay (between $400 and $500 typically) and then obtain gift card or some other type of transaction to return the extra funds. Depending on how you are directed to use the money, you could even be charged with a crime like money laundering or credit card fraud.

Many college students are anxious about finding a job, and these scams use tactics meant to trigger those anxieties. If someone contacts you with an unexpected job offer, here are some things to look for to determine if it’s a scam.

Scams are too good to be true

One scam email from “Terry White” (no company listed) encourages you to “Work 4-8 hours weekly and get paid $250.” That’s $31.25 an hour—not bad for an entry-level position you were chosen randomly for.

Job offer scams entice with unbelievably good pay for very easy work—something that just isn’t that common in the real job market.

Scams have spelling and grammar errors
Emails from reputable companies will, at a minimum, have little or no spelling or grammar errors. An abundance of errors in spelling or grammar is a definite red flag.

The following are all quotes from real job offer scams:

• “Accompanied by an attractive wages and a reasonable working hours per week.”
• “Do not need a transportable mechanism as all needed task can be done online.”
• “Receive detailed invoice showing all products ordered for are correct and in place.” 

Stay Safe!

When in doubt, look for these signs, and use your best judgment.

Students should remain skeptical, and do their research.

Verify the offer by contacting the company directly. Look them up online. Don’t use the number or email address from the email. Look for a contact in HR, call them up and ask if this is a legitimate job offer.

As a cyclist, you have responsibilities to yourself, to motorists you will interact with, and to pedestrians you are sure to encounter every time you ride your bike. Taking time to familiarize yourself with a few basic guidelines will help keep the ETSU roadways safe for everyone.

 What do Tennessee state laws say about bicycles?

Over view of Bike Safety:

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  Obey all traffic signs and ride on the correct side of the road.
• Ride smart - choose your lane positioning based upon immediate conditions.
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  Ride predictably and signal your intentions.
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  Be courteous; yield to pedestrians, announce your presence and intentions.
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  If you ride at night, use a light!
• 
  Protect your thought process-always wear a helmet.
  
  

According to Tennessee Code Annotated, 55-8-175, traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles. Although not defined as a vehicle, a bicyclist upon a roadway shall have all the rights and responsibilities of a vehicle operator. On the road you are not a pedestrian; you are considered a vehicle and must operate your bicycle in compliance with all applicable traffic regulations.

Riding in Traffic: Lanes, Intersections and Roundabouts

Riding right begins with riding on the right. A bicyclist upon a roadway shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. You make the decision as to where in the lane it is safe to ride at any given time. Ride as far to the right as you feel it is safe to ride-considering pavement, traffic, and weather conditions. But

Don't be afraid to "take the lane" when needed. When you ride in traffic, control your lane by occupying it properly. This will eliminate the opportunity for vehicles to illegally pass you and also helps you avoid the bad pavement often found at the edge of your lane. It makes you much more visible to traffic passing you in both directions. One of the most common causes of bicycling injury is when a motorist "cuts off" or turns in front of the cyclist. You can eliminate this hazard by maintaining a proper lane position.

Do not pass vehicles from behind on the right, especially at intersections. At traffic signals, wait your turn. It is illegal for you to pass other stopped vehicles to move to the front of the line. If you occupy a space next to a right-turning vehicle and are struck, you are at fault. At some locations on campus, you may find it is better to dismount and walk your bike with the flow of pedestrians. Additionally, when a bike encounters another bike head-on, it should always pass on the right.

There are two important rules to remember when approaching a traffic circle or "roundabout": Always ride counterclockwise through the circle Always yield right-of-way to any bike or vehicle already in the circle

Hand Signals for Cyclists

Use hand signals to indicate left turns, right turns, or that you are slowing or stopping. When turning, you must signal continuously at least 100 feet before the turn and while you are stopped, waiting to turn, unless use of your hand is needed to control your bicycle.

Peaceful Coexistence with Pedestrians

Sidewalks on the ETSU campus were developed for foot traffic-not cyclists. There is often too little space for pedestrians and cyclists to share. Ride on the sidewalks only when you have no other alternative. Just like in a car, a cyclist must give pedestrians the right-of-way. However, pedestrians should remember that a bike cannot stop as quickly as they can.

When cyclists encounter pedestrians, they should be courteous and announce their presence and their intentions with catchy phrases such as: 

• "Passing"
• "On your left"
• "Behind you

Why Wear a Bicycle Helmet?

Riding without a bicycle helmet significantly increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash. Non-helmeted riders are 14 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than helmeted riders. The rigid crushable foam inside a helmet prevents banging the brain against the inside of the skull.

Protect your thought process - wear a helmet when you ride your bike-always!

See and Be Seen

A bicycle used at nighttime must be equipped with a headlamp and rear red reflector. A lamp emitting a red light may be used to supplement the rear reflector.