In preparation for the busy holiday shopping season, Forbes.com is forecasting that companies will be hiring roughly 700,000 seasonal workers. Those looking for work should be on the lookout for unethical employers and fraudulent job postings, warns Better Business Bureau.

“Employment opportunities in retail, restaurants, event planning, catering, shipping and travel tend to pick up this time of year,” says Robert W.G. Andrew, CEO of BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington. “Whether you’re shopping for gifts or looking for jobs, the same advice rings true: Do research ahead of time.”

Employ skepticism: Phishers send job invitations via email or social media sites to those who did not apply. Ignore unsolicited offers.

Apply caution: Fake employers aggressively solicit Social Security numbers, birthdates and other personal information through artificial applications. Beware of skewed logos and grammatical errors—especially on the Internet.

Submit only if it fits: Frauds demand upfront cash, bank account numbers or paycheck money transfers. Avoid opportunities where advance fees or investments are required.

Interview prospects: Scammers are unwilling to provide direct answers on job descriptions, hours, pay, benefits and company background information. Be wary of limited-time jobs that tout big earnings, but won’t provide written job materials or refuse to conduct interviews in-person.

BBB’s best advice? Look locally and work where you shop or dine. Get to know companies before applying and brush up before interviewing; find holiday help and BBB Business Reviews at bbb.org.

 

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