[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-internship-scams-to-avoid":3,"blog-index":16,"mdc-erh477-key":428,"live-hubs":950},{"slug":4,"title":5,"description":6,"date":7,"tags":8,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14,"body":15},"internship-scams-to-avoid","Internship Scams to Avoid: Spot Them in 15 Minutes","The internship scams students actually report, how each one plays out, a 15-minute check to verify any offer, and exactly where to report a scam.","2026-06-25",[9,10,11],"internships","career-advice","applications","Student Internships Team",false,10,"You got a message about an internship that pays better than anything your friends landed, and something about it feels slightly off. Here's the single principle that settles almost every case: a real employer pays money *to* you, after you've actually been hired, and never asks you to move money, pay a fee, or hand over your bank details to get started. This post names the scam patterns students actually report, shows how each one plays out, and gives you a 15-minute routine to verify any offer plus the exact place to report one.\n\n## The one principle behind almost every internship scam\n\nStrip away the details and nearly every internship scam comes down to one move: at some point, money or sensitive information is supposed to flow the wrong way. A legitimate employer pays you. They don't ask you to deposit a check and send part of it onward, wire money for \"equipment,\" buy a starter kit, or hand over your Social Security number and bank login before you've genuinely been hired and verified who they are.\n\nSo before you memorize a single pattern below, hold onto the tell that covers all of them: if you're being asked to pay, to move someone else's money, or to give up your bank or SSN before a verified hire, treat it as a scam. The FTC puts it plainly: anyone who asks you to pay to get a job is a scammer ([FTC, Job Scams](https:\u002F\u002Fconsumer.ftc.gov\u002Farticles\u002Fjob-scams)). The named patterns just help you match your situation fast when you're panicking.\n\n## The scam patterns students actually report\n\nThe FTC says reports of job scams aimed at college students have climbed sharply in recent years, and the scripts have gotten personal ([FTC, college students alert](https:\u002F\u002Fconsumer.ftc.gov\u002Fconsumer-alerts\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Fjob-scams-targeting-college-students-are-getting-personal)). Here are the playbooks worth recognizing on sight.\n\n### The fake-check signing bonus\n\nA \"recruiter\" mails or emails you a check, often for more than you expected, framed as a signing bonus, a first paycheck, or money to buy your home-office equipment. They tell you to deposit it, keep your cut, and send the rest to a vendor or another account for supplies. Your bank makes the funds available within a day or two, so it looks real. Weeks later the check bounces, the scammer has the money you forwarded, and the bank wants you to repay the full amount ([FTC, How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Fake Check Scams](https:\u002F\u002Fconsumer.ftc.gov\u002Farticles\u002Fhow-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams)).\n\n**The tell:** you're asked to deposit a check and send part of the money onward. No honest employer ever does this.\n\n### The DM recruiter who knows your school\n\nAn unsolicited message lands on Instagram, LinkedIn, or as a plain text. The \"recruiter\" claims a dean or a professor recommended you as a top prospect, and they sprinkle in faculty names, campus landmarks, or your major to sound legitimate. A couple of quick virtual chats follow, then a generous offer, then the \"HR paperwork\" asking for your SSN, bank account, or driver's license. The FTC has flagged exactly this script as one aimed at college students ([FTC, college students alert](https:\u002F\u002Fconsumer.ftc.gov\u002Fconsumer-alerts\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Fjob-scams-targeting-college-students-are-getting-personal)).\n\n**The tell:** a role you never applied for, no real interview, urgency, and a referral story you can't confirm. If they name a professor, message that professor directly before replying. If the story doesn't check out, it's a scam.\n\n### The upfront fee or \"starter kit\"\n\nYou're told to pay a training fee, a registration charge, a background-check fee, or to buy mandatory software or equipment from the \"employer,\" usually with a promise that it's \"refunded after onboarding.\" It never is. This one is simple because it triggers the core principle on its own: any payment from you, ever, fails the test. We settle the broader \"can a real internship ever cost money?\" question in our guide to [paid vs unpaid internships](\u002Fblog\u002Fpaid-vs-unpaid-internships), so head there if that's your real worry. For fraud-spotting, the rule is short.\n\n**The tell:** any payment flowing from you to them, under any label.\n\n### The data-harvesting \"application\"\n\nHere the \"internship\" is bait. There's no real job at all; the whole point is to collect your Social Security number, bank details, photo ID, or a \"background-check fee\" early in the process. Sometimes it's dressed up as a slick online application or onboarding portal. The information then gets used for identity theft.\n\n**The tell:** sensitive personal or financial information requested before there's been a real interview and a verified hire. Bank details for direct deposit come after you've genuinely been hired and confirmed the company is real, never as step one.\n\n### The reshipping or payment-processing \"remote internship\"\n\nYou're hired for a \"remote operations,\" \"quality control,\" or \"payment processing\" role. The work turns out to be receiving packages, repackaging them, and reshipping them to addresses you're given, or receiving money in your own bank account and forwarding it on while keeping a percentage as \"salary.\" Both are crimes you're being used to commit: the packages are usually bought with stolen cards, and the money is the proceeds of fraud. The FTC is clear that reshipping goods like this is never a real job, it's simply being part of a scam ([FTC, Job Scams](https:\u002F\u002Fconsumer.ftc.gov\u002Farticles\u002Fjob-scams)).\n\n**The tell:** your \"job duties\" involve moving other people's money or parcels through your own accounts or address.\n\n## How to tell a real offer from a fake in 15 minutes\n\nDon't tally red flags and hope. Run this short sequence in order. If an offer fails any step, stop there.\n\n1. **Verify the company and the person.** Find the real company website and confirm the recruiter has a genuine LinkedIn footprint tied to that company. Search the company name along with the word \"scam,\" and search the recruiter's name the same way. Real people and real companies leave a trail; a brand-new profile with three connections does not.\n2. **Check the email domain.** A legitimate recruiter writes from the company's real domain, not a free Gmail address or a look-alike domain that's one letter off (think \"compaany.com\"). The FTC notes that real corporate recruiters email from corporate accounts, not personal ones ([FTC, college students alert](https:\u002F\u002Fconsumer.ftc.gov\u002Fconsumer-alerts\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Fjob-scams-targeting-college-students-are-getting-personal)).\n3. **Require a real interview and real answers.** Ask who you'd report to and what you'd actually do, day to day. Scammers get vague fast; a real team answers in two sentences. A \"you're hired\" that arrives with no genuine interview is a warning, and our list of [internship interview questions](\u002Fblog\u002Finternship-interview-questions) shows what a real process actually looks like.\n4. **Run it past your campus career center.** They've seen the scams circulating on your campus and will often tell you immediately whether an \"employer\" is already flagged.\n5. **Never send money, your SSN, or bank details before a verified hire.** This is the non-negotiable backstop. If any earlier step left you unsure, this one ends it.\n\nOne habit that cuts your exposure before you even start: begin from listings that carry some level of vetting rather than open boards where scams breed. You can [browse internships](\u002Ffeed) on our student-focused feed and still run every offer through the five steps above.\n\n## What to do if you already engaged\n\nIf you're reading this because you already replied, deposited something, or shared information, you are not the first and you're not in trouble for being targeted. Move quickly and calmly.\n\n- **You deposited a check and maybe sent money on.** Contact your bank right away, tell them you suspect a fake-check scam, and do not spend any of the funds. Acting before the check bounces gives you the best shot at limiting the damage.\n- **You shared your SSN or bank details.** Go to the FTC's [IdentityTheft.gov](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.identitytheft.gov), which walks you through the official recovery steps and can generate a personal recovery plan. Options like a credit freeze go through the channels listed there. This is general information, not legal or financial advice, so lean on the official steps rather than anything you read secondhand.\n- **Either way, stop all contact** with the \"recruiter,\" keep everything as evidence, and then report it using the section below.\n\n## How to report an internship scam\n\nReporting takes a few minutes and helps the next student who gets the same message. Hit these in order of relevance to your case:\n\n- **The FTC.** File at [ReportFraud.ftc.gov](https:\u002F\u002Freportfraud.ftc.gov). This is the central place to report job and internship scams in the U.S.\n- **Your school's career center.** They can warn other students and flag the \"employer\" on campus.\n- **The platform.** Report the account on LinkedIn, Instagram, Indeed, or wherever the message came from.\n- **Your bank.** If any money moved, or any account information was shared, loop them in immediately.\n\nBefore you report, save your evidence: screenshots of the messages, the emails with full headers if you can, any check images, and the account names. Specifics make the report far more useful.\n\n## Frequently asked questions\n\n### How do you know if an internship is a scam?\n\nApply the core test first: are you being asked to pay, to move money, or to hand over your SSN or bank details before a verified hire? Any \"yes\" means treat it as a scam. Then run the 15-minute check above: verify the company and the person, confirm the email is on the company's real domain, insist on a real interview with clear answers about the role, and ask your career center. Scams fail those steps quickly.\n\n### Can a real internship ask you to pay?\n\nNo legitimate employer charges you to work for them, and any \"training fee\" or mandatory \"starter kit\" you buy from them is a scam tell. There's one separate gray zone, paid placement and study-abroad programs, which are a service you're buying rather than an employer paying you. We sort out that whole question in [paid vs unpaid internships](\u002Fblog\u002Fpaid-vs-unpaid-internships).\n\n### What should I do if I gave a scammer my bank details or SSN?\n\nStop contact and act fast. If a check was involved, call your bank before spending anything. For shared SSN or bank information, work through the official steps at [IdentityTheft.gov](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.identitytheft.gov), which can build you a recovery plan and walk you through options like freezing your credit. Then report the scam to the [FTC](https:\u002F\u002Freportfraud.ftc.gov) and your career center.\n\n### Are internships on LinkedIn or Indeed safe?\n\nSafer than random DMs, but not automatically safe. Scammers post fake listings and impersonate real companies on mainstream job platforms too, so a posting existing on LinkedIn or Indeed doesn't verify the employer. Run every offer through the 15-minute check regardless of where you found it, and report fake listings to the platform.\n\n### How do you report an internship scam?\n\nFile a report with the FTC at [ReportFraud.ftc.gov](https:\u002F\u002Freportfraud.ftc.gov), tell your school's career center, report the account to the platform it came from, and contact your bank if any money or account details were involved. Keep screenshots and emails as evidence first.\n\n---\n\nDo this today: take whatever offer or message is sitting in front of you and run it through the 15-minute check before you reply with anything personal. If it asked you to pay, to move money, or to give up your bank details or SSN before a verified hire, you already have your answer, so report it and move on. Real internships exist and they don't work this way, which is exactly why learning to [land a legitimate one with no experience](\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-get-an-internship-with-no-experience) is time better spent than worrying about the fakes.",[17,25,32,38,45,51,57,63,70,76,82,88,94,100,106,113,119,125,131,137,143,149,155,161,167,173,179,185,191,197,203,209,215,221,227,233,239,245,251,257,263,269,275,280,285,290,295,300,305,310,315,317,322,327,332,337,342,347,352,357,362,367,373,379,385,391,397,403,410,416,421],{"slug":18,"title":19,"description":20,"date":21,"tags":22,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"how-to-explain-a-low-gpa-or-gap","How to Explain a Low GPA or Gap on Your Resume","Own a low GPA, failed class, gap year, or extra time to graduate in one honest line, then redirect. The exact script, plus when to raise it vs wait.","2026-08-28",[9,23,10],"interviews",9,{"slug":26,"title":27,"description":28,"date":29,"tags":30,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"how-to-use-your-college-career-center","How to Use Your College Career Center for Internships","What career services offers beyond Handshake, how to run an advising appointment that's worth it, and how to tell if your career center is weak.","2026-08-27",[9,11,10],8,{"slug":33,"title":34,"description":35,"date":36,"tags":37,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-influenced-someone-internship-interview","Tell Me About a Time You Influenced Someone","No workplace story? Answer \\\"tell me about a time you influenced someone\\\" with a club or class example: the pick-the-moment rule, a worked answer, and traps.","2026-08-25",[9,23,10],{"slug":39,"title":40,"description":41,"date":42,"tags":43,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":44},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-managed-competing-priorities-internship-interview","Tell Me About a Time You Managed Competing Priorities","Answer \\\"tell me about a time you managed competing priorities\\\" with a rank-by-deadline-and-impact system, the heads-up interviewers grade, and an example.","2026-08-24",[9,23,10],11,{"slug":46,"title":47,"description":48,"date":49,"tags":50,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"why-this-industry-internship-interview","How to Answer \"Why This Industry?\" in an Interview","A research method and 3-part formula for \"why investment banking \u002F consulting \u002F tech,\" with worked examples and the salary and prestige tells to avoid.","2026-08-21",[9,23,10],{"slug":52,"title":53,"description":54,"date":55,"tags":56,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"company-info-session-tips","Company Info Session Tips: Get Noticed by Recruiters","How to make the most of a company info session: 10-minute prep, the one question that gets you remembered, and a same-day follow-up that lands.","2026-08-20",[9,11,10],{"slug":58,"title":59,"description":60,"date":61,"tags":62,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"walk-me-through-your-resume-interview","How to Answer \\\"Walk Me Through Your Resume\\\" (Finance)","The finance and consulting opener, done as a chronological story: which 2-3 experiences to pick, a full student example, and how to hit 2 minutes.","2026-08-19",[9,23,10],{"slug":64,"title":65,"description":66,"date":67,"tags":68,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":69},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-adapted-to-change-internship-interview","Adapt to Change? Internship Interview Answer","Answer \\\"tell me about a time you had to adapt to change\\\" for an internship: pick a change you didn't choose, then show how you re-planned and stayed calm.","2026-08-14",[9,23,10],7,{"slug":71,"title":72,"description":73,"date":74,"tags":75,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"what-motivates-you-internship-interview","How to Answer \"What Motivates You?\" (Internship)","A driver-plus-story-plus-role-fit formula for the \"what motivates you \u002F what are you passionate about\" internship question, with a worked student example.","2026-08-13",[9,23,10],{"slug":77,"title":78,"description":79,"date":80,"tags":81,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"greatest-accomplishment-internship-interview","How to Answer \"What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?\"","A rule for picking a greatest accomplishment you can actually own, a STAR shape weighted on what you did, a student example, and the traps to dodge.","2026-08-12",[9,23,10],{"slug":83,"title":84,"description":85,"date":86,"tags":87,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"how-do-you-handle-criticism-internship-interview","How Do You Handle Criticism? Internship Answer","Answer \\\"how do you handle criticism\\\" for an internship: pick real feedback you acted on, name it plainly, skip the defensiveness, and weight the fix.","2026-08-11",[9,23,10],{"slug":89,"title":90,"description":91,"date":92,"tags":93,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-worked-under-pressure-internship-interview","Tell Me About a Time You Worked Under Pressure","Answer 'tell me about a time you worked under pressure' without the all-nighter story: a rule for picking the right crunch, a STAR shape on triage, plus traps.","2026-08-10",[9,23,10],{"slug":95,"title":96,"description":97,"date":98,"tags":99,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-showed-leadership-internship-interview","Tell Me About a Time You Showed Leadership (Intern)","No title? You can still nail \\\"tell me about a time you showed leadership.\\\" A rule for finding the moment, a STAR-shaped student example, and the traps.","2026-08-06",[9,23,10],{"slug":101,"title":102,"description":103,"date":104,"tags":105,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"how-to-get-a-second-internship","How to Get a Second, Better Internship","You've done one internship. Here's how to reframe it into a sharper resume and story, use your new network, and target more competitive roles this fall.","2026-08-05",[9,11,10],{"slug":107,"title":108,"description":109,"date":110,"tags":111,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"intern-exit-interview","The Intern Exit Interview: What to Say (and Not Say)","What an intern exit interview really is, who runs it, the questions it asks with short answers, and how to give honest feedback without burning the bridge.","2026-08-04",[9,10,112],"internship-tips",{"slug":114,"title":115,"description":116,"date":117,"tags":118,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-had-a-conflict-with-a-teammate-internship-interview","Conflict With a Teammate: Interview Answer for Students","Never had a \\\"workplace\\\" conflict? Use a group-project disagreement. A no-blame framing rule, a worked student example, and the traps to dodge.","2026-08-03",[9,23,10],{"slug":120,"title":121,"description":122,"date":123,"tags":124,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-worked-on-a-team-internship-interview","Tell Me About a Time You Worked on a Team","A rule for picking the right team story, a STAR shape that keeps your role visible without erasing the team, plus a student example and the traps to avoid.","2026-07-31",[9,23,10],{"slug":126,"title":127,"description":128,"date":129,"tags":130,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"portfolio-for-internship-applications","Portfolio for Internship Applications: Do You Need One?","Do you need a portfolio for internship applications? A field-by-field guide to what to include, how many pieces, where to host it, and how to link it.","2026-07-30",[9,11,10],{"slug":132,"title":133,"description":134,"date":135,"tags":136,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"end-of-internship-presentation","How to Nail Your End-of-Internship Presentation","Your final intern presentation, decoded: a slide arc that leads with the problem and your result, how to scope it, the dry-run rule, and handling tough Q&A.","2026-07-29",[9,10,112],{"slug":138,"title":139,"description":140,"date":141,"tags":142,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"stay-in-touch-after-internship","How to Stay in Touch After Your Internship Ends","The last-weeks playbook: a goodbye message that isn't generic, LinkedIn before your access is cut, and a light check-in cadence that keeps the door open.","2026-07-28",[9,10,112],{"slug":144,"title":145,"description":146,"date":147,"tags":148,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"nothing-to-do-at-your-internship","What to Do When You Have Nothing to Do at Your Internship","Underused at a slow or disorganized internship? The exact words to ask for work, how to turn downtime into a visible win, and how to still earn a return offer.","2026-07-27",[9,10,112],{"slug":150,"title":151,"description":152,"date":153,"tags":154,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"made-a-mistake-at-my-internship","I Made a Mistake at My Internship: How to Recover","Just messed up at your internship? How to size the mistake, tell your manager with a simple script, reset after a bad week, and protect your return offer.","2026-07-24",[9,10,112],{"slug":156,"title":157,"description":158,"date":159,"tags":160,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-failed-internship-interview","How to Answer \\\"Tell Me About a Time You Failed\\\"","A 4-part rule for picking a real, fixable failure, an answer shape that spends its words on what you changed, and two student examples from clubs.","2026-07-23",[9,23,10],{"slug":162,"title":163,"description":164,"date":165,"tags":166,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"how-to-practice-for-an-internship-interview","How to Practice for an Internship Interview","How to practice for an internship interview: a record-and-review loop, a 1 to 2 week rep schedule, role-based question bank, and rehearsing beats not scripts.","2026-07-22",[9,23,10],{"slug":168,"title":169,"description":170,"date":171,"tags":172,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"thank-you-email-after-internship-interview","Thank-You Email After an Internship Interview (+ Follow-Up)","A 24–48h thank-you template, the one polite follow-up email, and how long to wait before silence honestly means no after an internship interview.","2026-07-21",[9,23,10],{"slug":174,"title":175,"description":176,"date":177,"tags":178,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"why-should-we-hire-you-internship-interview","How to Answer \"Why Should We Hire You?\" (Internship)","A selection rule for the \\\"why should we hire you\\\" internship answer: pick two role-matched strengths, back each with proof, close on fit, plus student examples.","2026-07-20",[9,23,10],{"slug":180,"title":181,"description":182,"date":183,"tags":184,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"should-i-apply-if-i-dont-meet-all-requirements","Should You Apply If You Don't Meet Every Requirement?","Not sure you're qualified for that internship? How to tell a real requirement from a wish-list one, the honest match rule, and how to close the gap.","2026-07-17",[9,11,10],{"slug":186,"title":187,"description":188,"date":189,"tags":190,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"live-video-interview-tips-internship","Live Video Interview Tips for Internships (Zoom\u002FTeams)","Live Zoom or Teams internship interview coming up? Where to look for eye contact, a tech and backup-device checklist, and how to recover when you freeze.","2026-07-16",[9,23,10],{"slug":192,"title":193,"description":194,"date":195,"tags":196,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"should-you-negotiate-an-internship-offer","Should You Negotiate an Internship Offer?","Should you negotiate an internship offer? When it helps, when to skip it, what's actually negotiable (start date, housing, pay), and a polite script to use.","2026-07-15",[9,10,11],{"slug":198,"title":199,"description":200,"date":201,"tags":202,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"virtual-experience-programs-worth-it","Are Virtual Experience Programs Worth It? (Forage)","Are Forage virtual experience programs worth it? An honest verdict on who they help, what they can't do, and exactly how to put one on your resume.","2026-07-14",[9,11,10],{"slug":204,"title":205,"description":206,"date":207,"tags":208,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"how-to-write-a-cover-letter-for-an-internship","How to Write a Cover Letter for an Internship","When an internship cover letter is actually required, a simple 3-4 paragraph structure that complements your resume, and a worked student example.","2026-07-13",[9,11,10],{"slug":210,"title":211,"description":212,"date":213,"tags":214,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"fall-internship-during-the-school-year","Fall Internships: Find One & Balance It With Classes","How to find a fall or part-time internship during the school year: where term-time roles hide, a 15-20 hour weekly schedule, and when to lighten your load.","2026-07-10",[9,11,10],{"slug":216,"title":217,"description":218,"date":219,"tags":220,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"where-do-you-see-yourself-in-5-years-internship-interview","How to Answer \"Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?\"","A fill-in formula for the 5-year goals question in an internship interview: specific near-term skills, a loose long-term direction, plus two student examples.","2026-07-08",[9,23,10],{"slug":222,"title":223,"description":224,"date":225,"tags":226,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"internship-take-home-assignment","How to Approach an Internship Take-Home Assignment","Facing a technical take-home assignment for an internship? How to scope to the core problem, how long to spend, and the README that sells your trade-offs.","2026-07-07",[9,23,10],{"slug":228,"title":229,"description":230,"date":231,"tags":232,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"assessment-center-superday-final-round-interview","Assessment Center & Superday: How to Prepare","What an assessment center or superday really is, a day-of game plan to stay sharp across 3 to 6 back-to-back rounds, and how to own the group exercise.","2026-07-06",[9,23,10],{"slug":234,"title":235,"description":236,"date":237,"tags":238,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"strengths-and-weaknesses-interview-answer","Strengths and Weaknesses: Internship Interview Answers","A rule for picking a strength you can prove and a real weakness that won't sink you, plus the humble-brag answers to avoid, with student examples.","2026-07-03",[9,23,10],{"slug":240,"title":241,"description":242,"date":237,"tags":243,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"tailor-your-resume-for-an-internship","How to Tailor Your Resume to Each Internship","How to tailor your resume to each internship's job description in about 10 minutes: the signals to pull, the keyword rule, and what an ATS really does.",[9,244,11],"resume",{"slug":246,"title":247,"description":248,"date":249,"tags":250,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"how-to-prepare-for-a-case-interview","How to Prepare for a Case Interview (Internship)","New to case interviews? A structure-first loop (clarify, structure, math aloud, recommend), the reasoning habit assessors grade, and a prep plan by time left.","2026-07-02",[9,23,10],{"slug":252,"title":253,"description":254,"date":255,"tags":256,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"why-this-company-internship-interview","How to Answer \"Why This Company?\" in an Internship Interview","A 20-minute research method and a 3-part answer formula for \"why this company \u002F why this internship,\" with two worked examples for thin resumes.","2026-07-01",[9,23,10],{"slug":258,"title":259,"description":260,"date":261,"tags":262,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"how-to-ask-for-a-letter-of-recommendation-for-an-internship","How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation (Internship)","How to ask a manager or professor for an internship recommendation: who to pick, the in-person-then-email ask, lead time, and a brag-sheet packet template.","2026-06-30",[9,11,10],{"slug":264,"title":265,"description":266,"date":267,"tags":268,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"how-to-keep-track-of-internship-applications","How to Keep Track of Internship Applications","How to keep track of internship applications without it rotting: the exact columns that matter, a 15-minute weekly review, and how to tier your list.","2026-06-26",[9,11,10],{"slug":270,"title":271,"description":272,"date":7,"tags":273,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":274},"coffee-chats-and-informational-interviews-for-students","Coffee Chats for Students: How to Ask & Get a Referral","How to ask for a coffee chat, the questions that aren't generic, and the referral close most guides skip, with copyable templates for every step.",[9,11,10],12,{"slug":276,"title":277,"description":278,"date":7,"tags":279,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"does-gpa-matter-for-internships","Does GPA Matter for Internships? An Honest Read","Does GPA matter for internships? Where it's a real filter vs a soft signal by field, when to put it on your resume, and what outweighs a low GPA.",[9,11,10],{"slug":281,"title":282,"description":283,"date":7,"tags":284,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"how-to-ask-for-a-referral-for-an-internship","How to Ask for an Internship Referral (Template)","How to ask for a referral for an internship: when to ask once the role is live, who can actually refer you, and a copy-paste message that makes it easy.",[9,11,10],{"slug":286,"title":287,"description":288,"date":7,"tags":289,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":44},"how-to-convert-an-internship-into-a-full-time-offer","How to Convert an Internship into a Full-Time Offer","What managers really weigh when deciding return offers, the exact end-of-summer conversation script, and an honest plan for if you don't get one.",[9,10,112],{"slug":291,"title":292,"description":293,"date":7,"tags":294,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"how-to-get-an-internship-as-a-freshman-or-sophomore","How to Get an Internship as a Freshman or Sophomore","You're not behind. What freshman and sophomore year are really for, the program types actually open to underclassmen, and your move this year by year.",[9,11,10],{"slug":296,"title":297,"description":298,"date":7,"tags":299,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":274},"how-to-handle-multiple-internship-offers","Multiple Internship Offers? How to Choose & Buy Time","Multiple internship offers or an exploding deadline? A weighted scorecard to compare offers, a script to ask for more time, and the truth on backing out.",[9,10,11],{"slug":301,"title":302,"description":303,"date":7,"tags":304,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":274},"how-to-prepare-for-a-career-fair","How to Prepare for a Career Fair (+ Elevator Pitch)","How to prepare for a career fair: build a prioritized target list, a fill-in 30-second elevator pitch, and a same-day follow-up that gets callbacks.",[9,11,10],{"slug":306,"title":307,"description":308,"date":7,"tags":309,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":44},"how-to-prepare-for-a-coding-interview-internship","How to Prepare for a Coding Interview (Internship)","Prep for an internship coding interview by time left: a 6-week, 2-week, and night-before plan, the 8 patterns that cover most questions, and how to think out loud.",[9,23,10],{"slug":311,"title":312,"description":313,"date":7,"tags":314,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"how-to-use-ai-for-internship-applications","How to Use ChatGPT for Internship Applications","Use AI for internship applications without it backfiring: what ChatGPT is genuinely good for, where it sinks you, and a make-it-yours edit checklist.",[9,11,10],{"slug":4,"title":5,"description":6,"date":7,"tags":316,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},[9,10,11],{"slug":318,"title":319,"description":320,"date":7,"tags":321,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":274},"no-summer-internship","No Summer Internship? A Plan-B Playbook That Counts","No summer internship? Here's an honest reset, a ranked menu of substitutes by goal, and the exact resume line for each so the summer still counts.",[9,11,10],{"slug":323,"title":324,"description":325,"date":7,"tags":326,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"one-way-video-interview-and-online-assessment-tips","One-Way Video Interview & Online Assessment Tips","Got an online assessment or one-way video interview for an internship? How each automated screen works, the 30-second prep trick, and when to retake.",[9,23,10],{"slug":328,"title":329,"description":330,"date":7,"tags":331,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"projects-to-get-an-internship","Projects to Get an Internship: What to Build (No Experience)","What projects to build to get an internship with no experience: a field-by-field picker for weekend projects, plus a copy-paste resume and portfolio write-up.",[9,11,10],{"slug":333,"title":334,"description":335,"date":7,"tags":336,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"questions-to-ask-at-the-end-of-an-internship-interview","Questions to Ask at the End of an Internship Interview","The 5 questions to ask at the end of an internship interview, grouped by what you want to learn, plus the ones that quietly hurt you and what to ask instead.",[9,23,10],{"slug":338,"title":339,"description":340,"date":7,"tags":341,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"recruiter-phone-screen-internship","Recruiter Phone Screen for an Internship: What to Expect","The recruiter phone screen is the first human gate after the OA. What it really tests, the 5 questions it always asks, and the logistics traps to dodge.",[9,23,10],{"slug":343,"title":344,"description":345,"date":7,"tags":346,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":44},"star-method-behavioral-interview-questions","STAR Method for Behavioral Interview Questions","The STAR method for internship behavioral questions: build a reusable 6-story bank from classes and clubs, with two worked examples and no work history.",[9,23,10],{"slug":348,"title":349,"description":350,"date":7,"tags":351,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"tell-me-about-yourself-internship-interview","How to Answer \"Tell Me About Yourself\" (Internship)","The 3-part formula, present, past, why this role, for answering the tell me about yourself opener in an internship interview, with two student examples.",[9,23,10],{"slug":353,"title":354,"description":355,"date":7,"tags":356,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":44},"what-to-do-after-an-internship-rejection","What to Do After an Internship Rejection: A 7-Day Plan","Rejected from an internship? A 48-hour reset, then 5 redirect moves, plus the honest truth about asking for feedback and what one no really means.",[9,11,10],{"slug":358,"title":359,"description":360,"date":7,"tags":361,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"what-to-wear-to-an-internship-interview","What to Wear to an Internship Interview","What to wear to an internship interview, in person and on video: business casual vs professional decoded, an industry-by-industry call, and a no-suit budget take.",[9,23,10],{"slug":363,"title":364,"description":365,"date":7,"tags":366,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"where-to-find-internships","Where to Find Internships: A Weekly Sourcing System","Where to find internships in 2026: build a 4-channel mix, run a 30-minute weekly routine, and vet listings so you skip dead and ghost posts.",[9,11,10],{"slug":368,"title":369,"description":370,"date":371,"tags":372,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":44},"linkedin-profile-for-students-with-no-experience","LinkedIn Profile for Students With No Experience","Build a student LinkedIn profile with no experience: a headline formula, a fill-in About template, and exactly where your projects and clubs go.","2026-06-24",[9,11,10],{"slug":374,"title":375,"description":376,"date":377,"tags":378,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"make-the-most-of-your-summer-internship","How to Make the Most of Your Summer Internship","A week-by-week playbook for your summer internship: set three goals, keep a wins doc, run a mid-summer check-in, and lock in your reference early.","2026-06-22",[9,10,112],{"slug":380,"title":381,"description":382,"date":383,"tags":384,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"why-am-i-not-getting-internship-responses","Not Getting Internship Responses? Find Your Leak","Applying everywhere and hearing nothing? Diagnose your internship funnel, find the exact stage that's leaking, and fix that instead of just applying more.","2026-06-19",[9,11,10],{"slug":386,"title":387,"description":388,"date":389,"tags":390,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"when-to-apply-for-internships","When to Apply for Internships: Summer 2027 Timeline","When internship applications open by industry for summer 2027, a three-wave timeline, and exactly what to do this month so you don't miss your window.","2026-06-18",[9,11,10],{"slug":392,"title":393,"description":394,"date":395,"tags":396,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"paid-vs-unpaid-internships","Paid vs Unpaid Internships: How to Decide (and Avoid Scams)","A clear framework to decide if an internship is worth it, paid or unpaid, plus the fee-scam red flags every student should check before saying yes.","2026-06-16",[9,10,11],{"slug":398,"title":399,"description":400,"date":401,"tags":402,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"how-to-ask-a-professor-for-a-research-internship","How to Ask a Professor for a Research Internship","What to write, when to send it, and what professors ignore: a line-by-line email guide for undergrads asking a professor for a research internship.","2026-06-15",[9,11,10],{"slug":404,"title":405,"description":406,"date":407,"updated":7,"tags":408,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":409},"internship-interview-questions","Internship Interview Questions Students Actually Get","The questions internship interviews actually ask, grouped into five types, with a prep move and example answer for each, even with no work history.","2026-06-12",[9,23,10],6,{"slug":411,"title":412,"description":413,"date":414,"tags":415,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"how-to-cold-email-for-an-internship","How to Cold Email for an Internship: 3 Real Templates","An honest playbook for cold emailing your way into an internship: who to contact at startups, what to write, 3 real templates, and when to follow up.","2026-06-11",[9,11,10],{"slug":417,"title":418,"description":419,"date":414,"tags":420,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"internship-resume-with-no-experience","Internship Resume With No Experience: A One-Page Guide","What to put on an internship resume when you have no work history: an exact one-page structure plus before and after bullet examples you can copy.",[9,244,11],{"slug":422,"title":423,"description":424,"date":425,"tags":426,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":427},"how-to-get-an-internship-with-no-experience","How to Get an Internship With No Experience (Step-by-Step Guide)","No experience yet? A practical step-by-step plan to land your first internship: build proof of skills, find the right openings, and apply well.","2026-06-10",[9,11,10],5,{"data":429,"body":430},{},{"type":431,"children":432},"root",[433,449,456,461,477,483,497,504,518,529,535,546,555,561,574,583,589,594,603,609,620,629,635,640,709,722,728,733,776,782,787,839,844,850,856,861,867,878,884,904,910,915,921,933,937],{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":436,"children":437},"element","p",{},[438,441,447],{"type":439,"value":440},"text","You got a message about an internship that pays better than anything your friends landed, and something about it feels slightly off. Here's the single principle that settles almost every case: a real employer pays money ",{"type":434,"tag":442,"props":443,"children":444},"em",{},[445],{"type":439,"value":446},"to",{"type":439,"value":448}," you, after you've actually been hired, and never asks you to move money, pay a fee, or hand over your bank details to get started. This post names the scam patterns students actually report, shows how each one plays out, and gives you a 15-minute routine to verify any offer plus the exact place to report one.",{"type":434,"tag":450,"props":451,"children":453},"h2",{"id":452},"the-one-principle-behind-almost-every-internship-scam",[454],{"type":439,"value":455},"The one principle behind almost every internship scam",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":457,"children":458},{},[459],{"type":439,"value":460},"Strip away the details and nearly every internship scam comes down to one move: at some point, money or sensitive information is supposed to flow the wrong way. A legitimate employer pays you. They don't ask you to deposit a check and send part of it onward, wire money for \"equipment,\" buy a starter kit, or hand over your Social Security number and bank login before you've genuinely been hired and verified who they are.",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":462,"children":463},{},[464,466,475],{"type":439,"value":465},"So before you memorize a single pattern below, hold onto the tell that covers all of them: if you're being asked to pay, to move someone else's money, or to give up your bank or SSN before a verified hire, treat it as a scam. The FTC puts it plainly: anyone who asks you to pay to get a job is a scammer (",{"type":434,"tag":467,"props":468,"children":472},"a",{"href":469,"rel":470},"https:\u002F\u002Fconsumer.ftc.gov\u002Farticles\u002Fjob-scams",[471],"nofollow",[473],{"type":439,"value":474},"FTC, Job Scams",{"type":439,"value":476},"). The named patterns just help you match your situation fast when you're panicking.",{"type":434,"tag":450,"props":478,"children":480},{"id":479},"the-scam-patterns-students-actually-report",[481],{"type":439,"value":482},"The scam patterns students actually report",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":484,"children":485},{},[486,488,495],{"type":439,"value":487},"The FTC says reports of job scams aimed at college students have climbed sharply in recent years, and the scripts have gotten personal (",{"type":434,"tag":467,"props":489,"children":492},{"href":490,"rel":491},"https:\u002F\u002Fconsumer.ftc.gov\u002Fconsumer-alerts\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Fjob-scams-targeting-college-students-are-getting-personal",[471],[493],{"type":439,"value":494},"FTC, college students alert",{"type":439,"value":496},"). Here are the playbooks worth recognizing on sight.",{"type":434,"tag":498,"props":499,"children":501},"h3",{"id":500},"the-fake-check-signing-bonus",[502],{"type":439,"value":503},"The fake-check signing bonus",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":505,"children":506},{},[507,509,516],{"type":439,"value":508},"A \"recruiter\" mails or emails you a check, often for more than you expected, framed as a signing bonus, a first paycheck, or money to buy your home-office equipment. They tell you to deposit it, keep your cut, and send the rest to a vendor or another account for supplies. Your bank makes the funds available within a day or two, so it looks real. Weeks later the check bounces, the scammer has the money you forwarded, and the bank wants you to repay the full amount (",{"type":434,"tag":467,"props":510,"children":513},{"href":511,"rel":512},"https:\u002F\u002Fconsumer.ftc.gov\u002Farticles\u002Fhow-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams",[471],[514],{"type":439,"value":515},"FTC, How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Fake Check Scams",{"type":439,"value":517},").",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":519,"children":520},{},[521,527],{"type":434,"tag":522,"props":523,"children":524},"strong",{},[525],{"type":439,"value":526},"The tell:",{"type":439,"value":528}," you're asked to deposit a check and send part of the money onward. No honest employer ever does this.",{"type":434,"tag":498,"props":530,"children":532},{"id":531},"the-dm-recruiter-who-knows-your-school",[533],{"type":439,"value":534},"The DM recruiter who knows your school",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":536,"children":537},{},[538,540,545],{"type":439,"value":539},"An unsolicited message lands on Instagram, LinkedIn, or as a plain text. The \"recruiter\" claims a dean or a professor recommended you as a top prospect, and they sprinkle in faculty names, campus landmarks, or your major to sound legitimate. A couple of quick virtual chats follow, then a generous offer, then the \"HR paperwork\" asking for your SSN, bank account, or driver's license. The FTC has flagged exactly this script as one aimed at college students (",{"type":434,"tag":467,"props":541,"children":543},{"href":490,"rel":542},[471],[544],{"type":439,"value":494},{"type":439,"value":517},{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":547,"children":548},{},[549,553],{"type":434,"tag":522,"props":550,"children":551},{},[552],{"type":439,"value":526},{"type":439,"value":554}," a role you never applied for, no real interview, urgency, and a referral story you can't confirm. If they name a professor, message that professor directly before replying. If the story doesn't check out, it's a scam.",{"type":434,"tag":498,"props":556,"children":558},{"id":557},"the-upfront-fee-or-starter-kit",[559],{"type":439,"value":560},"The upfront fee or \"starter kit\"",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":562,"children":563},{},[564,566,572],{"type":439,"value":565},"You're told to pay a training fee, a registration charge, a background-check fee, or to buy mandatory software or equipment from the \"employer,\" usually with a promise that it's \"refunded after onboarding.\" It never is. This one is simple because it triggers the core principle on its own: any payment from you, ever, fails the test. We settle the broader \"can a real internship ever cost money?\" question in our guide to ",{"type":434,"tag":467,"props":567,"children":569},{"href":568},"\u002Fblog\u002Fpaid-vs-unpaid-internships",[570],{"type":439,"value":571},"paid vs unpaid internships",{"type":439,"value":573},", so head there if that's your real worry. For fraud-spotting, the rule is short.",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":575,"children":576},{},[577,581],{"type":434,"tag":522,"props":578,"children":579},{},[580],{"type":439,"value":526},{"type":439,"value":582}," any payment flowing from you to them, under any label.",{"type":434,"tag":498,"props":584,"children":586},{"id":585},"the-data-harvesting-application",[587],{"type":439,"value":588},"The data-harvesting \"application\"",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":590,"children":591},{},[592],{"type":439,"value":593},"Here the \"internship\" is bait. There's no real job at all; the whole point is to collect your Social Security number, bank details, photo ID, or a \"background-check fee\" early in the process. Sometimes it's dressed up as a slick online application or onboarding portal. The information then gets used for identity theft.",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":595,"children":596},{},[597,601],{"type":434,"tag":522,"props":598,"children":599},{},[600],{"type":439,"value":526},{"type":439,"value":602}," sensitive personal or financial information requested before there's been a real interview and a verified hire. Bank details for direct deposit come after you've genuinely been hired and confirmed the company is real, never as step one.",{"type":434,"tag":498,"props":604,"children":606},{"id":605},"the-reshipping-or-payment-processing-remote-internship",[607],{"type":439,"value":608},"The reshipping or payment-processing \"remote internship\"",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":610,"children":611},{},[612,614,619],{"type":439,"value":613},"You're hired for a \"remote operations,\" \"quality control,\" or \"payment processing\" role. The work turns out to be receiving packages, repackaging them, and reshipping them to addresses you're given, or receiving money in your own bank account and forwarding it on while keeping a percentage as \"salary.\" Both are crimes you're being used to commit: the packages are usually bought with stolen cards, and the money is the proceeds of fraud. The FTC is clear that reshipping goods like this is never a real job, it's simply being part of a scam (",{"type":434,"tag":467,"props":615,"children":617},{"href":469,"rel":616},[471],[618],{"type":439,"value":474},{"type":439,"value":517},{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":621,"children":622},{},[623,627],{"type":434,"tag":522,"props":624,"children":625},{},[626],{"type":439,"value":526},{"type":439,"value":628}," your \"job duties\" involve moving other people's money or parcels through your own accounts or address.",{"type":434,"tag":450,"props":630,"children":632},{"id":631},"how-to-tell-a-real-offer-from-a-fake-in-15-minutes",[633],{"type":439,"value":634},"How to tell a real offer from a fake in 15 minutes",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":636,"children":637},{},[638],{"type":439,"value":639},"Don't tally red flags and hope. Run this short sequence in order. If an offer fails any step, stop there.",{"type":434,"tag":641,"props":642,"children":643},"ol",{},[644,655,671,689,699],{"type":434,"tag":645,"props":646,"children":647},"li",{},[648,653],{"type":434,"tag":522,"props":649,"children":650},{},[651],{"type":439,"value":652},"Verify the company and the person.",{"type":439,"value":654}," Find the real company website and confirm the recruiter has a genuine LinkedIn footprint tied to that company. Search the company name along with the word \"scam,\" and search the recruiter's name the same way. Real people and real companies leave a trail; a brand-new profile with three connections does not.",{"type":434,"tag":645,"props":656,"children":657},{},[658,663,665,670],{"type":434,"tag":522,"props":659,"children":660},{},[661],{"type":439,"value":662},"Check the email domain.",{"type":439,"value":664}," A legitimate recruiter writes from the company's real domain, not a free Gmail address or a look-alike domain that's one letter off (think \"compaany.com\"). The FTC notes that real corporate recruiters email from corporate accounts, not personal ones (",{"type":434,"tag":467,"props":666,"children":668},{"href":490,"rel":667},[471],[669],{"type":439,"value":494},{"type":439,"value":517},{"type":434,"tag":645,"props":672,"children":673},{},[674,679,681,687],{"type":434,"tag":522,"props":675,"children":676},{},[677],{"type":439,"value":678},"Require a real interview and real answers.",{"type":439,"value":680}," Ask who you'd report to and what you'd actually do, day to day. Scammers get vague fast; a real team answers in two sentences. A \"you're hired\" that arrives with no genuine interview is a warning, and our list of ",{"type":434,"tag":467,"props":682,"children":684},{"href":683},"\u002Fblog\u002Finternship-interview-questions",[685],{"type":439,"value":686},"internship interview questions",{"type":439,"value":688}," shows what a real process actually looks like.",{"type":434,"tag":645,"props":690,"children":691},{},[692,697],{"type":434,"tag":522,"props":693,"children":694},{},[695],{"type":439,"value":696},"Run it past your campus career center.",{"type":439,"value":698}," They've seen the scams circulating on your campus and will often tell you immediately whether an \"employer\" is already flagged.",{"type":434,"tag":645,"props":700,"children":701},{},[702,707],{"type":434,"tag":522,"props":703,"children":704},{},[705],{"type":439,"value":706},"Never send money, your SSN, or bank details before a verified hire.",{"type":439,"value":708}," This is the non-negotiable backstop. If any earlier step left you unsure, this one ends it.",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":710,"children":711},{},[712,714,720],{"type":439,"value":713},"One habit that cuts your exposure before you even start: begin from listings that carry some level of vetting rather than open boards where scams breed. You can ",{"type":434,"tag":467,"props":715,"children":717},{"href":716},"\u002Ffeed",[718],{"type":439,"value":719},"browse internships",{"type":439,"value":721}," on our student-focused feed and still run every offer through the five steps above.",{"type":434,"tag":450,"props":723,"children":725},{"id":724},"what-to-do-if-you-already-engaged",[726],{"type":439,"value":727},"What to do if you already engaged",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":729,"children":730},{},[731],{"type":439,"value":732},"If you're reading this because you already replied, deposited something, or shared information, you are not the first and you're not in trouble for being targeted. Move quickly and calmly.",{"type":434,"tag":734,"props":735,"children":736},"ul",{},[737,747,766],{"type":434,"tag":645,"props":738,"children":739},{},[740,745],{"type":434,"tag":522,"props":741,"children":742},{},[743],{"type":439,"value":744},"You deposited a check and maybe sent money on.",{"type":439,"value":746}," Contact your bank right away, tell them you suspect a fake-check scam, and do not spend any of the funds. Acting before the check bounces gives you the best shot at limiting the damage.",{"type":434,"tag":645,"props":748,"children":749},{},[750,755,757,764],{"type":434,"tag":522,"props":751,"children":752},{},[753],{"type":439,"value":754},"You shared your SSN or bank details.",{"type":439,"value":756}," Go to the FTC's ",{"type":434,"tag":467,"props":758,"children":761},{"href":759,"rel":760},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.identitytheft.gov",[471],[762],{"type":439,"value":763},"IdentityTheft.gov",{"type":439,"value":765},", which walks you through the official recovery steps and can generate a personal recovery plan. Options like a credit freeze go through the channels listed there. This is general information, not legal or financial advice, so lean on the official steps rather than anything you read secondhand.",{"type":434,"tag":645,"props":767,"children":768},{},[769,774],{"type":434,"tag":522,"props":770,"children":771},{},[772],{"type":439,"value":773},"Either way, stop all contact",{"type":439,"value":775}," with the \"recruiter,\" keep everything as evidence, and then report it using the section below.",{"type":434,"tag":450,"props":777,"children":779},{"id":778},"how-to-report-an-internship-scam",[780],{"type":439,"value":781},"How to report an internship scam",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":783,"children":784},{},[785],{"type":439,"value":786},"Reporting takes a few minutes and helps the next student who gets the same message. Hit these in order of relevance to your case:",{"type":434,"tag":734,"props":788,"children":789},{},[790,809,819,829],{"type":434,"tag":645,"props":791,"children":792},{},[793,798,800,807],{"type":434,"tag":522,"props":794,"children":795},{},[796],{"type":439,"value":797},"The FTC.",{"type":439,"value":799}," File at ",{"type":434,"tag":467,"props":801,"children":804},{"href":802,"rel":803},"https:\u002F\u002Freportfraud.ftc.gov",[471],[805],{"type":439,"value":806},"ReportFraud.ftc.gov",{"type":439,"value":808},". This is the central place to report job and internship scams in the U.S.",{"type":434,"tag":645,"props":810,"children":811},{},[812,817],{"type":434,"tag":522,"props":813,"children":814},{},[815],{"type":439,"value":816},"Your school's career center.",{"type":439,"value":818}," They can warn other students and flag the \"employer\" on campus.",{"type":434,"tag":645,"props":820,"children":821},{},[822,827],{"type":434,"tag":522,"props":823,"children":824},{},[825],{"type":439,"value":826},"The platform.",{"type":439,"value":828}," Report the account on LinkedIn, Instagram, Indeed, or wherever the message came from.",{"type":434,"tag":645,"props":830,"children":831},{},[832,837],{"type":434,"tag":522,"props":833,"children":834},{},[835],{"type":439,"value":836},"Your bank.",{"type":439,"value":838}," If any money moved, or any account information was shared, loop them in immediately.",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":840,"children":841},{},[842],{"type":439,"value":843},"Before you report, save your evidence: screenshots of the messages, the emails with full headers if you can, any check images, and the account names. Specifics make the report far more useful.",{"type":434,"tag":450,"props":845,"children":847},{"id":846},"frequently-asked-questions",[848],{"type":439,"value":849},"Frequently asked questions",{"type":434,"tag":498,"props":851,"children":853},{"id":852},"how-do-you-know-if-an-internship-is-a-scam",[854],{"type":439,"value":855},"How do you know if an internship is a scam?",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":857,"children":858},{},[859],{"type":439,"value":860},"Apply the core test first: are you being asked to pay, to move money, or to hand over your SSN or bank details before a verified hire? Any \"yes\" means treat it as a scam. Then run the 15-minute check above: verify the company and the person, confirm the email is on the company's real domain, insist on a real interview with clear answers about the role, and ask your career center. Scams fail those steps quickly.",{"type":434,"tag":498,"props":862,"children":864},{"id":863},"can-a-real-internship-ask-you-to-pay",[865],{"type":439,"value":866},"Can a real internship ask you to pay?",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":868,"children":869},{},[870,872,876],{"type":439,"value":871},"No legitimate employer charges you to work for them, and any \"training fee\" or mandatory \"starter kit\" you buy from them is a scam tell. There's one separate gray zone, paid placement and study-abroad programs, which are a service you're buying rather than an employer paying you. We sort out that whole question in ",{"type":434,"tag":467,"props":873,"children":874},{"href":568},[875],{"type":439,"value":571},{"type":439,"value":877},".",{"type":434,"tag":498,"props":879,"children":881},{"id":880},"what-should-i-do-if-i-gave-a-scammer-my-bank-details-or-ssn",[882],{"type":439,"value":883},"What should I do if I gave a scammer my bank details or SSN?",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":885,"children":886},{},[887,889,894,896,902],{"type":439,"value":888},"Stop contact and act fast. If a check was involved, call your bank before spending anything. For shared SSN or bank information, work through the official steps at ",{"type":434,"tag":467,"props":890,"children":892},{"href":759,"rel":891},[471],[893],{"type":439,"value":763},{"type":439,"value":895},", which can build you a recovery plan and walk you through options like freezing your credit. Then report the scam to the ",{"type":434,"tag":467,"props":897,"children":899},{"href":802,"rel":898},[471],[900],{"type":439,"value":901},"FTC",{"type":439,"value":903}," and your career center.",{"type":434,"tag":498,"props":905,"children":907},{"id":906},"are-internships-on-linkedin-or-indeed-safe",[908],{"type":439,"value":909},"Are internships on LinkedIn or Indeed safe?",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":911,"children":912},{},[913],{"type":439,"value":914},"Safer than random DMs, but not automatically safe. Scammers post fake listings and impersonate real companies on mainstream job platforms too, so a posting existing on LinkedIn or Indeed doesn't verify the employer. Run every offer through the 15-minute check regardless of where you found it, and report fake listings to the platform.",{"type":434,"tag":498,"props":916,"children":918},{"id":917},"how-do-you-report-an-internship-scam",[919],{"type":439,"value":920},"How do you report an internship scam?",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":922,"children":923},{},[924,926,931],{"type":439,"value":925},"File a report with the FTC at ",{"type":434,"tag":467,"props":927,"children":929},{"href":802,"rel":928},[471],[930],{"type":439,"value":806},{"type":439,"value":932},", tell your school's career center, report the account to the platform it came from, and contact your bank if any money or account details were involved. Keep screenshots and emails as evidence first.",{"type":434,"tag":934,"props":935,"children":936},"hr",{},[],{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":938,"children":939},{},[940,942,948],{"type":439,"value":941},"Do this today: take whatever offer or message is sitting in front of you and run it through the 15-minute check before you reply with anything personal. If it asked you to pay, to move money, or to give up your bank details or SSN before a verified hire, you already have your answer, so report it and move on. Real internships exist and they don't work this way, which is exactly why learning to ",{"type":434,"tag":467,"props":943,"children":945},{"href":944},"\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-get-an-internship-with-no-experience",[946],{"type":439,"value":947},"land a legitimate one with no experience",{"type":439,"value":949}," is time better spent than worrying about the fakes.",{"keys":951},[952,953,954,955,956,957,958,959,960,961,962,963,964,965,966,967,968,969,970,971,972,973,974,975,976,977,978,979,980,981,982,983,984,985,986],"in:bangalore","in:mumbai","in:delhi","in:gurugram","in:hyderabad","in:pune","in:chennai","in:noida","in:kolkata","in:jaipur","in:ahmedabad","in:software-engineering","in:data-science","in:marketing","in:design","in:finance","in:sales","in:human-resources","in:operations","in:remote","us:new-york","us:san-francisco","us:washington-dc","us:los-angeles","us:software-engineering","us:data-science","us:marketing","us:design","us:finance","us:sales","us:human-resources","us:operations","us:remote","ph:manila","ph:remote"]