12. Watch Your Back

Here's something nobody warned me about. The moment you're laid off and visibly looking, you become a target.Scammers watch for it. A fresh open-to-work banner, a public post about being let go, a CV newly uploaded to the job boards. It signals someone who's anxious, moving fast, and hoping for good news. That's exactly the person a fraudster wants. While you're out there hustling, keep one eye on your own back.The tellsMost job scams share a family resemblance once you know the shape. An offer that turns up out of nowhere for a job you never applied to. A recruiter who only ever talks over WhatsApp, Telegram, or text and never a company email. A hiring process that's suspiciously fast and flattering, all yes and no real interview. Pay that's too good for the work. Sloppy details, an HR email on a free account, a company domain that's almost but not quite right.And the hard line, the one that catches even sharp people when they're tired and hopeful: a legitimate employer will never…