Job scams are on the rise. NBC reports that they increased by 118% from 2022. Job scams are essentially fake job postings. The scammer is trying to access your bank account and looking for your personal information. The rise in remote work and advancements in AI have made it easier for scammers to create convincing fake job listings.
Mark Anthony Dyson has written an interesting article on the Job Scam Report about conducting a safe job search. He warns that job scammers are hijacking the hiring process to steal personal information in the long run. However, they are also after cash in the short run. According to the FTC, the typical job scam victim in 2023 lost $2,000. Additionally, the article details five myths about job scams that are putting job seekers at risk.
Your future
Dyson says that bad guys are running scams to compromise personal info. The Better Business Bureau reports that employment scams were the number one riskiest scam for people ages 18-44 in 2023. Consequently, if scammers get hold of data, your future financial and employment will be adversely affected.
He points out that most scams are just old scams with new layers and better disguises. They use basic social engineering tactics, like phishing links, infected files, and fake landing pages. We’ve known about all of these tactics for decades.
Dyson says some job seekers let their guard down, and others give up on their job search. However, this critical error in judgment makes everyone more vulnerable to job scam myths like:
Job scams ONLY target the desperate.
False: Scammers use social engineering to cast a wide net. They want to find anyone looking for something better. They create offers that are “too good to be true” and uniquely plausible. The “offers” are designed to pique the interest of the receiver. The BBB warns that if you are offered a job without a formal interview with excellent pay and benefits, it’s likely a scam.
How to stay safe: Don’t entertain the possibilities unless you know who sent it to you. One way to verify the sender is to search for the number quickly in Google. If the number is associated with a legitimate business, you should see that the business’s website appears in the first few results. Verify that the number shows up on that business’s website.
Job scams are easy to spot.
False: Job scams evolve just as the job market changes. The author points out that job scams increase when unemployment and uncertainty rise. The growing use of AI is currently driving this trend.
How to stay safe: Read articles like this about job scams. In addition, check out the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker, which catalogs over 34,000 scams. The BBB is working closely with the FBI to identify scammers.
Legitimate companies won’t ask for personal or financial information.
True: Legitimate companies don’t ask for personal information upfront as a candidate. Once hired, your personal information, such as your social security number or bank account, is necessary, but not before you are hired. Moreover, the BBB states you should be especially wary if someone pressures you to divulge your information, saying the job offer will only last if you fill out all the forms.
How to stay safe: Follow your instincts. Never give sensitive information to anyone you aren’t sure you can trust. Does something seem “a little off?” If that is the case, disconnect and report the crime to the FBI’s ic3.gov or the FTC. You should also contact the job board if that’s where you encountered the scam. Most job sites have a mechanism for reporting these types of issues.
Additionally, Dyson says you must contact the appropriate institutions (bank, credit card, etc.) if you have given up your personal information, cash, or both.
Once scammed, you’ll know how not to get scammed again.
False: No matter how tech-savvy you may be, you are still vulnerable to social engineering tactics. You can be a victim more than once. Different scams can look the same. The bad guys take advantage of job seekers who are desperate and anxious; others are curious due to the “desirable” opportunity they seek.
How to stay safe: You must do your due diligence and research every part of your job search to ensure the opportunity is legitimate. Research the person who contacted you. Look them up. A quick LinkedIn search should reveal if they work for the company they claim to represent. Additionally, you can find the company’s contact information on their official website (check the URL) and contact them directly to ask if they are hiring for the position you’re applying for. You can go even further and verify the website at ICANN here. If they say they’ve been in business for five years, but the website was created a week ago, that is a huge red flag for a job scam.
Once scammed, there’s nothing more to do.
False: Once you’re an online scam victim, the work is just beginning. The scammers may have gotten away with some money, but your personal information is their end game. They want to steal your identity and cause damage to YOUR NAME:
They can use your personal info to:
- Get bank accounts.
- Open Credit cards.
- Incur Medical care resulting in medical bills.
- Apply to multiple jobs in the same company.
- Scam other people.
How to stay safe: Start before they scam you. Be proactive and protect your personal information. The author suggests you:
- Regularly change your passwords.
- Freeze your credit and bank accounts and credit reports.
Furthermore, if you fall victim to a scam, tell your network. The scammers can create social media accounts to scam others in your name.
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Ralph Bach has been in IT for a while and has blogged from the Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that has caught my attention since 2005. You can follow me on Facebook or Mastodon. Email the Bach Seat here.
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