Between finding vacancies, sending out your resume, and landing interviews, looking for a job is hard. Now its trend is increasing fraudsters Impersonating recruiters is making it even more difficult.
In the past year, job scams have been on the rise, according to Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit that helps consumers when their identities are compromised.
Since most job seekers turn to online platforms for employment, scammers impersonate companies and recruiters to trick people into giving money or personal information.
“We've really seen a tremendous increase in job scams,” Velasquez said. “I think it's just due to the fact that we've fundamentally changed the way we recruit and hire people.”
This happened to Tahseen Islam, a 28-year-old quality assurance analyst. She was looking for a job for a few months when she finally got a job offer from a well-known marketing technology company. Or at least he thought he did.
After a week-long process, which included an online form with interview screening questions, Islam was offered the job and received a check. He was asked to deposit it and send $1,000 to the company to pay for the shipment of equipment needed for the job.
A few days later, her bank informed her that the check had bounced and, because it seemed she was cooperating with the scammers, it was terminating all banking relationships with her. Then he came to know that this work was a scam.
“I'm a little shocked,” said Islam, who lost $1,000 and unknowingly shared personal information with scammers.
If you're looking for a job, here are some recommendations from experts to avoid job scammers:
Learn how job scams work
Types of job scams impersonation scam,
Scammers use the name of an employee of a large company and create job postings that match similar positions. An early warning, Velasquez said, is that scammers usually try to make the job seem very attractive.
“They're going to get much higher wages for somewhat lower-skill work,” he said. “And they're often saying it's a 100% remote position because it's so attractive to people.”
Some scammers post fake jobs, but others reach out to job seekers directly via direct message or text. If scammers want to steal your personal information, they may ask you to fill out several forms that include information like your Social Security number and driver's license details.
The only information a legitimate employer should ask for at the beginning of the process is your skills, your work experience and your contact information, Velasquez said.
Other details generally do not need to be shared with an employer until you have received an offer.
do your research
Whether you're responding to a job posting or a recruiter, you should research the company, especially if you haven't initiated the conversation, Velasquez said.
Fake recruiters often contact job seekers through social media or text messages. If someone contacts you, verify their identity before replying to their message.
Here are some recommendations when you research a recruiter or company:
— Do not reply to the message immediately.
– Go online and research if there are current job opportunities on the company's official website.
– Research the name of the recruiter and check if the person has a verifiable social media presence.
— If there is a job opportunity on the company's website, apply directly through the website.
Do not reply or click on the link
If you receive a message from a recruiter, it is best not to respond until you know the source is reputable. Whether applying for a position or filling out a questionnaire, avoid clicking on any links sent to you.
In Islam's case, the scammers sent her a form with interview screening questions where they asked for her personal information.
do not deposit check
A common tactic for scammers is to send you a fake signing bonus and then ask you to send some money back, allegedly to cover expenses. It's a way for scammers to steal money from job seekers, said Alvaro Puig, a consumer education specialist for the Federal Trade Commission.
“If you deposit a check and it's fake, the money will show up in your account. But a few days later, the bank will realize it was a fake check,” Puig said.
So, if you withdraw money from your account and send it to a fake recruiter, the money will come out of your bank account and it will be impossible to get it back.
Be selective in the job opportunities you trust
When looking for a job through platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed, Velasquez recommends being very cautious about job openings and dealing with recruiters you trust. Although these platforms are reputable and many of their job postings are genuine, companies cannot verify every single employment opportunity posted. This creates an opportunity for scammers to post fake job listings and trick people.
“For platforms that you know are legitimate, don't allow other people to borrow that trust,” Velasquez said.
After her experience with job scammers, Islam has become more careful about the job opportunities she trusts. Now, she has a list of steps she follows, which include verifying the recruiter's email through a free email address verifier, such as Emailable or Clearout, and calling the company directly.
“This is taking up a lot of time with my job search now, but I can't blindly trust that this person is who they say they are,” Islam said.
Report Scam
If you or a family member is the victim of a scam, it is good practice to report it FTC website,
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