The number of documented scams, of various types, surged significantly during the pandemic and has persisted at an increased level thereafter, as per the Federal Trade Commission. A type of scheme that has been in existence for some time — but is swiftly adapting to new technology — targets individuals seeking employment.
Job scams manifest in a couple of variations. First: fraudulent listings on valid job search websites. Second: fraudsters contacting individuals directly, often through text messages.
“They might say, ‘I’m a recruiter and I’ve identified that you’re in the market, and we believe you’d be a great match,’” explained Eva Velasquez, who heads the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center.
Her organization observed a 118% rise last year in job scams aimed at extracting personal information from individuals, which the perpetrators could potentially pilfer or vend.
She mentioned that scammers are capitalizing on shifts in our work methodologies.
“There’s a much more prevalent trend towards remote work. We’re engaging in a significantly higher number of initial, solely digital transactions,” she remarked. And as a result, it becomes exceedingly perplexing for individuals who are new to the workforce.”
These circumstances make text messages or WhatsApp communiqués from a fraudulent employer regarding interviews, job offers, or onboarding appear plausible.
Other scammers leverage counterfeit job listings to coerce individuals into sending them money.
“It occurs right at the start, when they announce, ‘You’ve secured the position, congratulations,’” mentioned Rhonda Perkins with the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
She articulated that the fraudster will state something like, “You need to purchase a computer for this position.”
They will dispatch a forged check, followed by statements like: “‘Oh, hold on a moment. Whoops, we accidentally transferred too much money. We need you to refund a portion of it,’” Perkins pointed out.
Subsequently, the individual is coerced to use their own funds and still remains devoid of a job.
Any instance where a prospective employer requests funds should serve as a cautionary signal, as stated by Selena Larson from the cybersecurity organization Proofpoint.
Furthermore, she advised exercising caution with unexpected job offers that lack specific details
“Instances that are excessively simplistic or offer scarce information on the job description,” as mentioned by Larson.
She further added that scrutinizing any prospective employer who reaches out is crucial, even if they seem authentic. Verify if other individuals have encountered similar offers that turned out to be scams.
“In a few scenarios, we’ve witnessed LinkedIn profiles of recruiters [who] state in their biography that they do not send unsolicited job offers or similar statements,” Larson highlighted.
When on the lookout for a job, it is common to feel overwhelmed. Upon receiving an offer, the temptation to accept could be intense, Larson noted. This is precisely what scammers are banking on.
Should you fall victim to any form of scam, the consensus is: Do not be embarrassed. Disclose the occurrence to others — and seek assistance.
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