It’s a tough market for job hunters out there as factors like increased competition from people in the workforce, as well as AI changing the nature of most roles have made finding a job more challenging than ever. What’s more, cybercriminals are increasingly taking advantage of people looking for employment opportunities. With millions of job seekers applying to numerous job portals every day, it’s no wonder that job scam reports are up by 118 percent in the US, with a 76 percent increase year over year.
Job seekers know that transparency matters when you’re vying for any type of job. However, it’s also important to keep your personal data safe when you’re posting your credentials online, and exercise caution when communicating with recruiters. If you’re looking for a job, be on the lookout for these cybersecurity red flags during hiring processes.
Fake Job Postings
Have you ever come across job postings on Facebook or LinkedIn that seem too good to be true? Ever received a job offer through a text message even though you’ve never even applied for that job? There’s a good chance that these are scams, and if you’re not careful, you can easily become a victim of a recruitment scam. This type of fraudulent activity involves tricking individuals into sending money or revealing sensitive information, and scammers take the time to build rapport and trust with the victim before cashing in.
According to Identity Theft Resource Center CEO Eva Velasquez, these type of scammers usually prey on new graduates, as well as people who have been out of the job market for some time, such as stay at home parents who are re-entering the workforce. “Often the job will have an easy interview or no interview, promise to let you work from home, or let you start right away,” she adds.
Spotting a fake recruiter can be quite difficult since these scammers have become quite adept at what they do, but one sure sign of a job scam is if they request for money to pay for vetting, training materials, or equipment to do the job. Keep in mind that a legitimate company will never ask you for money for these purposes. You should also be wary if they ask for sensitive information in their first email. Typically, info like your social security number and bank details are requested after you’ve accepted the job offer, so trust your gut if something feels off.
Phishing Emails
Some legitimate businesses send job offers through emails, but cybercriminals are using this technique to send malicious links that can install malware or steal credentials. To spot a fake job offer, see if the sender has a generic email address like gmail.com or yahoo.com. Inspect the domain name too since they can create fake websites to mimic legitimate companies. Check for grammatical errors or spelling mistakes, and never click on the links, if there are any. If you want to verify the offer, don’t call the number given by the sender. Instead, go to the company’s official website and look for their contact details.
Scammers and cybercriminals are preying on job seekers, so be vigilant and listen to your instincts if you come across a suspicious email or job offer. Never send money or sensitive information if you feel like something’s off, and always be on the lookout for cybersecurity red flags to stay safe while looking for a job.
