NEW YORK — The challenge of searching for a job has become increasingly difficult with the rising trend of scammers posing as recruiters. With the job market shifting toward online platforms, these scammers are increasingly crafting convincing impersonations of reputable companies to deceive job seekers into providing personal information or money.
Job scams have surged over the past year, according to Eva Velasquez, the president and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center. This surge has been attributed to significant changes in recruitment and hiring practices that now heavily rely on digital interactions. “We’ve really seen tremendous growth in job scams,” Velasquez explained, highlighting the concern as many individuals turn to the internet for employment opportunities.
Tehseen Islam, a 28-year-old quality assurance analyst, experienced this first-hand while job hunting. After several months of searching, she thought she secured a job with a recognized marketing technology firm following a week-long vetting process. However, what appeared to be a legitimate job offer quickly turned into a scam when she was instructed to deposit a check and remit $1,000 for equipment shipment. The check later bounced, resulting in her bank severing ties with her due to the apparent involvement with fraudsters. She found herself not only scammed out of $1,000 but also having unwittingly shared her personal information. “I’m a little traumatized,” Islam stated, reflecting on the ordeal.
To aid job seekers in avoiding similar scams, experts have put forth several preventative strategies. Understanding the mechanics of job scams is crucial. Such scams typically involve impersonators who utilize the names of real employees from established companies, creating attractive job postings that promise unusually high salaries for low-skill work, often positioning them as fully remote positions. “They’re going to have very high salaries for somewhat low-skilled work,” Velasquez pointed out.
Researching companies and recruiters is essential for anyone responding to unsolicited job offers or inquiries. Velasquez advises verifying the legitimacy of any recruiter who contacts you, particularly through platforms like social media or text messages. It’s recommended not to respond immediately, to check the company’s official website for current job openings, and to independently verify the recruiter’s credentials through reliable sources.
When faced with a message from a recruiter, it’s wise to refrain from responding unless you are certain of their credibility. Avoid clicking any provided links, as these could lead to fraudulent sites designed to steal your details. Islam’s experience included being directed to a form asking for personal information under the guise of an interview process, highlighting the importance of skepticism in such interactions.
Another tactic employed by scammers involves sending fraudulent checks with requests for partial refunds purportedly tied to signing bonuses. Alvaro Puig, a consumer education expert at the Federal Trade Commission, warned job seekers that if they deposit such checks, they may find themselves liable once the check is revealed to be fake.
Job seekers are also advised to be discerning when engaging with job postings on legitimate platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed. Although these sites host many legitimate opportunities, they cannot thoroughly verify each listing, presenting avenues for scammers to exploit unwary applicants. “Don’t let platforms that you know are legitimate allow other people to borrow that trust,” Velasquez cautioned.
Since her encounter with scammers, Islam has implemented stricter measures in her job search, now following a detailed verification process for each recruiter she meets. This includes using email validation tools and verifying communication by directly contacting companies. “This is adding a lot more time to my job search now, but I can’t just blindly trust that this person is who they say they are,” she explained.
In the unfortunate event someone falls victim to a scam, it’s important to report the incident through official channels, such as the Federal Trade Commission’s website. Public awareness and vigilance are vital in combating this alarming trend affecting job seekers everywhere.
