Identity Thieves Target Job Seekers: How to Stay Safe

In today’s economy, many people are looking for a new job or a second job to help supplement their income. Thanks to online job posting sites, it’s never been easier to surf the Web for your next career. Unfortunately, this convenience has also led to a slew of scams that take advantage of job seekers by stealing sensitive personal information — the first step of identity theft. The prevalence of fake job ads has increased in recent years. While a number of these scams are quite elaborate and can often times look legitimate, there are ways to tell real job opportunities from tricky identity theft tactics.

Whether it’s under the guise of a background check or a work-at-home opportunity, when it comes to online job searching, there are many potential identity theft scams. Usually, however, they tend to share certain aspects in common that can serve as a red flag.

• Avoid any circumstance where a company asks for your Social Security number, bank account numbers, PIN, driver’s license number or other sensitive personal information up front. They may ask for this information in order to do a “background check” or in order to grant you access to parts of the company’s site. In reality, these are just tactics to get your personal information. Almost no company would hire you from your resume alone, sight unseen. Don’t let your excitement about a potential job opportunity cloud your good judgment.
• Keep your eyes peeled for poor spelling and grammar as well as jobs based out of developing countries. While there are certainly jobs available across the world — and none of us are immune to the occasional typo — these factors may be able to tip you off to a job scam. If anything about the listing seems suspicious, look into it further.
• Consider opening a separate e-mail account from which to submit your resume and apply for jobs. This will help reduce the incidence of spam and the potential for phishing (fake emails that appear to be from a reliable source designed to acquire personal information). It can also help you keep all of your information consolidated and easy to access.
• When in doubt, research the company to which you are applying thoroughly. Most reputable companies should have a presence on the Internet beyond a single Web site (anyone can create a fraudulent site). Similarly, make sure that your contact person actually works for the company in question. If you can’t discern this from the Web site, feel free to call the company’s main line and ask for this person. Be wary of any personal e-mail addresses or phone/fax numbers with area codes inconsistent with the company’s location.
• Finally, avoid positions such as “Payment Representative” or “Accounts Receivable Clerk” for any but the most reputable companies. A number of “money mule” scams use unsuspecting victims to transfer laundered money, leaving the victim a responsible party and vulnerable to legal proceedings.