Job Scams Increasing Amidst Tough Economic Conditions

Security specialists are warning job seekers to exercise more caution than before as online criminals such as phishers and spammers are posting fake employment ads on the Internet.

The experts also reveal that the only purpose of these fraudsters (phishers and spammers) is to use the online job ads as bait that would trick an unwary job seeker into disclosing his financial and personal information that could lead to identity theft.

As job scams are on the rise, the Office of Colorado Attorney General is warning that in the present tough economic conditions, people should be careful not to fall for Internet job scams, as reported by kdvr on June 11, 2009.

Founder of the Identity Theft Resource Center, Linda Foley, states that while job seekers compile their resumes, they must also think about the risk associated with hunting a job. There are more possibilities of exposing personal information at the wrong place, as reported by chicagotribune on June 12, 2009.

To prevent the risk, Foley advises that job seekers should first thoroughly examine the company's background to which they plan to send their financial and personal details. One doesn't know with whom he is actually interacting with when applying online, she adds.

Adam Levin, Chairman and Co-Founder of Identity Theft 911, a service for identification protection, says that people are stealing others' identity as another option to earn money, as reported by chicagotribune on June 12, 2009.

Thus, job counselors are suggesting people searching for jobs to put the minimum information in their CV if they are applying for jobs through Internet. They also suggest of opening an e-mail account exclusively for this purpose so that the danger of scammers trying to gain access to one's personal account is minimized.

Security experts say that job seekers must post their CV only on authorized recruitment sites. According to them, resumes should be posted on the sites in a planned manner to avoid phishing scams.

Furthermore, security agencies are urging anyone who has been victimized or someone who wishes to report a job scam to either call at 1-800-222-4444 or e-mail at stop.fraud@state.co.us.

Related article: Job Hunters Conned By Mystery Shopping Scammers

» SPAMfighter News - 6/19/2009