DON’T fall for a sinister job scam that aims to take your money or steal your identity.
A leading cyber-expert has issued a warning over a common type of con that often strikes over social media.
Cyber-criminals will use fake job offers to empty your bank account – or get sensitive personal info from you.
Now McAfee’s Jasdev Dhaliwal, Director of Marketing and Security Evangelist, has revealed four signs that you’re talking to a job-scammer.
The first is when they ask for your Social Security Number or Tax ID.
You should only hand this over to an employer if you are 100% sure that it is a “legitimate job with a legitimate company”.
“In the hands of a scammer, your SSN or tax ID is the key to your identity,” Jasdev explained.
“With it, they can open up bank cards, lines of credit, apply for insurance benefits, collect benefits and tax returns, or even commit crimes, all in your name.
“Needless to say, scammers will ask for it, perhaps under the guise of a background check or for payroll purposes.”
Jasdev said it’s important to send it through a secure and reputable document signing service, and not over text or on the phone.
The second sign is when they want your banking info.
They might say that your details are needed to wire a payment to you.
But if you’re not sure who you’re really speaking to, don’t just hand it over.
A third sign that is very serious is when you’re asked to pay a fee before you receive your paycheck.
“Some scammers will take a different route,” Jasdev warned.
“They’ll promise employment, but first you’ll need to pay them for training, onboarding, or equipment before you can start work.
“Legitimate companies won’t make these kinds of requests.”
Finally, you might also be asked to download a very specific messaging app to talk to them.
This could be so that the scammer can escape detection.
“Victims report that the scammers require a specific app to chat and, sometimes, to conduct the interview itself,” Jasdev said.
“Apps like Signal and Wire get mentioned, yet rest assured that these apps themselves are legitimate.
“The scammers are the problem, not the apps. Consider it a warning sign if someone asks you to largely communicate this way.”
Jasdev also warned that there are some other signs you should watch out for.
They are:
- An offer that is “big on promises but short on details”
- They only want to communicate over email or chat
- The communication feels “off” – you might be talking to an AI
- Things are moving too quickly and it feels like you’re being rushed
- The job offer comes on an app not typically associated with hiring, like Facebook
Always be cautious if a job offer seems too good to be true.
Make sure to research whoever is offering you the job in great detail and verify that you’re communicating with a real company.
If you’re unsure about a job offer from a well-known name, try contacting the company directly to verify that you’re speaking to an official representative.
