A COSTLY con preys on unwitting jobseekers – but asking just five questions could help you dodge it.
Security experts have warned over a sinister job scam that is “on the rise”.
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It comes in two “classic” variants according to cybersecurity giant McAfee.
The first is called “The Headhunter Scam”, and targets victims in the same way that a real job agency would.
You’ll be preyed upon over email, text, and social networking sites like LinkedIn.
They’ll rope you in with the promise of a lucrative job, but they’re usually trying to scoop up enough of your private info to defraud you.
Another similar con is the Training and Equipment Fee Scam.
McAfee’s Brooke Seipel says this takes place during the “onboarding” phase of a fake job scam.
“The scammer happily welcomes the victim to the company,” Brooke explained.
“And then informs them that they’ll need to take some online training and perhaps buy a computer or other office equipment.
“Of course, the scammer asks the victim to pay for all of it.
“Leaving the victim out of hundreds of dollars and the scammer with their payment info.”
These scams rely on tempting you with the promise of a job – it might be well-paid and easy to get started.
The crooks hope that you’re so excited by the idea of the job that you’ll fail to ask the right questions.
So Brooke says it’s important to always make sure you “press for answers” during any recruitment process – as these scams are costing victims “billions”.
“Asking pointed questions about a company and the job it’s offering, just as you would in any real interview, can reveal gaps in a scammer’s story,” Brooke said.
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“In effect, scammers are putting on an acting job, and some don’t thoroughly prepare for their role.
“They don’t think through the details, hoping that victims will be happy enough about a job prospect to ask too many questions.”
She revealed that a very fast hiring process that’s light on job details is a major red flag.
And so you’ll want to ask a series of questions to help root out scammers.
The five questions you need to ask are:
- What’s the full job description, and what are the day-to-day responsibilities?
- Where’s the company based and where does it have offices?
- Who will I be working with, and who will I report to?
- What are the next steps in the hiring process?
- Can you tell me about the company’s history?
These questions are designed to trip scammers up.
They have complicated answers that you can follow up on – helping you “sniff out a scam”, Brooke said.
THREE STEPS TO STAY SAFE
McAfee revealed three rules to follow to avoid fake job scams…
Rule #1 – Ignore job offers over text and social media
Real jobs tend to appear via job networking sites – although they could still be scams.
But a random job offer sent to you via text is far likelier to be dodgy.
If you’re getting vague private messages about a lucrative contract, it’s probably best to ignore them. Don’t reply and fall into the trap.
Rule #2 – Look up the company
If you’re thinking about working somewhere, make sure to look up the company.
Check that it’s registered with the Government, and has a real address.
Do your research before handing over any info.
Rule #3 – Refuse to pay
If a company is asking you to front cash before you can get paid, that’s a major sign of danger.
It’s best to refuse to pay: job offers don’t normally include demands for money.
Picture Credit: The Sun
Always be wary if you’re being approached out of the blue on apps like Facebook and Instagram, especially if a job offer seems too good to be true.
Make sure you do your research before handing over any private info, or it could quickly end up in the hands of a bank-raiding scammer.
