Threat actors continue to target job seekers with phony employment offers on job search platforms like Indeed, researchers at Bitdefender warn.
These scams are often designed to steal personal information or money. The threat actors exploit the fact that people who are unemployed are often desperate and may overlook the warning signs when they see a good opportunity.
Bitdefender says job seekers should be on the lookout for the following red flags:
- “Too-Good-to-Be-True Offers: In this scenario, scammers advertise jobs with unusually high pay for minimal work or qualifications. For example, you may stumble upon listings promising $100 an hour for data entry. Needless to say, job listings like this one are likely not legitimate
- Vague or Overly Simple Job Descriptions: Con artists rarely provide detailed job descriptions, as they want potential victims to reach out to them. If the listing lacks basic details, such as job duties, employer expectations, or the type of work expected, proceed with caution
- Immediate Hiring without Interview: Job offers made immediately without formal interviews or background checks are red flags. Remember that scammers usually add a sense of urgency to their made-up scenarios to impede critical thinking and decision-making skills
- Requests for Personal or Financial Information: Any job offer that asks for your financial details, such as your bank account information for “direct deposit setup” before you even meet the employer, are suspicious
- Upfront Payment Requests: No legitimate job would require you to pay for training, application processing, or equipment before starting work”
Job seekers should research a company to see if it has a legitimate online presence and “Pair the company’s name with keywords like ‘review,’ ‘scam,’ or ‘complaint’ for more accurate results that may reveal the company’s true nature.”
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