Since the advent of the World Wide Web in the 1990s, Internet scammers have plagued our lives. Their methods are ever-evolving and they continue to be a problem.

Internet scammers have been posting fake job advertisements to steal personal information amid what has been called "the great resignation".

Scam

ProPublica reports that job ads are appearing on websites like LinkedIn, Indeed, or Facebook, promising well-paying positions. To "initiate" an interview, applicants must provide their social security number as well as a copy their driver's licence, front and rear.

"These fraudsters are like viruses. They continue to evolve," Haywood Talcove said, chief executive of LexisNexis Risk Solutions' government division. This contractor assists federal and state agencies in combating identity theft.

How it happens

Alexandra Mateus Vasquez is an example of this scam. She thought she was applying to a job as a graphic designer at Steak 'n Shake, December 2020. Vasquez was mistakenly contacted by a Gmail representative and asked to complete an interview questionnaire.

She continued to answer the questions and she did not stop there. Within a few hours, she received an email confirming her position at $30 per hour. She was also asked to provide her phone number and address so that they could send her a formal job offer.

The offer letter asked for Vasquez's social security number when it arrived. Vasquez gave that information before Vasquez was invited to conduct a background check online with a person she believed was a hiring manager.

Vasquez provided copies her personal records and documents in order to prove her identity. This included her state ID and green cards. She hesitated when they asked for her credit card number. She was then contacted by Id.me, an identification verification vendor used in multiple states to protect their unemployment insurance programs.

It turned out that Vasquez was being scammed by a fraudster who used Vasquez's personal information to file fraudulent unemployment insurance claims in her name. Fraud experts say this is the latest twist on the scam.

What to Look for

These fake job listings are popping up on websites all over the internet, no matter how small or large. For a 35-hour work week, a common job posting is for an airport shuttle driver. It offers $2,000 per week.

Fraudsters have created fake company websites to make it difficult for job seekers to identify the real thing. Only the difference is that applicants will be asked to attach copies of their driver's license and social security card along with their resume.

Attention

Blake Hall, chief executive at ID.me, stated that the company does its best to notify users when their identities have been used to apply for unemployment benefits. However, users have the final say on whether they want to be notified or not.

He said that "we will do everything we can to make sure they're scammed" but that ultimately, protecting someone from themselves is a very difficult task.

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By: Perry Carpenter
Title: Beware! This Online Scam Is Using Fake Job Ads To Steal People’s Identities
Sourced From: www.suggest.com/online-scam-fake-job-ads-steal-identities/2599225/
Published Date: Sun, 14 Nov 2021 00:45:00 +0000

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