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Identity Thieves Target Job Seekers: How to Stay Safe

In today’s economy, many people are looking for a new job or a second job to help supplement their income. Thanks to online job posting sites, it’s never been easier to surf the Web for your next career. Unfortunately, this convenience has also led to a slew of scams that take advantage of job seekers by stealing sensitive personal information — the first step of identity theft. The prevalence of fake job ads has increased in recent years. While a number of these scams are quite elaborate and can often times look legitimate, there are ways to tell real job opportunities from tricky identity theft tactics.

Whether it’s under the guise of a background check or a work-at-home opportunity, when it comes to online job searching, there are many potential identity theft scams. Usually, however, they tend to share certain aspects in common that can serve as a red flag.

• Avoid any circumstance where a company asks for your Social Security number, bank account numbers, PIN, driver’s license number or other sensitive personal information up front. They may ask for this information in order to do a “background check” or in order to grant you access to parts of the company’s site. In reality, these are just tactics to get your personal information. Almost no company would hire you from your resume alone, sight unseen. Don’t let your excitement about a potential job opportunity cloud your good judgment.
• Keep your eyes peeled for poor spelling and grammar as well as jobs based out of developing countries. While there are certainly jobs available across the world — and none of us are immune to the occasional typo — these factors may be able to tip you off to a job scam. If anything about the listing seems suspicious, look into it further.
• Consider opening a separate e-mail account from which to submit your resume and apply for jobs. This will help reduce the incidence of spam and the potential for phishing (fake emails that appear to be from a reliable source designed to acquire personal information). It can also help you keep all of your information consolidated and easy to access.
• When in doubt, research the company to which you are applying thoroughly. Most reputable companies should have a presence on the Internet beyond a single Web site (anyone can create a fraudulent site). Similarly, make sure that your contact person actually works for the company in question. If you can’t discern this from the Web site, feel free to call the company’s main line and ask for this person. Be wary of any personal e-mail addresses or phone/fax numbers with area codes inconsistent with the company’s location.
• Finally, avoid positions such as “Payment Representative” or “Accounts Receivable Clerk” for any but the most reputable companies. A number of “money mule” scams use unsuspecting victims to transfer laundered money, leaving the victim a responsible party and vulnerable to legal proceedings.

Tip of the Month: Adding your Personal Information for Internet Scanning

Equifax WebDetect™ scans suspected underground Internet trading sites for your Social Security number (if you choose) and up to 10 major credit/debit card account numbers you provide.** After you’ve enrolled, all you have to do is enter your personal information in the Member Center and you’ll receive alerts if your information is found.**

Steps:

1. Login to the Member Center
2. "Equifax WebDetect" is on the right side of screen
3. Click the green "Add" button
4. Enter whether you want to scan for your Social Security number and/or up to 10 major credit/debit card numbers in the form fields and click "Submit"

Intuitive navigation and a helpful dashboard structure make entering your information into the Member Center a breeze.

Not an ID Patrol or Credit Watch subscriber? Click here to get started.   

This Month’s Poll Question: Measures Against Identity Theft

In today’s uncertain economy, it’s important to do all that you can to protect your financial wellbeing and your identity. Do you or your friends take measures against identity theft?^†† Check back next month to see how other newsletter readers safeguard their identities.

Interactive Tool: Equifax Fraud Index

Featured Products:

Did You Know?: Secret Shopper Scams and How to Avoid Them

With more and more people seeking employment, some scams are touching more victims than ever before. A scam known as the “Secret Shopper” scam is one of these. This scam appeals to people trying to make money — up to $700 a week, some ads claim — by shopping at certain stores and then writing a comprehensive review. A number of these Secret Shopper companies even provide detailed information about clients and Better Business Bureau ID numbers. The real secret is, however, that all of this information is fake and part of a scam to rob victims of potentially thousands of dollars! Find out what to look for to avoid falling prey to this sneaky con.

Even though this scam can go by a number of different company names, each incident has certain factors in common. After signing up as a secret shopper, victims are always asked to try out money transfer services. The company either wires money or sends a check to the victim’s account, asking them to take out a portion as their salary and wire the rest back to the company. Sounds harmless, right? Within weeks, victims receive calls that the money they received was stolen from another account, and now it’s their responsibility to replace it. Victims are left owing thousands to the bank, while the fake company is nowhere to be found.

The Better Business Bureau has called this trick the #1 scam in certain areas. While there are still a number of legitimate mystery shopping companies out there, this scam has a tell-tale sign: if you’re asked to wire money back to the company, it’s a scam. Be sure to report the incident to the Better Business Bureau in your state and don’t take any further action. And remember, if you are uncertain about an offer or job, research it and trust your instincts. It’s better to question a legitimate opportunity than fall prey to the latest scam.