While recruitment scams have been around for some time, the increasing use of remote tools in the job search is increasing their prevalence. These scams target job seekers, often through social media or messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
The scam is often two-fold; first, the scammers collect a wealth of your private information and may attempt identity fraud. Secondly, they will often ask for money or money transfers (laundering), claiming it is for processing or set-up costs to get you into an incredible new role.
Here’s what to look out for:
1: The ‘too good to be true’ offer
The job ad, whether you find it online or it’s communicated to you via phone, email or messaging channels, has an offer that is too good to be true, such as:
- Offering an impressive salary but requiring little or no qualification or experience.
- Being in an industry that is highly sought-after and hard to break into and for which you are not qualified or experienced.
- Being in a desirable global destination, often claiming no costs to you to relocate.
- Offering significant rewards or bonuses in exchange for action or personal information.
Trust your instinct – if the offer seems too good to be true, it’s likely a scam.
2: Things just don’t seem right
Genuine job opportunities will be branded correct by the organisation or recruiter, and they will communicate with you with a professional tone and language choice. Things to look out for here include:
- Incorrect, missing or poor quality/fuzzy logos.
- Weblinks or email addresses that don’t match the organisation’s actual web address.
- Overly casual or unprofessional language.
- Demands or pressure to take action fast.
- Threatening penalties if you don’t act.
Any reputable company will have an easy-to-find web presence, from their site to their social media, such as LinkedIn. If you are not expecting the communication or something doesn’t seem right, contact them directly by the details you find on their site. Never call the numbers provided to you in these messages.
3: You’re asked for money or to take an action you aren’t comfortable with
These scams often ask you to pay a fee or provide detailed personal information, such as banking or tax file numbers. You may also be asked to ‘help out’ and transfer money for someone else (money laundering).
The scammer will give you a million reasons why you must take action immediately. The ‘opportunity’ is usually ‘urgent’, and they may resort to cajoling or threats if you don’t comply.
A genuine employer or recruitment agent will never ask for this type of ‘help’, information or money from you during a job search.
Scams are ever-increasing in sophistication, so it’s essential to be aware of new ones to avoid getting caught. The Australian Government’s scamwatch.gov.au is a fantastic resource, and it’s worth signing up for their newsletter to stay informed of emerging scams.
The key thing to remember is that Lloyd Connect will NEVER contact you out of the blue with requests for personal information or demands that you take action. And if you do receive communication from us during your job search and are unsure whether to action it, ask us!
There are no silly questions when it comes to your online safety, so if in doubt, always get in touch with us at info@lloydconnect.com.au or on +61 3 9123 4505.
