Looking for work in all the wrong places, beware of Identity Theft.
Posted by Greg Barrow on Thu, May 19, 2011
Looking for a job is a stressful time. Even if one is employed -- but looking for another opportunity -- there is stress. For example, requesting time off from your Supervisor because of an “appointment “ or conducting a phone interview in your car, or some covert place in your office building, while concurrently looking over your shoulder….not fun but necessary. And definitely stressful.
To compound the challenge, Job Boards are now one of the newer frontiers for cyber crime. They are not only great sites in searching for that incredible opportunity for but also for being phished, hacked and defaced in the process. Talk about a “two for one deal”!! As Michelle Anderson of Regional Help Wanted states “every job board faces the same concerns with job listings posted with the intention of deceiving job seekers”. Earlier this spring, during the Federal Trade Commission’s most recent sweep (“Operation Empty Promises”), operations were halted for several companies and millions of dollars in fines imposed.
During these stressful times, we can all let our guard down and be duped. As with basic mitigation strategies for preventing Identity Theft, much of the same vigilance is required. Do not provide personal information, such as social security numbers and date of birth, as this information is not required until you receive a job offer. In addition contact the job board immediately if a posting is used to collect personal information or you are being asked to confirm/supply a password through a subsequent email. And lastly, just like the Nigerian Heiress wanting to send you millions – if the posting is to good be true – it likely is.
Good luck at the interview.