With the abundant job
opportunities that the Internet offers, it is very
understandable why many job hunters eagerly and actively seek
online jobs from home. Nevertheless, the profusion of online
jobseekers has also paved the way for the emergence of scammers, people with nothing better to do except deceive innocent
jobseekers and make money out of them.
The State of Identity
Theft
When looking for jobs
online, always assume that your search is never safe. Indeed,
despite the fact that the Internet has immensely changed the way
people live, the conveniences offered by the Internet also come
with some weaknesses.
While the conventional
practice of sending out multiple job applications through email
has been simplified and reduced to copying and pasting one’s
resume and other documents, the process exposes the applicant to
identity theft. In the United States alone, the number of cases
involving identity theft is not waning.
In fact, there has been
no lower than 10 million reported cases of such, enough proof
that no one is safe, not even people who access the Internet
merely to look for online jobs from home. The figure is
alarmingly increasing because of the massive growth of
information technology as exemplified in the development and
worldwide use of the Internet and credit cards.
The Phishing Expedition
Phishing is the process
of creating ways to extract personal information through
seemingly innocent and legitimate emails. Job seekers who are
sending out applications are always happy to receive a response
from prospective employers and recruiters. Nevertheless, not all
emails you will receive are as authentic as you would like to
think. What do you do when you are confronted by these kinds of
mails?
Tips to Avoid Being
Scammed
To be able to elude
illegitimate recruiters, it helps to know how to spot fraud and
fraudsters. Here are some tips:
• If you receive emails
from recruiters for online jobs you did not apply for, be
wary. Since you don’t remember sending an application for the
post, investigate how the recruiter got hold of your email
address in the first place. Develop this as a habit: Never ever
click the link included in the email. Always treat emails from
unknown senders with caution.
• Be selective when you
are sending resumes and job applications. Send out a few at a
time so that you are able to keep track of all your
applications.
• If you are responding
to a job posting, check out the website of the recruiter or
employer. Even if you’re eagerly looking for online jobs,
verify the sender’s email address, other contact details, and
Facebook and Twitter accounts first. And since you’re already
online, Google the name of the sender. Usually, fake recruiters
will use another name to conceal their real identity.
• Do not respond to
requests for personal information and do not give out any
information pertaining to financial or identity information like
credit card numbers or your social security number.
It is indeed sad that
there are people who would cheat on innocent victims whose only
goal is to find a job through the Internet. It is said that
about 80 percent of online fraud goes unreported, which makes
these scammers bolder than ever. In addition,
always keep these tips in mind the next time you receive
suspicious emails from companies or people claiming to offer
lucrative online jobs from home.