More and more job seekers are turning to the Internet as a key tool. In 2007, 73% of job seekers reported using online sources compared to 66% in 2005. While the Internet has made searching for jobs easier, it also provides an opportunity for ID thieves and scammers to take advantage of eager – and unsuspecting – job seekers.
Unfortunately, the search for a dream job can lead to becoming a victim of identity theft or other types of fraud. In 2007 alone, the FTC recorded more than 11,000 complaints about business opportunities including work-at-home scams, many of which were advertised online.
The Better Business Bureau advises job hunters to follow six red flags jobs to be on the look out for when using online resources:
1. Employer e-mails are rife with grammatical & spelling errors.
2. E-mails purporting to be from online job boards claiming there’s a problem with your account.
3. Employer asks for extensive personal info such as Social Security or bank account numbers.
4. Employer offers the opportunity to become rich without leaving home.
5. Salary and benefits offered seem too good to be true.
6. Employer asks for money upfront.
Great resources for keeping yourself (and your information) safe online can be found at:
