2021: The Year of the Scammers
The year 2021 holds the distinction of being the first year of my life during which I have been contacted by more scammers than legitimate employment opportunities. They’re really sophisticated these days, so I hope my observations can help protect other job seekers out there.
HR Professionals
The scammers aren’t just claiming to be recruiters, but also HR professionals at actual employers. You’re skipping right to the interview, or you’re just about hired. All you have to do is provide the information you would normally provide to start a legitimate job. By the time they start asking you questions that alert you to the scam, you’ve already provided too much information.
Example: One new “employer” asked for a password to “verify” deposits being made into my account. No, a password grants access to the funds in that account. You’ve heard it before and here it is again: never share passwords.
Perfect Jobs
The scammers have seen your resume online, or they’ve gotten a hold of it somehow. They send you a job description that fits you perfectly. And you know it’s a perfect fit. But, that’s why you’re going to fall for it; because, of course they’re going to hire you. So, you’ll answer whatever questions they have…
