Fraud on Job Boards: Things you need to know!

Unfortunately, job posting scams are on the rise, and there are very clever scammers out there. You need to use caution and common sense when responding to any job posting.

Common Themes in Job Board-Related Fraud: Scammers are typically trying to:

a) get you to send them money, or b) steal your identity so they can obtain credit in your name.

These fraudulent postings and ‘job offers’ typically involve the ‘employer’ asking the candidate/job seeker to do one of the following:

: Send money from your own back account to the ‘employer’ (for pre-employment screening, training, or materials/software). You never hear from them again and the money is not recoverable.

: Deposit an ‘employer’ cheque into your bank account, then withdraw the funds, run minor errands for the employer and send the unspent money (from a few hundred to several thousand dollars) back to the employer. A day or two later, the bank calls to tell you the cheque was fake.

: Provide detailed personal information as part of the application process which the ‘employer’ then uses to steal your identity, take out credit in your name, thereby damaging your credit history.

 Even for sophisticated job seekers, it can be hard to tell the difference between a scam and a genuine job posting.  Familiarize yourself with the warning signs and protect yourself during your search.

Top 10 Job Scam Warning Signs (thebalancecareers.com)

 The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre collects information on fraud and identity theft. This site provides information on past and current scams affecting Canadians. Home (antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca)