You're Hired! How to Spot Fake Job Postings

Work from home! Only 5 hours a week! Make $10,000 a week! Start today!

Who doesn't want to make a couple of extra dollars this holiday season?

Obviously, the ad above seems a bit spammy, but job scams are not always so easy to spot, especially this year. And just like you scammers also want to make some money too.

During the pandemic, millions of people were let go from their job and some even quit.  Job boards are becoming increasingly full of employers looking for the right people to bring on – but some posts are fake job listings.  In this blog, we will teach you how to spot fake job postings and make sure your ad isn't being tampered with!

Cybercriminals are sneaky.  They can impersonate employers, spoof company websites, and post jobs on popular online job boards. Then they conduct false interviews with applicants, usually requesting personal information or money.

Stats from Canada’s Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) indicate there were more than 68,000 reported cases of fraud in 2021, and that is not including December. The losses totalled up to $231 million, more than double the losses in 2020.

So before you apply to that too-good-to-be-true listing here are some signs the posting may be a fake.

• If you didn’t apply for it, it’s probably not legit. Fake job offers are usually unsolicited. They come from businesses you didn’t apply to, for jobs that you didn’t apply for.
  
  
• A high salary is offered, and vague requirements make them seem like anyone could be a good candidate (over age 18, no experience required, etc.) They are designed to play with your emotions, to make you think the job search is over, and you have found a source of financial security.
  
  
• The sender’s email address may be suspicious— or it may not. Legitimate business owners do use free email services like Gmail, but it is more likely that businesses will have their own domain names in their email addresses. Scammers are able to hijack the emails of existing companies and pose as recruiters. Have you every received the "gift card email" coming from your CEO asking you to purchase 75 Amazon gift cards?  Sounds familiar right?  If you do suspect you received a fake job offer from a real company—do not reply to the email—but contact someone else at that company to see if they really tried to get ahold of you. If there is no contact information in the sender’s email, that could be a red flag.
  
  
• The scammer may ask you to pay money in order to get the job offer. They may give you a cheque to buy supplies with, which turns out to be fake and you are left on the hook for whatever you purchased. A legitimate job offer will never ask you to make a transaction prior to starting the position.
  
  
• They ask for personal information, such as your home address and your Social Insurance Number (SIN). We all know you should never hand over your SIN unless it is legally required. Employers only need your SIN after you are hired.

Finally, do a  search before you agree to anything. Do not click on any links, reply to any messages, or download anything until you are satisfied that you are talking to a legitimate recruiter. You should have been expecting their message if you are. Make sure you complete a background check on the sender and the company they are representing. See if typing the company name along with “scam” turns up any results.

If you do suspect you have received a fake job offer, you can report it to the CAFC and the BBB.

Do you want to learn more about cybersecurity?  Schedule a cyber security assessment with one of our experienced technicians today!

https://www.fox43.com/article/money/consumer/fox43-finds-out/job-scam-fake-listing-12-scams-of-christmas/521-5b9378b3-64cb-4b09-a482-2a260ae180f0

https://www.cicnews.com/2022/01/how-to-spot-a-fake-canadian-job-offer-0121132.html#gs.ia05ze