Online Job Hunt Scam

The internet is a great resource for the online job hunt, but it’s also riddled with scams.

Who Is It Targeting: Online job seekers

What Is It: Bait-and-Switch check-cashing scam targeted at job seekers

What Are They After: The internet is a great resource for finding new job opportunities, but you have to play it safe. One woman posted her resume online at a well-known employment site and was contacted immediately with an offer. Unfortunately, scammers patrol these online job sites (Indeed, Glassdoor, LinkedIn) and other sites, looking for their next victim. She lost several thousand dollars to a check scam in which she was told to cash a check and use it to buy iTunes gift cards for the “employer.”

How Can You Avoid It:

• When looking for a job online, be very careful about vetting the source.
• Never submit your highly sensitive information during the application process.
• Never accept a check that you must cash before returning some money or buying an item; let the check clear before you take any action.

Remember, a common form of identity theft involves employment. It happens when someone accesses your personally identifiable information and uses it to get their own job but under your name. Are you working two jobs but don’t know it?

If you think you may be a victim of identity theft, contact the Identity Theft Resource Center for toll-free, no-cost assistance at (888) 400-5530. Find more information about current scams and alerts here. For full details of this scam check out this article from WKRN.com.

Read next: Top Scams of the Year

Contact the Identity Theft Resource Center for toll-free, no-cost assistance at (888) 400-5530. For on-the-go assistance, check out the free ID Theft Help App from ITRC.