Online job scams are on the rise, and innocent job seekers are at risk of identity theft, financial loss and other fraudulent activities.
While this sounds scary, be assured that you can protect yourself by taking precautions when you are applying to job ads online. In this article we will outline some of the common risks and how to protect your online security while on your job search.
What is a job scam?
Job scams typically involve fraudsters posting fake job listings or sending unsolicited emails offering lucrative job opportunities that require little or no experience. The scammers often ask for personal information or payment for supposed job training or equipment, but the job never materialises.
Another common cyber crime related to job scams is identity theft, where scammers use stolen personal information to open credit accounts or commit other financial fraud. It is important to be cautious when applying for jobs online and to thoroughly research any job opportunity before providing personal information or making payments.
Our team at Jora works hard to ensure all ads on our sites are posted by legitimate employers. Every employer is verified before they are allowed to post a job ad on Jora.
Unfortunately there are times when job ads that appear legitimate are posted by source that turns out to be untrustworthy. After applying to the ad, they will ask for personal or financial information from job seekers. We are always working hard to identify these ads as soon as possible to remove them, and if you spot any please contact us to have them removed immediately.
Here are some tips on how to protect yourself from online job scams:
1. Research the company
Before applying for a job online, it is important to research the company thoroughly.
- Verify that the company is legitimate and has a good reputation. Check if the company has an official website and social media pages. If the company does not have an online presence, it may be a sign that it is not genuine.
- Always check the legitimacy of any job ad, email address, or employer that seems suspicious before you respond. For example, large well-known companies usually do not include Gmail, Yahoo, or other free email addresses in their ads.
- If you can’t find a contact number in the job ad, or on the company website this may be cause for concern. If there is a phone number this is a good way to call the company to verify their legitimacy.
2. Don’t share personal information
Be cautious about sharing personal information when applying for a job online. Don’t give out your tax file number, driver’s license number, bank account information, or any other sensitive information. Legitimate employers will not ask for this information until after they have offered you a job.
3. Use a secure email address and password
Create a secure email address and password to use when applying for jobs online. Use a strong password that includes letters, numbers, and symbols. Also, avoid using the same password for multiple accounts. If possible, use two-factor authentication for added security.
4. Beware of job offers that sound too good to be true
If a job offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of job offers that promise a high salary for little work or require you to pay upfront fees to start working. Opportunities that appear too good to be true usually are. Be wary of advertisers or employers requesting the following:
- An upfront fee (e.g. for things such as ‘processing’ your application, or to obtain any certificates). A genuine advertiser or employer WILL NOT ask you for money or your bank, or credit card details.
- Acceptance of a money transfer where you can retain a portion as ‘payment’.
- Bank or credit card details.
- A copy of your driver’s licence.
- Tax file number. This information should only be provided once you have accepted a genuine job offer.
- Non work-related personal information, such as your appearance, or marital status.
- Any other personally identifying information.
5. Be careful with unsolicited job offers
Be cautious of unsolicited job offers that you receive through email or social media. These may be phishing scams designed to steal your personal information. If you receive an unsolicited job offer, verify the company’s legitimacy before responding.
6. Use reputable job search websites
When searching for jobs online, use reputable job search websites that have a good reputation. Some of the most popular job search sites include Jora and Seek amongst others. These sites have a robust system in place to prevent scams.
7. Be careful with remote jobs
Be extra careful when applying for remote jobs, especially those that require you to work from home. Scammers often use remote jobs as a way to steal personal information and money. Be cautious of job offers that require you to purchase equipment or pay for training.
Find legitimate work from home jobs on Jora.
How do I report a job ad or fraudulent activity?
If you have any concerns over the legitimacy of a job ad, report it to Jora immediately, providing a link to the ad or a copy of the email. A ‘report this ad’ link can be found at the bottom of all ads on Jora. We will remove any fraudulent ads and alert other candidates or advertisers.
Report it to the ACCC who will investigate misleading job and business opportunities or emails.
What do I do if I have already sent my details to a fraudulent advertiser?
Personal details: Jora endeavours to ensure that all job ads on our sites are for legitimate job opportunities. If personal details have been provided, please contact local authorities for advice.
Bank details: If you have provided your bank details, please immediately contact your financial institution.
Fraud and identity theft: If you feel your identity is compromised, please contact the police. Jora will work closely with the police should they request any details.
Things to remember
- Be alert for suspicious emails asking for personal details, payments, or links to fill out surveys.
- If you receive a suspicious email, the best course of action is to delete it immediately. Do not follow any links, or reply to the sender.
- Report the ad to Jora.
- If you have supplied your bank account or credit card details, or any password data please contact your financial institution immediately and ask for their advice.
- The latest scams are often reported on the news, to keep Australia’s public informed.
Scammers are becoming more sophisticated in the ways they operate and it is easy to miss the warning signs. If you have provided details to a fraudulent ad it is common to feel angry, deceived and anxious. Reporting the ad to Jora, contacting your financial institution, and alerting Scamwatch/ACCC are all steps you can take to help us learn more about these types of ads and improve security for job seekers, and safely continue your search for new jobs.