IT security tip: Be wary of unsolicited job recruitment emails

Job recruitment scams have been around for some time, and they are on the rise again. Who, after all, would turn away a job recruiter knocking their door down offering an awesome, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work at the most amazing company in the world for a bazillion dollars? No one, of course, certainly not a student at a university.

The scam, which is phishing, uses the same tactics as other scams:

• It creates a sense of urgency: “Immediate opening!” and “Act now!”
• It’s too good to be true: “We’ll pay you a bazillion dollars to work one day a week, remotely from the Caribbean.”
• It’s an unsolicited offer: You didn't apply for the position, and you’ve never spoken with the recruiter.

You may notice other serious warning signs, such as:

• An unknown job, business, or other website: ACME Jobs-R-Us vs LinkedIn
• An up-front request for personal data: “Send us your SSN and Credit Card number to start the application process immediately.”
• An attachment: Never open an unexpected attachment or an attachment from an unknown source.
• Minimal to no contact information: The only way to follow up is by email, or the sender asks you to respond only by text message.
• There might even be a virtual interview, which is followed up with urgent requests for personal data or that you purchase company equipment for which you will be reimbursed.

You can read more about this type of scam at the Federal Trade Commision’s Consumer Alerts website, along with tips for spotting scams and reporting them.

 

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