Watch out for fake job ads – that’s how you recognize them

Watch out for fake job ads thats how you

Recruitment fraud increased significantly last year. According to a report by the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), recruitment fraud reports increased by 118% in the US in 2023, compared to the previous year.

It has also become increasingly common in Sweden. Last year passed The Union issued a warning after several of their members had received text messages with job ads promising high-paying positions.

– There are no shortcuts. If you want to earn a lot of money, you have to work hard, so make a reasonable assessment, said Lotta Mauritzson at the police’s National Fraud Center in a press release at the time.

The ITRC believes that the purpose of the advertisements is to access personal information from those who apply.

Fraudsters often pose as recruiters and post fake job ads to attract applicants. During the fake interview process, the scammers steal information that can be used to access your money.

The fraudsters send job offers via several known channels, via email, WhatsApp, Messenger, LinkedIn and other social media. Even if they look credible, there are a few steps you can take to vet them.

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AI increases the risk of you falling for fraud

ITRC believes that AI and remote working are driving the growth of recruitment fraud. AI tools are used by fraudsters to create job ads and recruitment messages that look more credible.

“AI tools help refine the ‘sales pitch’ so that it becomes more credible and compensates for cultural and grammatical differences in language usage,” they write in the report.

– In addition, the increase in remote work during the pandemic has made workers and job seekers more comfortable with digital transactions, says Eva VelasquezCEO of ITCR in an interview with CNBC.

Job seekers can never meet a physical person during a fake hiring or interview process. They can only talk to an alleged recruiter via text or WhatsApp messages, which is a “big warning sign,” according to Eva Velasquez.

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Checklist against fake jobs

When you receive a job offer you didn’t apply for from a company you don’t recognize, there are a few steps you can take to secure the ad. Here are ITCR’s top tips:

  • Check the sender:

  • Is the email or message coming from an email address belonging to the company?
  • Is the domain the same as the company’s?
  • Is the company real:

  • Does the company have a website?
  • Does their business match the job offer?
  • What does the job description look like:

  • Is it clear, concrete and correctly written?
  • Many typos and vague descriptions are red flags.
  • Review the content:

  • Does the offer talk more about salary/bonus and less about the duties? It is a warning signal.
  • Personal Information:

  • If the recruiter or company wants important information before you’ve even started the job discussion, that’s a real red flag.
  • Source: ITCR

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