| The
management of SeniorJobBank.org, a Job-Hunt Sponsor, informed us
of a new fake job scam - the International Mailing Service Supervisor
job posting. The scammers are after Social Security Numbers, as
usual, although this time through the job seeker's driver's license.
Since we spoke
with SeniorJobBank, we've been informed that other major job sites
have experienced this same scam, and have done what SeniorJobBank
did - removed the fake posting. But, watch out - variations on this
theme will probably appear everywhere. If you have been taken in
by this, or a similar scam, contact the job site immediately with
as many details as possible and also, in the U.S., file a complaint
with the Federal Trade
Commission online, or call 1-877-FTC-HELP.
This Scam:
- A legitimate-appearing
job description for an "International Mailing Services Supervisor"
(or something similar) is posted on a job site.
These days, the good job sites screen employer job postings to
be sure that the jobs are real. Unfortunately, no screening process
is perfect. This posting certainly appears to be the posting for
a real job, and it probably was copied from a real job description
posted somewhere. There's even a link to an Arkansas Better Business
Bureau profile of a company with a confusingly similar name (just
one letter off). So, SeniorJobBank accepted the "job"
posting.
- One of
the job requirements is driving a car or truck to make deliveries.
The second of the 7 "functions" of this job includes
this statement - "pick up and deliver materials from post
office and service centers, as required." Assuming that those
facilities are not within walking distance of the job site, an
employee performing these functions would need a driver's license.
- Job applicants
are asked to fax a copy of their driver's license to the "employer"
as proof of qualification.
Obviously, they hope that your driver's license uses your Social
Security Number. Putting your SSN together with your resume gives
them everything they need to steal your identity.
In the incident
reported by SJB, the applicant's driver's license did not contain
his SSN, so the scammers responded with a form requesting other
detailed financial information, including the SSN. The job seeker
became suspicious and contacted the SeniorJobBank people, fortunately,
before responding.
BOTTOM LINE:
You need to
be a savvy consumer of job search site services to protect yourself,
and, unfortunately, you need always to be on your guard against
scams. Even the best job sites, run by very consciencious people,
can be fooled - at least once - by a sophisticated scammer.
For More
Information:
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About the author...
Susan P. Joyce is a 1994 "graduate of" (a.k.a. "laid off by") Digital Equipment Corporation, the 2nd largest computer company in the world at the time; now gone. Susan has been observing the online job search world and teaching online job search skills since 1995. In 1998, her company, NETability, Inc. purchased Job-Hunt.org, and Susan has been editor and publisher of Job-Hunt since then.
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