Fraudsters are constantly improving their fraudulent schemes. Today, they actively use social networks, job sites, mass mailings and create fake web pages of employer companies.
These sites look very convincing, often copying the original design and even URLs. Most often, fake job offers or part-time work are associated with marketplaces, booking services and the gaming industry, but they can also affect any other area. What types of fraudulent schemes are encountered when looking for a new job?
Payment for employment
The goal of fraudsters is to attract as many people as possible with favorable conditions. At the interview, the candidate is promised quick employment, but with the condition of advance payment: for paperwork, training, issuing a bank card, purchasing necessary materials, and so on. Having received the money, the attackers disappear.
Theft of personal data
Another danger is the theft of personal data. Fraudsters can ask the applicant for copies of documents, bank details or even photos of personal cards. It is important to remember that serious employers will never ask you for such information at the initial stages of your job search.
Malicious applications and files
A new scheme has recently appeared in Russia that involves the applicant installing an application with malware or downloading an infected file.
Fraudsters publish fake vacancies on behalf of large companies. Candidates are offered to undergo a short training course, for which they are asked to install applications that may be malicious. If the phone’s antivirus protection blocks the installation, the fraudsters explain how to bypass this problem. As a result, after downloading, the application gains access to the user’s personal information and payment data.
Another variation of this scheme is an offer to download an application for part-time work related to the performance of simple paid tasks, such as “payment for likes” or “hotel booking”.
Viruses can also hide under the guise of documents that the applicant voluntarily downloads. This could be a questionnaire, a test task, an invitation to an interview, or even an offer. In all cases, users risk handing over their money and personal data to criminals.
