• Investing
  • Stock
Round Table Thoughts
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Home Editor's Pick Job scams surged 118% in 2023, aided by AI. Here’s how to stop them.
Editor's Pick

Job scams surged 118% in 2023, aided by AI. Here’s how to stop them.

by July 10, 2024
by July 10, 2024 0 comment
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

Employment scams surged last year, as criminals leveraged artificial intelligence to steal money and personal information from unsuspecting job seekers, experts said.

Consumer reports of job scams jumped 118% in 2023 from the prior year, according to a recent report by the Identity Theft Resource Center.

Thieves generally pose as recruiters and post fake job listings to entice applicants, then steal valuable information during the “interview” process.

Often, they put these phony listings on reputable websites like LinkedIn and other job search platforms, ITRC said, making it tough to disentangle truth from fiction.

A chief danger is divulging information about financial accounts or sensitive personal data (like a Social Security number) that criminals can then use to steal a job seeker’s identity.

Consumers reported losing $367 million to job and business opportunity scams in 2022, up 76% year over year, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

The typical victim lost a “whopping” $2,000, the FTC said.

Job scams aren’t the most prevalent fraud: They accounted for only 9% of total identity scams in 2023, second to Google Voice scams, which totaled 60%, ITRC said. (Google Voice scams trick people into sharing a Google verification code, which scammers can use for nefarious ends. They often target people on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.)

However, employment scams are an “emerging” threat, said ITRC president and CEO Eva Velasquez.

“Job scams have been around since there were jobs,” Velasquez said. ”[But] they’ll continue to grow because of a number of external factors that are occurring.”

AI advancements are one of those factors: They allow scammers to generate job listings and recruitment messages that look and feel more legitimate, experts said.

“AI tools help refine the ‘pitch’ to make it more believable as well as compensate for cultural and grammar differences in language usage,” according to the ITRC report.

What’s more, the rise of remote work during the pandemic era have made workers and job seekers more comfortable with digital-only transactions, Velasquez said.

Job seekers may never see a physical person during a phony hiring or interview process: They may interact with a supposed recruiter only via text or WhatsApp message, Velasquez said, which amounts to a “big red flag.”

Recent college grads, immigrants or other people new to the U.S. workforce may think such digital-only hiring normal, especially for fully remote jobs, she said. But hiring generally doesn’t work this way, she added.

Con artists will “push you for money” during the hiring process, the FTC said.

They may send an invoice for advance payment of on-the-job equipment (like a computer ) or job training. They promise to reimburse you, but won’t, according to the federal agency.

Scammers may also ask for your personal information — like a driver’s license, Social Security number or bank account details — upfront in order to fill out “employment paperwork,” the FTC said.

“Scammers will promise you a great job, but what they really want is your money and your personal information,” New York Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez said in a consumer alert this year.

Job seekers should not expect to have to hand over personal information until after they’ve received and accepted a job offer, Velasquez said. (While this is a good screen for legitimacy, it may not provide a safety guarantee in all cases, she said.)

Ultimately, “there’s no sure-fire way to detect” job opportunity scams, according to the FTC.

Here’s what you should know and how you can better protect yourself, according to Velasquez and the FTC: 

Don’t have a false sense of security on well-known job search platforms.

Independently verify the company exists and is hiring. Don’t accept a job offer until you’ve done your own research.

Be wary if you didn’t initiate contact with a prospective employer or recruiter. Instead, reach out to the company directly using contact information you know is legit.

Only limited personal information is generally required during the application process: name, phone number, job and education history, and perhaps email and home address, Velasquez said.

Digital-only interactions are a red flag. However, phone calls are also not a guarantee of security.

Honest employers won’t send you a check to buy supplies or anything else, then ask you to send back the leftover money. This is a fake check scam.

Be wary of something that sounds too good to be true. For example, a job ad for 100% remote work that requires few skills and a huge salary “is not realistic,” Velasquez said.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS
You Might Also Like
  • Credit card delinquency rates hit a nearly 12-year high
  • Amazon extends Prime Day discounts to 4 days as retailers weigh tariffs and price increases
  • Amazon same-day prescription delivery expanding to nearly half of U.S. in 2025
  • McDonald’s $5 value meal is coming in June — and staying for just a month
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

previous post
S&P 500, Nasdaq close at all-time highs ahead of inflation data and second-quarter earnings reports
next post
Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful of Chinese spy threats

You may also like

Why everyone is suddenly talking about Nvidia, the nearly $3...

May 30, 2024

Bud Light maker Anheuser-Busch to lay off hundreds of employees,...

July 29, 2023

Inflation is easing. What does that mean for your grocery...

July 13, 2023

Capital One outage drags into Friday afternoon, leaving some customers...

January 18, 2025

FAA increases oversight of Boeing 737 Max 9 jets after...

February 7, 2024

Casino mogul Steve Wynn to pay $10M, cut gambling ties...

July 28, 2023

Kroger and Albertsons are spending billions to reward shareholders after...

December 15, 2024

Wendy’s will offer $3 breakfast deal, as rivals such as...

May 21, 2024

Cargo thieves are attacking the U.S. supply chain at alarming...

May 10, 2025

Laid off from a high-paying job, this 61-year-old drives for...

July 8, 2024

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • How I Triple My Returns With 3x Leveraged ETFs!

      July 10, 2025
    • Want Faster, Lower Risk Trades? Use This Setup

      July 9, 2025
    • The Seasonality Trend Driving XLK and XLI to New Highs

      July 9, 2025
    • Small Caps Are Rotating In — Here’s Why It Matters

      July 9, 2025
    • Amazon extends Prime Day discounts to 4 days as retailers weigh tariffs and price increases

      July 9, 2025

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese...

      June 25, 2024 3,630 views
    • 2

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be...

      June 27, 2024 2,919 views
    • 3

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as...

      August 9, 2024 2,607 views
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful...

      July 10, 2024 2,576 views
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility...

      August 29, 2024 2,449 views

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,167)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,661)

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese businesses to Delaware: ‘Longtime friends’

      June 25, 2024
    • 2

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be revived under new House GOP bill

      June 27, 2024
    • 3

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as Harris camp blasts ‘lying’ critics

      August 9, 2024
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful of Chinese spy threats

      July 10, 2024
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility that collaborated with ‘Chinese military company’

      August 29, 2024

    Latest News

    • How I Triple My Returns With 3x Leveraged ETFs!

      July 10, 2025
    • Want Faster, Lower Risk Trades? Use This Setup

      July 9, 2025
    • The Seasonality Trend Driving XLK and XLI to New Highs

      July 9, 2025

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,167)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,661)

    Disclaimer: RoundTableThoughts.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 RoundTableThoughts.com. All Rights Reserved.

    Round Table Thoughts
    • Investing
    • Stock
    Round Table Thoughts
    • Economy
    • Editor’s Pick

    Read alsox

    A Big Mac combo for $18?...

    February 8, 2024

    Why Honeywell CEO Vimal Kapur doesn’t...

    October 14, 2024

    Renesas Unveils Quick-Connect Studio: Industry’s First-Ever...

    March 1, 2023
    Sign In

    Keep me signed in until I sign out

    Forgot your password?

    Password Recovery

    A new password will be emailed to you.

    Have received a new password? Login here