Employment scams to steal your data and money
Cybercriminals use many schemes to trick you. Just like when looking for accommodation, they see the world of work as a golden opportunity. Fake offers allow scammers to obtain personal data and money. Mistrust!
"There are currently fake job offers circulating. They ask candidates to share their contact information and pay money for a job interview (...) These fake offers look like official job offers. They therefore do not attract your attention at first. It is only when you apply for a job and get in touch with the fake employer that you are asked for your personal data and/or money ," Actiris, the Brussels Regional Employment Office, recently warned.
Scammers obviously display generous salaries and attractive hours to seduce their targets.
Last year, it was the Walloon Housing Society that sounded the alarm on social media: "We have noticed that some so-called 'automated job offers' websites publish false advertisements in our name, concerning positions that are not open to the Walloon Housing Society. These platforms automatically create offers based on keywords found on the Internet, sometimes for the sole purpose of collecting personal data. As a result, candidates contact us to apply for jobs... that simply do not exist in our country. »
Cybercriminals do not hesitate to pretend to be real recruiters by publishing fake offers or contacting "customers" directly. Several temporary employment companies have paid the price.
DaJobs, formerly Daoust, has experienced the phenomenon. "Candidates looking for a job have been contacted by private message after they have posted their CVs on social networks, and have been offered fake job offers. In these messages, the fraudsters ask candidates to send their Personal and financial data (copy ofidentity card, bank card, etc.). These messages do not come from our company in any way!" the temporary employment agency recently indicated.
Federgon, the federation representing companies active in the field of HR services, in turn warned. "You should know that temporary employment companies will never ask for money from temporary workers. And above all: if in doubt, contact your temporary employment agency."
"Scams at work"
Another phenomenon, the "task scams " have made it possible to steal more than 100 million euros worldwide. The principle? Offer to perform easy tasks online (watch a video, like a message,...) by promising very attractive salaries, paid in cryptocurrency... The victims of this " task scam" then have to make large transfers from their bank account to supposedly freeze their salary.
Febelfin, the Belgian Federation of the Financial Sector, looks back at the phenomenon: "They offer part-time jobs (via WhatsApp, Telegram or LinkedIn) or freelance jobs that would allow you to "make money quickly ": doing simple tasks, liking posts or making small transfers. Edible. Sometimes a small repayment is even given. But very quickly, requests to transfer money, activate an account or share personal data follow. Victims can also be used – often without their knowledge – as money mules." Their bank account is then used to carry out money laundering, which is punishable by law...
Here are our reminders of some important rules to avoid falling into the traps...
Ten important reminders and clues
- Have you received a message with a job offer without having taken any steps? Strange! Look at the source it comes from. Be wary of messages from anonymous or unidentifiable accounts. A trusted company will always write from its official email address and not from a Gmail or Outlook account, for example. Also beware of hidden numbers...
- Beware of offers that are "too good to betrue" (high salary, little work, no experience required, etc.)
- If the offer doesn't look professional, redirects to an unknown external platform, or contains spelling mistakes, that's a clue to fake;
- Also find out about the company and the offer it offers, check that your contact is an official representative;
- Do not disclose any personal information to a recruiter without meeting him/her;
- Do not give out your bank details, pay or accept money before signing a contract;
- Does the recruitment process seem very fast? It is held without maintenance or verification? Mefiance...
- Read the documents to be signed carefully before committing;
- Do you think you are the victim of a scam? Do not follow up, report the profile or the ad on the platform concerned;
- If you have disclosed banking information or made a payment, monitor your account and notify your bank immediately;
And finally, if you have been a victim of fraud, keep as much evidence as possible (screenshots) and file a complaint with your police zone. Also, don't forget to update your devices regularly and have an anti-virus software!