[Sean Camara]

A new employment scam is targeting job seekers on social media - here's what you need to know​

In these tough economic times, we know that some of our members are probably thinking of returning to the workforce, with some already looking for any job opportunities that might come up.

And while there are plenty of genuine businesses and organisations out there who are looking to hire new employees, unfortunately, there are also some scammers who are taking advantage of people's vulnerability.

Job seekers should be wary of a new employment scam that has been spreading online.

Fake job opportunities, which offer jobs with hourly rates ranging from $48 to $75 at well-known retailers such as Kmart and Bunnings, have been popping up on Facebook.

It was reported that many hopefuls have responded to the ads, giving out their personal information such as their bank account numbers via the messaging app WhatsApp, in hopes of getting the job.

The bogus Bunnings job postings utilise the company's legitimate logo to entice unwary job searchers with hourly pay rates between $48 and $75. Credit: Bunnings/Facebook.

On Friday, the official Facebook page of popular retailer Bunnings confirmed that it has been working tirelessly to get rid of the fake adverts that were using the company's logo.

In a statement posted on their official Facebook page, the company wrote: 'One of the latest scams is a Facebook post asking for your personal details via WhatsApp to apply for a job with us.'

'We place a lot of time and effort into recruiting our amazing team, and we're in no way associated with this activity.'

A representative from Kmart has also confirmed that the department store is aware of a similar scam being circulated online.

The official Kmart page on Facebook reported that several fake adverts have been recently circulating that claim to offer part-time and full-time online assistants positions with the retailer.

It is believed that scammers are disguising the ad with legitimate-looking logos of jobs and employers to trick the audience.

It was suggested that people looking for jobs should take the initiative to report such scams to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) by heading over to their Scamwatch website.

As reported on October 2022, ACCC data showed that jobs and employment scams have already taken more than $1.1 million from Australians and that a significant percentage of these scams were carried out through mobile apps (27 per cent), social media (19.1 per cent), email (18.5 per cent), and text messages (12.2 per cent). That’s a pretty big number, considering the growing labour market in this country.

Key Takeaways

• Australians are being warned about a new employment scam that is circulating on social media.
• The scam involves fake job ads being posted on Facebook offering competitive hourly rates at retailers such as Bunnings and Kmart.
• Hopeful job seekers are being duped into giving out their personal details via WhatsApp to apply for the positions.
• Bunnings and Kmart have both confirmed that the ads are fake and are not associated with the retailers in any way.
• The ACCC is urging people to be wary of any unsolicited job offers or opportunities that promise a guaranteed income.

It’s also important to note that scammers are known to target vulnerable groups such as the elderly, teenagers, and unemployed people. They do this by using highly convincing messages, such as ones about winning cash prizes and lucrative job offers.

However, you should not fret! You can always protect yourself from these scams by staying on top of the latest schemes so you won't be fooled by them. We always suggest our members check out the Scam Watch forum on the SDC website to learn about the scams or share the schemes they’ve encountered.

Stay safe out there!

 

[gerryhatrick]

I have been complaining to Facebook for weeks over these scams not only bunnings but other places as well .Everyone would know your are not going to get $75 to $100 per hour for work .But as usual Facebook ignores our concerns but bans people for just stating facts.

 

[Ricci]

It's bad enough that these lowlifes target people with money with investment scams but when they target vulnerable people desperate for a job they take it to another whole level. I know what I would like to do to this scum but I wouldn't be allowed. I hope these bast***s are found and that they throw the book at them.

 

[goodmorning]

I had a scam and it was from MyGov and it says that I have money that is owed to me but it doesn't have my name or where it is coming from and the date is written American so just be carful

 

[Nana Zorak]

Anyone expecting a big payday from any of these ads is a greedy fool. When our nursing staff are lucky to get near $30 an hour for what they do NO ONE is going to pay you $75.00 an hour with no skills for something that will bring in that amount then you are fooling yourself.

 

[WADuck]

It's bad enough that these lowlifes target people with money with investment scams but when they target vulnerable people desperate for a job they take it to another whole level. I know what I would like to do to this scum but I wouldn't be allowed. I hope these bast***s are found and that they throw the book at them.

Iam with you Ricci and having the #hit beaten out of them should be the first action of the police.

 

[JayKay]

The scammers seem to be a smug lot.
They think they won't get caught, or plead they were trapped into it.....they are also abusers, so it's not their fault that they did it.(!!!)

 

[POG32]

A new employment scam is targeting job seekers on social media - here's what you need to know​

In these tough economic times, we know that some of our members are probably thinking of returning to the workforce, with some already looking for any job opportunities that might come up.

And while there are plenty of genuine businesses and organisations out there who are looking to hire new employees, unfortunately, there are also some scammers who are taking advantage of people's vulnerability.

Job seekers should be wary of a new employment scam that has been spreading online.

Fake job opportunities, which offer jobs with hourly rates ranging from $48 to $75 at well-known retailers such as Kmart and Bunnings, have been popping up on Facebook.

It was reported that many hopefuls have responded to the ads, giving out their personal information such as their bank account numbers via the messaging app WhatsApp, in hopes of getting the job.

The bogus Bunnings job postings utilise the company's legitimate logo to entice unwary job searchers with hourly pay rates between $48 and $75. Credit: Bunnings/Facebook.

On Friday, the official Facebook page of popular retailer Bunnings confirmed that it has been working tirelessly to get rid of the fake adverts that were using the company's logo.

In a statement posted on their official Facebook page, the company wrote: 'One of the latest scams is a Facebook post asking for your personal details via WhatsApp to apply for a job with us.'

'We place a lot of time and effort into recruiting our amazing team, and we're in no way associated with this activity.'

A representative from Kmart has also confirmed that the department store is aware of a similar scam being circulated online.

The official Kmart page on Facebook reported that several fake adverts have been recently circulating that claim to offer part-time and full-time online assistants positions with the retailer.

It is believed that scammers are disguising the ad with legitimate-looking logos of jobs and employers to trick the audience.

It was suggested that people looking for jobs should take the initiative to report such scams to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) by heading over to their Scamwatch website.

As reported on October 2022, ACCC data showed that jobs and employment scams have already taken more than $1.1 million from Australians and that a significant percentage of these scams were carried out through mobile apps (27 per cent), social media (19.1 per cent), email (18.5 per cent), and text messages (12.2 per cent). That’s a pretty big number, considering the growing labour market in this country.

Key Takeaways

• Australians are being warned about a new employment scam that is circulating on social media.
• The scam involves fake job ads being posted on Facebook offering competitive hourly rates at retailers such as Bunnings and Kmart.
• Hopeful job seekers are being duped into giving out their personal details via WhatsApp to apply for the positions.
• Bunnings and Kmart have both confirmed that the ads are fake and are not associated with the retailers in any way.
• The ACCC is urging people to be wary of any unsolicited job offers or opportunities that promise a guaranteed income.

It’s also important to note that scammers are known to target vulnerable groups such as the elderly, teenagers, and unemployed people. They do this by using highly convincing messages, such as ones about winning cash prizes and lucrative job offers.

However, you should not fret! You can always protect yourself from these scams by staying on top of the latest schemes so you won't be fooled by them. We always suggest our members check out the Scam Watch forum on the SDC website to learn about the scams or share the schemes they’ve encountered.

Stay safe out there!

Good warning for those people who are looking for work or are less savvy however it is not much use suggesting to them that they contact SDC if you do not include their address. When I enter SDC I am taken to a concreting business. There is no reference to any sort of scam alert website on the first three pages of my Google search.

 

[gordon1940]

If the bloody Russians can infiltrate, obtain confidential info and damage our Internet, surely the ability is there to to the same to the Scammers. Crush them and shut them down!!!

 

[Tipsy]

A new employment scam is targeting job seekers on social media - here's what you need to know​

In these tough economic times, we know that some of our members are probably thinking of returning to the workforce, with some already looking for any job opportunities that might come up.

And while there are plenty of genuine businesses and organisations out there who are looking to hire new employees, unfortunately, there are also some scammers who are taking advantage of people's vulnerability.

Job seekers should be wary of a new employment scam that has been spreading online.

Fake job opportunities, which offer jobs with hourly rates ranging from $48 to $75 at well-known retailers such as Kmart and Bunnings, have been popping up on Facebook.

It was reported that many hopefuls have responded to the ads, giving out their personal information such as their bank account numbers via the messaging app WhatsApp, in hopes of getting the job.

The bogus Bunnings job postings utilise the company's legitimate logo to entice unwary job searchers with hourly pay rates between $48 and $75. Credit: Bunnings/Facebook.

On Friday, the official Facebook page of popular retailer Bunnings confirmed that it has been working tirelessly to get rid of the fake adverts that were using the company's logo.

In a statement posted on their official Facebook page, the company wrote: 'One of the latest scams is a Facebook post asking for your personal details via WhatsApp to apply for a job with us.'

'We place a lot of time and effort into recruiting our amazing team, and we're in no way associated with this activity.'

A representative from Kmart has also confirmed that the department store is aware of a similar scam being circulated online.

The official Kmart page on Facebook reported that several fake adverts have been recently circulating that claim to offer part-time and full-time online assistants positions with the retailer.

It is believed that scammers are disguising the ad with legitimate-looking logos of jobs and employers to trick the audience.

It was suggested that people looking for jobs should take the initiative to report such scams to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) by heading over to their Scamwatch website.

As reported on October 2022, ACCC data showed that jobs and employment scams have already taken more than $1.1 million from Australians and that a significant percentage of these scams were carried out through mobile apps (27 per cent), social media (19.1 per cent), email (18.5 per cent), and text messages (12.2 per cent). That’s a pretty big number, considering the growing labour market in this country.

Key Takeaways

• Australians are being warned about a new employment scam that is circulating on social media.
• The scam involves fake job ads being posted on Facebook offering competitive hourly rates at retailers such as Bunnings and Kmart.
• Hopeful job seekers are being duped into giving out their personal details via WhatsApp to apply for the positions.
• Bunnings and Kmart have both confirmed that the ads are fake and are not associated with the retailers in any way.
• The ACCC is urging people to be wary of any unsolicited job offers or opportunities that promise a guaranteed income.

It’s also important to note that scammers are known to target vulnerable groups such as the elderly, teenagers, and unemployed people. They do this by using highly convincing messages, such as ones about winning cash prizes and lucrative job offers.

However, you should not fret! You can always protect yourself from these scams by staying on top of the latest schemes so you won't be fooled by them. We always suggest our members check out the Scam Watch forum on the SDC website to learn about the scams or share the schemes they’ve encountered.

Stay safe out there!

Another scam to watch out for is the QR codes that when you scan them with you phone it empties you bank acc

 

[Zemo]

I wonder why it is that businesses, of whatever size or country of origin, seemingly have no power or even the inclination to take the scammers who use their name to fraudently get people's money to court? Is it that there are simply too many criminals trying to rake money off too many people?

 

[Luckyus]

It's bad enough that these lowlifes target people with money with investment scams but when they target vulnerable people desperate for a job they take it to another whole level. I know what I would like to do to this scum but I wouldn't be allowed. I hope these bast***s are found and that they throw the book at them.

Hangings too good for them, It's a good kick up the arse they need

 

[Tipsy]

If the bloody Russians can infiltrate, obtain confidential info and damage our Internet, surely the ability is there to to the same to the Scammers. Crush them and shut them down!!!

yes lets blame the Russians for everything that goes wrong, why not.... Main Stream media dont tell lies ...right!!!!

 

[Codynema]

Hey everyone, just read through this article on job scams targeting social media users—it's crazy how sneaky these scammers can be!

 

[Wakeboards]

Reminds me of when a friend almost fell for something similar last year. It's crucial to stay vigilant and do your research before jumping into any job opportunity, especially if it seems too good to be true. By the way, if anyone's interested in a legit career path, check out this helpful resource on HVAC training: https://www.hvacschools411.com/ . Has anyone else encountered these scams lately? What are your thoughts on how to spot them early? Let's help each other stay safe out there!

 

[Zemo]

In your blurb, you say "it is believed that scammers are disguising the ad with legitimate-looking logos ... "
Gee, ay? How long has it taken for this fact to be known, publicised and disseminated? How many times do you have to be told?
There's one going around in Queensland (I call it Queersland now with the gradual infestation and public forced acceptance of the lifestyle) at the moment with the Origin Energy refund "being paid twice in error". The form looks completely legit, with all the correct colours, logos, terminology and everyfing. All ya gotta do to get your money is click on the link's "refund form" and -- voila -- come in, ya galah. And don't forget to wave your money goodbye when you give them all your details.
Funny thing, though, we rang Origin and the bloke on the other end just said, "It's obviously a scam, don't worry about it." Like it happened every day and he couldn't care less.

 

[Tipsy]

and remember people the government and the corrupt banks want to bring in digital currency and England want it "PRGRAMMABLE Digital Currency and I bet all the dummies think the scammers will not be able to break into that system without out any problems