Technology has made job-hunting easier and, at the same time, more difficult.

With a single search on the internet, it becomes apparent that the opportunities for work are wide-ranging—but it also means distinguishing legitimate job offers from scams sometimes.

Unfortunately, employment scams are becoming more frequent and more prolific online.

According to Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones, the National Anti-Scams Centre has reported a more than 740 per cent increase in employment scams in 2023—with Australians' losses since January this year alone totalling up to over $20 million.

This is a staggering amount at a time of high cost of living. And with these tough times, scammers are especially targeting students looking for part-time work, as well as people seeking to earn some additional income—including seniors.

Scammers will lure you to accept their lucrative ‘job offer.’ Credit: Pexels

‘We've seen a significant increase in scammers impersonating genuine organisations and recruiters, contacting victims through job offers via WhatsApp or promoting jobs ads on social media platforms, such as Facebook, Tik Tok and Instagram,’ Jones said.

These scammers will also try to manipulate their targets by offering them lucrative part-time work online that can be done from home.

‘They often help victims set up accounts on cryptocurrency platforms and get them to undertake training and tasks, before asking for a financial deposit with the promise of commissions or bonuses,’ Jones added.

One woman was conned out of $40,000 after replying to a Facebook post offering part-time work from home. And another paid $12,000 to scammers who used the same method to lure in their victim.

But the danger doesn’t end with remote work opportunities. It can also happen to online job sites like LinkedIn.

Just recently, a 53-year-old mum who lost $15,000 while caring for her sick husband and seeking employment opportunities on the platform. She fell victim to an elaborate employment scam that drained her life savings.

Watch out for employment scams circulating online. Credit: Pexels

It’s crucial to know how to spot these scams. Some signs of fraud include offers of 'guaranteed income' or too-good-to-be-true rates of pay for the simplest of task-based work.

You must also watch out for job adverts with glaring grammatical errors, excessive exclamation marks, or requests for personal information that seems irrelevant to the job.

There are other types of employment scams that you should be aware of. These schemes have become more cunning as time goes on, exploiting technological advancements and human vulnerabilities.

Email offers can be tricky, as you might receive messages from recruiters who found your information online. While some are genuine, others are attempting to trick you into revealing sensitive information. Quite frequently, these untrustworthy folks will solicit more sensitive details, such as your identification or bank account numbers.

Money laundering is also common tactic used. This involves scammers reaching out through email or phone. They might try to convince you to use their personal bank accounts for money transfers, promising you a percentage of the sum. Their true aim is to obtain your bank account details.

These scammers usually don’t ask for money upfront. They will convince you to pay for access to a game-like system, where you're expected to complete tasks, referring more friends and depositing more money into the suspicious app.

So here’s the bottom line: if it looks too good to be true, it usually is.

If you think something is suspicious, don’t hesitate to contact your bank immediately and report it through the National Anti-scam Centre.

Key Takeaways

• Job scams in Australia have risen more than 740 per cent since January, with total losses reaching $20 million.
• Scammers often impersonate legitimate organisations and recruiters, offering fraudulent job opportunities on platforms such as WhatsApp and social media.
• The main targets of these scams are students seeking part-time work and individuals looking for flexible additional income.
• Signs of potential scams include job offers on messaging platforms or social media, offers of 'guaranteed income' or unusually high pay rates for simple tasks, and game-like systems that ask for investment in an app.

What are other employment scams have you encountered? Let us know in the comments below!

 

[nalturegun1970]

You're absolutely right about technology being a double-edged sword in this scenario. While it opens up a world of opportunities, it also makes us vulnerable to scams.
The methods scammers are using are becoming increasingly sophisticated, making it even more difficult for the average job employee to discern between legitimate opportunities and traps.
One way to mitigate the risk is to go through trusted platforms that have a secure, vetted hiring process. There are platforms that can be a safer bet because they're designed to streamline the hiring process with a focus on transparency and verification.