It is simple to consider the victims of those scams are just plain stupid, but the fact of the matter is the fact that we all have the possibility to fall for them. Conmen are often very clever, not to mention very convincing, and we all go through instances when we're just not thinking quite as straight or are particularly vulnerable.
Desperation makes people careless, so when we're unemployed, or confronted with being let go from work, or maybe even keen to gain a hard-earned promotion, we are able to sometimes leave ourselves available to cruel scams which not just separate us from our money, but bring chaos into our way of life.
Unemployed workers in Washington recently been hit by a spate of confidence tricks that have left victims feeling even more hopeless than they were at the start. In a single scam, classified advertisements were put into newspapers and online, offering opportunities for people to earn extra money by working at home. Some of the people who requested the jobs as mystery shoppers were persuaded to transmit money by wire transfer to secure positions which, obviously, did not exist.
Other hoaxes have not been made to take money from vulnerable victims, but to facilitate the spread of computer viruses which have trashed their computers. One lady, who was trying to help her husband find act as an engineer, visited a link within an e-mail which supposedly of a website containing job announcements for individuals within his field. As soon as she accomplished it, the website downloaded malicious software which infected, not only the pc that they was using, but all of the others on their own home network.
While a few of these scams claim to present simply an opportunity of employment, others make outright job offers. One man received a very plausible e-mail from a company which purported to possess offices in Berlin, Latvia, France and Russia, offering him a job as a Program Manager. The recipient was inspired to open and complete the forms which were attached to the e-mail, in addition to scan a duplicate of his passport, license, a family group bill or any other document which may prove his identity. Thankfully, before he got this far, the recipient started to do some online research in to the company, only to discover that access to the website was blocked and that the Internet resulted in only scam warnings.
While in some cases it may be easy to understand the purpose of a confidence trick, in others it's not so obvious, but what many of these examples demonstrate is the requirement for extreme care and vigilance. Scams made to hurt jobseekers come in real life, but in addition, our reliance upon modern day technology leaves us all the more vulnerable. Whether you are posting your resume on project sites or receiving e-mails as part of your networking efforts, there is an increasing need to protect yourself. Here are a few ways in which you can make the most of your job search, whilst still ensuring your personal safety:
Ensure your computer is protected using the latest versions of anti-virus and anti-spyware software at all times.
Research the firms that you're sending personal information to, rather than send details of your Social Security number, your drivers license or perhaps your birth date to anyone who you are unsure of. Also, never include these records on online resumes and be sure to make use of the functionality from the websites that you employ to cover your contact details.
An authentic recruiter should not have induce to request your charge card number, your bank account number or perhaps your PIN. Never, ever hand out these details over the telephone, by e-mail or in instructions or form.
Never click links in e-mails if you don't be aware of source and therefore are 100% sure that it is legitimate. If you are unsure in any way, the safest thing to do would be to type the web site address into your browser.
Never follow up a job lead which involves sending money. No genuine employer would ever require you to do that and fraudulent wire transfers through companies such as Western Union and Moneygram are one of the most typical of all scams.
Take a look at prospective employers through reliable sources like the Chamber of Commerce or the Better Business Bureau, and become extremely cautious about companies that do not their very own corporate domain, but rather use common e-mail accounts for example Yahoo!, Hotmail, MSN and Gmail.
Exercise extreme care when dealing with companies which only provide a PO Box address or where their telephone number is unreachable or always goes to voicemail.
If you get a mobile call from somebody purporting to be a recruiter, ensure that you get the name from the caller, the company and as many contact information as you possibly can. Do not give out any personal information, but instead check the company out and then call them back. If the opportunity, and the organization, is reputable, they will understand your requirement for caution.
Continually be concered about get rich quick schemes. Anything which appears too good to be true, probably is.
And finally, if the worst comes to worst and also you fear that you may have inadvertently fallen for a scam, ensure that you take action and report it immediately. Better that the pride be hurt than your bank balance!
Have you fallen prey to a confidence trickster throughout your job search, or have you ever heard of any new scams in your town that other readers should be aware of? Drop me a message to let me know. It is just by being conscious that we are able to help to look after each other. Alaska Oil Drilling To produce Jobs?
Todd BavolIntegrity Career Transitionsinfo@integritycareertransitions integritycareertransitions750 South Shipyard Drive, Suite 300, Wilmington, Delaware 19801Toll Free: 1-302-442-4100Tel. No.: (302) 504-9960
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