Scams targeting job seekers are becoming more sophisticated. They use a wide range of tricks to trick them. Cybercriminals take advantage of the vulnerability of job seekers, using phishing emails and social engineering to trick them into divulging sensitive information.
The latest report by Heimdal provides key insights on the increasing threat of scams. The report, based on an analysis 2,670 comments and posts from victims between 2023 and 2024 in social media, highlights scam tactics and targeted industries.
This report provides important information for employers, job seekers and businesses that are working to combat these scams.
The study’s key findings
- Finance and IT are the most targeted industries, with 35.45% of all scams occurring in these sectors. Healthcare follows with 15.41 %.
- Remote Work Risk: The use of remote positions is increasing. 43% scam posts mention remote work, closely followed by on-site roles (42%) or hybrid roles (15%).
- High value roles: Managers, and entry level candidates are the main targets. 35% of scams target managers and 34% entry-level positions.
- Contact Methods: The most common method of contact for scammers is email, accounting for 30.75 percent of all cases. Social media (20.19%), websites (19.79%), and other online platforms (21.19%) are also used.
- Characteristics of scams: Most common job scam tactics include false job descriptions (10.1%), unrealistic salary offers (25.7%) and suspicious contact information (41.1%).
Job seekers should be aware of red flags:
This study identified several red-flags associated with employment scams including:
- Requests for upfront payment (25.08%
- Phishing attempts (38.71%)
- (17.49%)
- No interview process (15.84%)
- (13.21%)
- (10.156%)
The emotional impact of the crime on victims:
Job scams not only cause financial loss, but also affect the mental health of victims .
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35.29 % of victims reported distress
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is followed by 23.53% of those reporting anxiety.
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9.41% of respondents expressed anger.
Preventive measures :
This report outlines several strategies that job seekers can employ to avoid scams. These include:
- Checking reviews of companies ( 26,96% )
- Verifying Company Information (22.87% )
- Consult trusted friends
- Checking email domains and company websites to verify their legitimacy.
Job seekers must be alert and cautious when applying for a job to protect themselves against scams. Verify the authenticity of any job offer, do not click on links that are suspicious or download attachments and do not share your personal information with anyone you don’t know. Job seekers can reduce their chances of being scammed by staying informed and taking proactive steps.
