Employment Fraud

don’t let it happen to you

Barbara BatsonUniversity of Arkansas Career Development

Centersummer 2009

Examples of Employment Fraud

Identity theft

Phishing

Reshipping

Identity theft

All a thief needs are a Social Security # and a resume to steal a job seeker's identity. *

A Social Security # is the key to getting credit cards, loans, and fake identification.

* is your birth date posted on a social networking site ?? SS# & birth date are lethal in the hands of a thief.

Phishing

The scam starts by posting positions that do not exist.

These job postings LOOK legitimate with company logos, salary information & website.

the job opportunity looks “too good to be true . . .”

Reshipping

These scams begin with an offer for employment.

Thieves offer legitimate-looking contracts.

When they have your trust, packages are shipped to your residence with reshipping instructions. Once you ship the package, you are considered guilty of shipping stolen property.

How to AVOID these risks

Limit the amount of personal identifying information on your Resume or CV. *

Never give Social Security #, birth date, passport #, drivers’ license #, credit card or bank account #s to an employer without knowing how the information will be used & knowing that the website is legitimate.

* application for US Federal employment may require SS#. Check with your campus Career Center before applying.

How to AVOID these risks

Evaluate the job listing sites. Review the site’s Privacy & “opt out” policies.

Keep track of where you post your Resume. Keep a log of website addresses, dates posted, closing date of job, etc.

Research the company with the Better Business Bureau www.bbb.org.

Contact your campus Career Center if you have concerns or doubts about the legitimacy of a job listing site.

How to AVOID these risks

Never send money to anyone without knowing the purpose of the payment.

This includes mailing checks, making credit card payments or wiring funds.

There could be a legitimate reason for a payment; find out what it is and get it in writing BEFORE sending payment.

Remember

It’s normal to get excited when you find “the perfect job with a great $alary”.

You may want to “jump at the chance to apply for the job”.

In the process, it might be “easy to forget the risks” & give out personal identity or private financial information that SHOULD NOT be shared with a stranger.

Remember

Don’t take that Risk. Practice safety.

Don’t become a Victim of identity theft or employment fraud.

If the job offer sounds “too good to be true”, it just might be (probably is)!

Talk with a Career Counselor to get another perspective.

Presentation developed by the University of Arkansas Career Development Center

479-575-2805career@uark.edu

Arkansas Union 607BELL 3158 & 3188

Old Main 518

http://career.uark.edu

Career Center Contacts

University Career Center• Barbara Batson, 479.575.2805,

bbatson@uark.edu

Walton College Career Center• Heather Sprandel, 479.575.6100, hsprandel@walton.uark.edu