Job seekers are in a vulnerable position. The nature of today’s job search means an increased presence on the web, but that visibility attracts attention of all kinds, including that of potential thieves.
Today’s post is the first of a two-part interview with Jeremy Miller of Kroll Fraud Solutions. As a licensed investigator and part of the Investigation and Restoration Center, Jeremy guides the activity of Kroll’s licensed investigators as they work on behalf of identity theft victims. Jeremy has seen first-hand the increase in identity theft of job seekers, and today shares his thoughts on what job seekers should be aware of when sharing information online.
Kristi Daeda: Thanks for taking the time to help my readers protect themselves, Jeremy. We’re becoming an increasingly online world. Monster, CareerBuilder and Yahoo! HotJobs are now a key component in many job search strategies, not to mention online networking sites, blogs, Twitter and other social media. What trends do you see in identity theft arising from this shift?
Jeremy Miller: The trend among thieves seems to be use of computers and all they encompass – email, instant messaging, job search sites, social networking sites, etc. — to reach a potential victim. Many of their efforts aren’t different than those used in the past, they’re simply presented via the internet now.
KD: What sorts of tactics are thieves using for online identity theft?
JM: Among identity theft victims who fall victim via use of the internet, it usually happens by either being tricked into willingly giving up their personal identifiers or by their computer being compromised.
For instance, criminals have posed as legitimate employers to gain access to job search websites to steal applicant data. Thieves pose as a representative of a legitimate business and post a job opening. The applicant feels comfortable giving their personal information to the thief because they believe him to represent the legitimate company.
We have seen applicants accept a job with a company that seemed legitimate, but instead their new “job” caused them to become an active participant in a fraud scheme. These fraud schemes may include laundering money or re-shipping stolen goods sent to their home address.
KD: What is typically the first sign that your identity has been stolen? What should we consider a red flag that our private information has been compromised?
JM: Job seekers may discover that they have already become a victim of identity theft through:
- Denial of unemployment benefits – if you learn that someone else appears to be employed using your Social Security number
- Credit history review – if charges and/or bad debt turn up that you are not familiar with
- Background investigation – if an unusual mark appears on your record (e.g., criminal charges, etc.)
- Driving record search – if driving and/or parking violations appear on your record for which you are not responsible
However, identity theft may be discovered through multiple avenues. Some of the typical signs that a job seeker or any individual may be a victim of identity theft are:
- Receiving credit cards or bills in the mail for which they did not apply
- Credit reports reflect activity that consumer did not initiate
- Calls received from creditors or collection agencies collecting for debt the consumer did not incur
- Notified of traffic citation the consumer did not receive
- The consumer experiences trouble filing taxes or obtaining government benefits
In Monday’s post, Jeremy will share his thoughts on how the companies that we entrust with our personal information can help protect us, and how we can protect ourselves. Want to be sure you get part 2? Subscribe via email or RSS for free. Thanks!
Related posts:
- Identity theft and the job seeker: How to protect yourself
- Another reason to diversify: Job boards are overrun
- Clarifying your message: Personal Branding Statement
- Five job boards you must use for your job search
- Career Trends and Career Change: Interpreting Employment Trends in 2010
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