MONSTER.COM : 3 Scams to Avoid in an Online Job Search

At a time of high unemployment, many people are looking for jobs online. Unfortunately, there are a lot of online scammers out there who advertise on the popular job boards like Monster, Careerbuilder or Hotjobs for positions that look legitimate and easy to do.

I am posting this as a public service from an e-mail sent to me by the job board -- MONSTER.COM. Protect yourself from Online job scammers.

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Whether you are searching for a new job through Monster or other websites, keep in mind that the same technological innovations that help in your job search may be used by cyber-criminals looking to lure job seekers into questionable job "opportunities."

Monster, the worldwide leader in the online recruitment industry, makes protecting job seekers a top priority. While Monster continually monitors its network and database to detect and terminate fraudulent access or job postings, keep in mind that Monster's primary purpose is to serve as an open forum for employers to advertise open positions and a service for job seekers to broadcast their qualifications to interested employers. We work hard to ensure that only appropriate parties (such as employers) have access, but neither we nor any other online recruitment company can guarantee that inappropriate parties will not gain access to a posted resume. Accordingly, we'd like to remind you of what you can do to help keep yourself safe during a job search.

Some employment scams appear as job postings or classifieds while others may target victims with an offer through an unsolicited email. Below are the most common scams you may see:

Money launderers often create job descriptions that offer commissions or pay as high as $2000 per day to process checks on behalf of foreign nationals. They are recruiting local citizens to "process payments" or "transfer funds," because as foreign nationals, they can't do it themselves.

Reshipping, or postal forwarding, scams typically require job seekers to receive stolen goods in their own homes-- frequently consumer electronics -- and then forward the packages, often outside the United States. Those who fall for reshipping scams may be liable for shipping charges and even the cost of goods purchased online with stolen credit cards. Read more about reshipping scams here. »

Although there are genuine jobs working at home, many "offers" are not valid forms of employment and may have the simple goal of obtaining an initial monetary investment from the victim. Using claims such as 'be your own boss' and 'make money quickly', Work at Home scams will not guarantee regular salaried employment and almost always require an "up-front" investment of money for products or instructions before explaining how the plan works. Find out more about avoiding these scams. » Protect Yourself

What seems like a lucrative job offer could cost you your savings and more. Learn to identify the signals of an employment scam to protect yourself. When conducting a job search:

* Look for signals in a job posting or email offer, which could serve as an indicator that what is being presented as employment is not legitimate. Don't get involved with an employer that can't make its business model perfectly clear to you or one that's willing to hire you without even a phone interview. Do your own research on any employer that makes you feel at all uneasy.

* Never put your social security or national ID number, credit card number, bank account number or any type of sensitive personal identification data in your resume. You should never share any personal information with a prospective employer, even if they suggest that it is for a "routine background check", until you are confident that the employer and employment opportunity is legitimate. Use Monster's resume visibility options to 'Be Safe'.

* Do not engage in any transaction in which you are requested to transfer or exchange currency or funds to a prospective employer. Remain alert for the Work at Home employers who require you to make an up-front investment.

* Be cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country.

* If you see a questionable job posting or suspect misuse of the Monster website or its brand, please report the suspected fraud to Monster.

* If you think you have been a victim of fraud, immediately report the fraud to your local police and contact Monster, so steps can be taken to ensure your safety. We also recommend that you file an online report with The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). For more information on how to conduct a safe job search, visit Monster's Security Center. You can also check out LooksTooGoodToBeTrue.com.

More information :

A Smart Job Search is a Safe Job Search

It’s possible that you may encounter fraudulent job opportunities when searching for jobs online, or you may receive fraudulent email that has had the sender’s address forged to make it appear as if it came from Monster. Such practices are a violation of Monster’s Terms of Use and may be a criminal violation of federal and/or state law.

Regrettably, all online companies are susceptible to occasional scams. While Monster makes every effort to prevent this abuse, it is not immune to such activity. To help you conduct a safer job search, we’ve assembled the following security-related articles and resources. Familiarizing yourself with this information will help you better manage your career.

* Email Scams
We’re all familiar with spam. But what about spoofing and phishing? Both terms refer to fraudulent emails that illegally collect personal information.

* Money-Laundering & Reshipping Scams

Someone from another country needs your help transferring funds. What seems like a lucrative job offer could cost you your savings and more.

* Computer Threats

Some online criminals are trying to steal more than your identity. Learn how to protect your computer from the threats that make you vulnerable to these crimes.

* Recognizing Business Opportunity Fraud

High pay. No experience necessary. Chances are you’ve seen job postings that seem too good to be true. We can help you spot the scams.

* Protect Your Info During A Job Search

Sharing personal information with a potential employer may be reasonable. Controlling when, how, and to whom you release information is the key.

* ID Theft Awareness and Avoidance

Identity theft is one of America’s fastest growing crimes. Know the specific steps to take, both before and after the fact, to reduce your risk and minimize the damage.

* Avoiding Work-at-Home Scams

Working at home sounds great. You set your own hours and the commute can’t be beat. But get the facts before you consider accepting an offer.

* Network Safely Online

Making new contacts online can help with your job search and your career. Knowing what to share and when is the first step.

* Learn How to Control Your Privacy Online

It’s time to take control of your personal information-before somebody else does. Whether you blog, visit social networking sites…or just like to buy shoes online, anyone can find out who you are.

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