Digital Marketing

Identity Theft and Your Online Job Search

While identity theft is nothing new, the Web has opened up a whole new world of opportunities for identity thieves.

According to the FBI, identity theft is the number one fraud online. The US Federal Trade Commission says identity theft is the top source of consumer complaints – 42 percent of all complaints, in 2001.

The thief will use your personal information to open credit card accounts, cell phone accounts, open bank accounts in your name, and write bad checks, leaving the victim with bankruptcy bills and credit scores. Identity thieves can pose as representatives of banks, Internet service providers, and even government agencies so that you reveal your Social Security number, your mother’s maiden name, financial account numbers, and identifying information.

In a recent article (http://www.msnbc.com/news/830411.asp), MSNBC reported the case of a man who was the victim of a fraudulent job listing that was posted on Monster.com. According to the article:

“He was the job leader Jim needed: a marketing manager position at Arthur Gallagher, a leading international insurance broker. And just days after Jim responded to the job offer at Monster.com, a director HR sent a promising email We’re interested in you, the note read. Salary is negotiable, clients are great. In fact, clients are so valuable and sensitive that you’ll have to undergo a background check as part of the job interview process, Jim complied with and submitted almost all of his digital identity keys, including his age, height, weight, social security number, bank account numbers, even his mother’s maiden name. “

Jim spent the day canceling his credit cards, checking his balances, and contacting the credit bureaus, but he worries that his information is now “available.”

There are warning signs that can alert you to fraudulent job postings. While these items do not necessarily mean that the listing is a scam, they are indications that you should do further verification.

– Incorrect grammar and spelling mistakes

– The area codes of the telephone or fax numbers do not match the address provided

– Unrealistic salary

Online employment databases aren’t the only places identity thieves browse for personal information. In recent accusations in the United States, people have been accused of obtaining and using personal information in various ways. In Miami, two people were charged with illegally tampering with restaurant computer networks using the cover of a fictitious corporation. An office worker for the New York State Insurance Fund stole office files and used stolen identities (of people across the country and of fellow office workers) to obtain goods and services. A Kaiser Permanente phlebotomist admitted to using the personal information of patients and employees to open credit card accounts under various names.

Recently, an FTC investigation into a work-from-home scheme spawned an incredible “scam within a scam” when a man posing as an FTC employee sent an email to hundreds of scam victims. He requested personal information stating that it would be used as evidence in the case.

While it is impossible to completely eliminate the chances of becoming a victim, you can minimize your risk by doing the following:

–If a prospective employer asks you for personal information, they should ask for your contact information and then separately look up the company information and contact them to verify that it actually exists. While it is not unusual for an employer to request certain work-related information (such as your employment history and former employers), it is not appropriate for you to request personal information (such as a social security number) unless you are actually hired (and have been) checked to make sure they are legitimate). Even then, you should never be asked for financial information, such as a credit card number.

– On online resumes, never include your social security number and even keep your employment history short.

– Check your credit card statements frequently. Believe it or not, a lot of people don’t even review them!

– Make sure to follow up with creditors if your bill doesn’t arrive on time. A missing credit card bill can mean that an identity thief has changed your billing address to cover their tracks.

– Request your credit report from one of the main credit bureaus each year and verify that everything is correct.

What to do if you have been the victim of identity theft:

The FTC maintains the Consumer Sentinels Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse, the nations’ repository for identity theft complaints. The FTC established the toll-free Identity Theft Hotline, 1.877.IDTHEFT (1.877.438.4338) and the Identity Theft Website (www.consumer.gov/idtheft) to provide identity theft victims a central place to report your problems and receive useful information.

The Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). You can use their online system to file a complaint.

[http://www1.ifccfbi.gov/index.asp]

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