Identity theft when looking for a job: Consumer advice center warns of fraudulent WhatsApp messages.

Identity theft when looking for a job: Consumer advice center warns of fraudulent WhatsApp messages.

According to a report from www.heise.de, the North Rhine-Westphalia consumer advice center warns against identity theft when looking for a job. Cybercriminals use fake job advertisements to obtain victims' personal information. For example, video identification procedures are used at banks to supposedly check the identity of applicants. However, the data and accounts are not deleted but are used by the perpetrators to carry out money laundering or fraudulent transactions. There are some warning signs that job seekers should watch out for, such as quick positive feedback, spelling mistakes or requests to send personal information via WhatsApp or email. The lack of personal contact or the request for a video identification process should also arouse suspicion. Potential victims should mention in the video identification conversation that it is an identification for a job advertisement in order to prevent fraud. If an identification procedure was nevertheless carried out and irregularities occur, the victims should immediately contact their bank, have the account blocked and report the case to the police.

This warning from the consumer advice center follows a tip from a large online job exchange, Stepstone, which warned against job scamming at the end of September. Scams with fake job offers have existed since 2017 and have since evolved.

The impact of these fraudulent practices on the market and consumers is significant. Many job seekers could become victims of identity theft and lose their personal information to cybercriminals. This could result in financial loss, account opening for money laundering, or even being used as a financial agent for fraudulent monetary transactions. The trustworthiness of job boards and companies that recruit through such platforms could be significantly affected. Potential applicants may become suspicious and may distance themselves from online job searches. This could lead to increased demand for traditional application methods, such as personal contact with companies or placement through employment agencies.

It is important that consumers are made aware of this type of fraud and learn how to protect themselves. Additional information and education about the risks of identity theft when looking for a job could help reduce the number of victims. Companies and job boards should also take measures to make their platforms more secure and identify and stop fraud attempts. This could restore consumer confidence and limit the negative impact on the market.

Source: According to a report from www.heise.de