Information about protecting yourself from identity theft.

Job Advertisement Scams

Before submitting a social security number to a potential employer, verify the company’s existence.

People responding to job advertisements, particularly on Monster.com, have been victims of identity theft. In these scams, the supposed Human Resources person asks for the applicant to submit a social security number. The social security number is then used to commit identity theft.

Before submitting a social security number to a potential employer, verify the company’s existence. Call the company yourself to verify its legitimacy. Better yet, contact the Better Business Bureau in the area to check on the company.

Tip offs about potential employer cons include mailing addresses or fax numbers in cities that are different from the company headquarters. Or, e-mail addresses that do not include the company name in the domain section. Remember, anyone can set up a Website, so a professional looking Website doesn’t guarantee that a person is not a scam artist.

Terms & Disclaimers