“Job seekers beware of online fraud” |
| Job seekers beware of online fraud Posted: 02 Dec 2010 06:28 PM PST ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. -- A warning tonight if you're using the internet to look for a job.
Once your information is in cyber space, even on a legitimate website, anyone can get to it. Like a lot of people, Fred Lucero is out of work, so he thought he'd look for a job online. He posted his resume on careerbuilder.com, and he did get a response, just not the kind he wanted. "If it's too good to be true, don't go for it," Lucero told FOX31 News. What at first sounded like dream a job almost ended up being a nightmare for Lucero. After posting his resume on careerbuilder.com, somebody e-mailed Lucero and supposedly offered him a job as a driver. "A guy, Bobby Taylor, wanted me to accept a driver position for when he came to the states, and drive for him while he was in town," Lucero said. He was promised $600 a week. According to Lucero, this "employer" sent him a check for $2,850 and instructed him to deposit the check in his account, withdraw his $600 wage, and then wire the balance to someone in New York. The problem for Lucero was if the check did not clear, he would be responsible for the bounced check and fees. That is how the scam artist makes his money. "Once I deposited that check, I'm taking responsibility for the check from there on out," Lucero said. Krista Flannigan, Adams County deputy district attorney, said these scams are becoming more common. When the economy is tough, people are more likely to fall for a scam because they're desperate and vulnerable. Flannigan said you can use the internet to look for a job, just be careful. "You don't want to give too much detail like social security numbers or account numbers," Flannigan said, "and then you have to be careful with the kind of information you'll be receiving as a result of posting your information online." In the meantime, job seekers need watch out for predators on the Internet. "Especially around Christmas, taking advantage of somebody," Lucero said, "you know, trying to make hard times even worse." If Lucero had deposited that check, he would have been out about $1,200. Multiply that by 10, 20 or 100 people, and the scammers have made quite a chunk of change. Again, people need to be careful when they apply for a job or work with an online job agency, and use caution when giving out personal information. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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