Employment scams surged last year as criminals leveraged artificial intelligence to steal money and personal information from unsuspecting job seekers. Consumer reports of job scams increased by 118% in 2023 compared to the previous year, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC). Scammers often pose as recruiters and post fake job listings on reputable websites like LinkedIn, making it difficult to distinguish between authentic and fraudulent opportunities. Victims typically lose around $2,000, and in 2022, consumers reported losing $367 million to job and business opportunity scams, a 76% increase from the previous year.
AI advancements enable scammers to create more convincing job listings and recruitment messages. The rise of remote work has also made digital-only hiring processes more common, which scammers exploit. Job seekers may interact solely through text or messaging apps without ever meeting a real person, a significant red flag. Recent graduates and immigrants new to the U.S. workforce are particularly vulnerable. Scammers often request money for job-related equipment or training, or they ask for sensitive personal information upfront, which they use for identity theft.
To protect yourself, never divulge personal information until after receiving and accepting a job offer. Be wary of any job requiring upfront payments, and always verify the legitimacy of the job listing and the recruiter.
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