For the second time, I wanted to share my interview with Craig Fisher, whose company specializes in talent operations for start-ups and big brands. His experience building companies from the ground up has given him insight into how scammers can use technology to fool job seekers and companies.
This is the first time I’ve included it in the podcast directory on Substack. This is a deeper dive into a perspective from companies, their challenges, and how it applies to you.
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1. Impersonation and Identity Theft:
Scammers Mimicking Companies: Scammers often create fake job postings mirroring legitimate listings. They use similar names, logos, and URL structures, making it difficult for job seekers to distinguish fake listings from real ones. Sometimes, altering a single character in the URL to trick applicants. Even executives and cybersecurity professionals missed these signs of a phony job:
You Should Know: A physical address with one number indicates a different household, and a URL with one letter or number difference means a different website.
Avoid This Scam: Use Google to verify the correct URL or company name. Also, consider where the information comes from.
2. Pirating Job Feeds:
Scraping and Reposting Jobs: Scammers scrape job feeds from legitimate companies and repost them on fake job boards, sometimes charging applicants for better placement or guaranteed job consideration, which are false promises.
You Should Know: While you can find fake jobs on legitimate job boards, there are also phony job boards. You can’t be too careful to ensure you are applying for legitimate employment.
Avoid This Scam: A fake job lead can be discarded with only one anomaly or slight error. Vague job descriptions, misspelled words, strange email addresses (using Gmail), or suggestions to connect on WhatsApp are enough to stop it!
3. Maintaining Job Posts and Descriptions
Constant Updates Needed: Large organizations must continually update job descriptions and other job-related content to ensure accuracy and authenticity. Scammers can exploit outdated or poorly constructed descriptions.
Evergreen Jobs and Data Management: Companies often maintain ongoing (evergreen) job listings, which scammers can misuse. Keeping these listings secure and ensuring they appear legitimate is a continuous task.
What You Need to Know: If you’re targeting companies and networking with people who work at your ideal companies, you’ll avoid stumbling on many fake job ads anywhere. Networking with the right people (whom you carefully vetted) will save you time by connecting you to the correct information to comply with the hiring process.
Craig also pointed out that legitimate start-ups will have little content, so their sites may have little.
Avoid Any Scam: Networking takes time. I’ve always said, “The way networking operates is similar to how a little yeast works through a batch of dough: Both require time, a little massaging, and consistency.” LinkedIn has a steady flow of warnings about avoiding scams. Connect with more people promoting this information, and it doesn’t hurt to ask for other connections.
4. Apparatus and Technology
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS): Many companies outsource job postings to ATS providers. If the ATS platforms are insecure or their feeds are hijacked, this opens a new vector for scams.
What You Should Know: The challenge of ensuring each job listing is secure and verifiable, primarily when hosted on external servers, adds complexity to the company's cybersecurity efforts.
Avoid This Scam: Craig recommended, “Take the whatever. com, highlight that, copy it, paste it into a Google search, and look for reputable scores and things like that. If you have any complaints of scams from that website, just double-check because, once again, anyone can do that.”
5. Brand Protection
Public Misinformation: Scammers damage a company's reputation by tricking job seekers into thinking they are legitimate representatives. This can lead to negative perceptions and potential brand trust loss.
What You Should Know: Companies must provide clear guidelines and public information on their legitimate hiring process to help job seekers identify scams. Not doing this effectively can leave job seekers vulnerable.
Please avoid being misled: Only apply to companies with clear application instructions, specific hiring process outlines, and contact information.
6. Fraud Detection and Response
Identifying and Tracking Scams: Detecting and responding swiftly to scams is challenging. Stay ahead of scammers who continually adapt their tactics, robust monitoring systems, and cybersecurity measures.
Handling Data Breaches: In the event of a breach in which personal data is stolen from job applications, companies need robust data protection and response strategies to mitigate the impact and protect job seekers.
What You Should Do: Don’t offer personal information before you confirm the company, recruiter, and its policies as legitimate. Actual companies only ask for personally identifiable information until they hire you after the company has confirmed (in writing). Consider using a special Gmail and Google Voice Mail for all job search transactions. Avoid giving your home address (but you will be asked for your city), check or bank account, or any other financial assets to anyone until vetted.
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