Margot Wood’s Post

Spotting recruitment fraud: I just got this text message and pretty much everything about it tells me that it’s a scam. 1. Text message from an unknown number. Companies don’t reach out via text unless you have applied through their system and opted in to receive text messages. 2. Their greeting is “Hello”, not “hello Lauren” so they don’t know my name 3. The intro is “I’m Marissa Kelly” and that means nothing to me. I don’t know anyone by that name (I even did a LinkedIn search to double check my network). No company name or context about how they know me. 4. “I have a job for you” without any context that they know me, what I’m about, or why I would be interested in this job. Again, they don’t know me. 5. It’s a weird thing to ask “can I send you all the information AND salary?” Obviously they are looking for desperate people who skim the words “job for you” and “salary” and say yes without much thought. Predatory. 6. Receiving this at 4:49pm on a Friday afternoon also is a weird time for someone to be reaching out about a job opportunity… I will be not be responding and gladly reporting as junk. Be careful out there!

⚠️ Scam Alert! Protect Yourself from Recruitment Fraud! ⚠️ We have been alerted to a scam where fraudsters use fake advertisements and stolen videos to impersonate recruitment agencies. Greys Recruitment wants to assure you that we NEVER charge candidates for our services. 🕵️♂️ Spot the Scams: Always verify the authenticity of job offers. If you are asked to pay any fees, it's not from us. Greys Recruitment’s services are entirely free for job seekers. 🛡️ Stay Safe: We prioritize your trust and security. If you suspect any fraudulent activity or need clarification, reach out to us immediately. Stay aware and spread the word! #GreysRecruitment #ScamAlert #JobSeekersBeware #NoFees #RecruitmentScam #StaySafe #JobSafety #ProtectYourself #GreysCares #StayInformed

Who knew that you can buy false employment references through 'Reference Houses'? 😲 An eye opening article here, discussing the rise of Reference Houses and fraudulent references. 🤓 What steps are you taking in your business to avoid hiring somebody who hasn't been honest in the recruitment process? 🤠 https://lnkd.in/dztGRbxh

We have noticed an increase in hiring scams using the HawkSEM name. Scams are on the rise and tactics are becoming more elusive, so we wanted to share some red flags to look out for to avoid recruitment fraud: ❌ HawkSEM will NEVER ask you to provide payment to apply for a job opening; similarly, if you are asked to purchase a laptop or any other work equipment, it’s a scam and not HawkSEM. ❌ HawkSEM does not contact candidates via text message, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, WeChat, Telegram, or any other social media or messaging platform to set up an interview. ❌ HawkSEM does not extend job offers without completing a thorough interview process and will never ask for sensitive personal information, such as your birthday or Social Security number, to apply. ✅ HawkSEM interviews are always held via virtual conference meetings, and all communication and meeting invitations come from a @hawksem.com email address. Learn more in our latest blog: https://hubs.ly/Q02Rmlrj0

Having had this happen to us recently, we need to spread the word! As recruiters we work so hard to ensure that we protect candidates, to ensure their data is safe. If you are a recruiter, OR you are a job seeker, take two minutes to read the below and SHARE this post!! x

Let's talk recruitment scams... You may have seen recruitment scams in the news, and it's something we have started to come across ourselves. Individuals have been using company names and adverts, and posting fake adverts on job boards, asking candidates to share personal and sensitive information via WhatsApp.  If you apply for one of our jobs online, we will never ask you to share personal or sensitive information via WhatsApp or text message.  Working with agencies can be a massive help in your job search, so it's a shame to see people taking advantage of this. If you are contacted by someone after applying for one of our roles, and you are unsure whether the person is legitimate - give us a call, we have strict procedures in place to protect you and your personal information.  You can read more about this on this BBC News Article 👉 https://lnkd.in/eBJD23CG #R13Recruitment

𝐁𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 Why do fraudulent recruiters avoid hiring candidates with strong communication skills? If they did, it might be harder to detect their schemes😁 Here's what happened to me: I received a call from a recruiter asking if I was looking for a job. When I inquired why she needed my details, she claimed to have openings in multiple locations. Suspicious but curious, I decided to see how this would play out. I answered her questions, and she sent me a link to an exam that was easy to cheat on. I passed the exam and my profile was forwarded to others. The so-called "technical interview" that followed was unconvincing; it was clear they were Googling questions on the spot. 𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑤𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑠, I was "𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱" and the next step was document verification, which required a fee. At this point, I knew it was a scam. I pretended to be innocent and requested everything in writing via email. She refused and insisted on using WhatsApp for verification before sending an email. This confirmed my suspicions. I gave them a piece of my mind, because I came to know that they did not have one and suggested to hire candidates with good communication skills, as it would make their scam less obvious😀 𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆: Always ask for written communication from an official company email address instead of relying on telephone conversations. This helps in identifying potential fraud. Stay vigilant and always verify the authenticity of job offers. I am Shruthi Katkam I post content about data analysis and job hunting experiences. Follow me for more insights and updates! Tagging : Srinath Ankolla Shashank Singh 🇮🇳 Subhash B Thodupunuri Bharath Adithya Ram Parisa Hemanand Vadivel #fraudactivities #job #fraudjobs #jobsearch #careeradvice #jobhunt #staysafe #scamalert #professionaltips #fruadawareness

🚨 Beware: A Major Scam on LinkedIn 🚨 Recently, many of you might have noticed posts on LinkedIn asking you to comment with your name and email ID, promising to send you a link to apply for a job. This is a scam. No reputable company hires in this manner. These scammers are taking advantage of job seekers' hopes and desperation. By sharing your personal information publicly, you are putting yourself at risk of identity theft and other fraudulent activities. Always be cautious and verify the authenticity of job postings and application processes. A reputable company has a transparent and secure hiring process. Here’s how it works: 1. Application: Candidates are asked to fill out a Google Form/Other with their details and resume. 2. Review: HR team reviews all applications carefully. 3. Selection Process: Shortlisted candidates are then contacted for further rounds of interviews and assessments. This structured process ensures that all candidates are evaluated fairly and thoroughly. Companies value your privacy and ensure that your personal information is protected throughout the hiring process. Stay vigilant and avoid falling for these scams. Protect your personal information and always apply through official channels. #Synexoo #JobHunting #JobScam #LinkedInScam #StaySafe #HiringProcess #JobSearch #CareerTips #Employment #JobSecurity

I want to alert my network about an increasing number of fraudulent individuals posing as recruiters from well-known companies. These scammers are reaching out requesting personal information under the guise of a job opportunity. If you receive any unsolicited contact asking for sensitive details, take extra precautions. #JobSeekers #ScamAlert #OnlineSafety #Recruitment #JobSearch #CareerTips

Scam CVs: A New Challenge for IT Recruiters Scam CVs, or fraudulent job applications, are increasingly becoming a significant challenge for IT recruiters. With the growing demand for skilled IT professionals, scammers are exploiting the hiring process by submitting fake resumes. This issue not only wastes time but also poses a risk to the company’s security and reputation. Here are some of the key challenges scam CVs create for IT recruiters: ### 1. **Fake Qualifications and Skills**   - Scammers may submit CVs listing exaggerated or entirely falsified qualifications and skills, such as claiming expertise in programming languages or software tools that they haven’t mastered. This creates difficulties in accurately assessing the candidate’s fit for technical roles, especially if the scammer uses buzzwords designed to pass automated screening tools. ### 2. **Identity Theft and Data Fraud**   - Some fraudulent CVs are created with the intent of stealing personal or corporate data. By getting into the recruitment pipeline, these scammers can access sensitive information about the company or its clients, putting data at risk. ### 3. **Bots and Automated CV Submissions**   - With the rise of automation tools, bots are increasingly used to generate and submit fraudulent CVs en masse. These submissions often include generic or plagiarized content, which clutters the recruitment funnel and makes it harder to identify genuine candidates. ### 4. **Financial Scams and "Fake Candidates"**   - In some cases, scammers create fake candidate profiles with the goal of receiving money, such as requesting upfront payments for visa processing or claiming travel reimbursements for non-existent interviews. ### 5. **Difficulty in Verification**   - Verifying technical qualifications and past experience can be harder in the IT field, especially when the job involves remote positions. Scammers may provide fake references or even forge certificates from reputable institutions. ### Solutions for IT Recruiters:   - **Enhanced Screening Process**: Implementing multiple interview stages, including live coding tests, practical assessments, or real-time skill evaluations, can help identify legitimate candidates.   - **Background Verification**: Partnering with reliable background verification services to confirm the legitimacy of a candidate’s previous employment and qualifications is crucial.   - **Use of AI & Analytics**: Leveraging advanced recruitment tools to detect inconsistencies or red flags in CVs, such as detecting patterns of fraudulent information across submissions.   - **Educating Hiring Managers**: Recruiters and hiring teams should stay informed about the latest scams and implement strategies to safeguard against them. The rise of scam CVs underscores the importance of a robust and thorough recruitment process, especially in tech fields where both skills and security are critical.