Job search scams are becoming increasingly complex, targeting unsuspecting job seekers with multiple deceptive strategies. Cybercriminals exploit the vulnerability of individuals seeking employment, often using fraudulent job postings, phishing emails and social engineering technologies to attract victims to share sensitive personal information.
one Heimdal’s new report Revealing key insights into the growing threat of work scams. According to an analysis of 2,670 social media posts and comments from victims in 2023 and 2024, the report highlights common scam strategies, targeted industries, and key red flag job seekers should be aware of.
These findings provide important insights for job seekers, as well as businesses and platforms to deal with these scams.
Major findings from the study
- The most targeted industries: The financial and IT departments are the most popular, accounting for 35.45% and 30.43% of scam cases, respectively. The number of times in the healthcare industry is 15.41%.
- Remote Work Risks: Remote positions are becoming increasingly targeted, with 43% of scams referring to remote work, followed by live (42%) and hybrid roles (15%).
- High-value roles: Managers and entry-level candidates are the main targets, with 35% of scams focusing on managers, while 34% focus on entry-level roles.
- Contact information: Email is the best way to use by scammers, responsible for 30.75% of cases, followed by social media (20.19%) and websites (19.79%).
- Scam features: The most common job scam strategies include suspicious contact information (41.1%), unrealistic salary offers (25.7%), and misleading job descriptions (10.6%).
Red flags for job seekers:
The study identified several red flags that are often associated with work scams, including:
- Upfront payment request (25.08%)
- Phishing Try (18.81%)
- Request confidential information (17.49%)
- No interview process (15.84%)
- Fake job offers (12.21%)
- Poor writing job description (10.56%)
Emotional impact on victims:
In addition to economic losses, work scams have caused significant losses to the victims’ mental health:
- 35.29% of victims reported being troubled,
- Next is 23.53% of reported anxiety disorders,
- 9.41% expressed anger.
Preventive measures:
The report highlights several strategies job seekers can use to avoid victims of scams, including:
- Check company reviews ((26.96%)
- Verify company information ((22.87%)
- Consult a trusted friend ((19.46%)
- Verify email domain and Check the company website legality.
To protect themselves from work scams, job seekers should be vigilant and cautious when applying for jobs. It is important to verify the legality of a work offer, avoid clicking suspicious links or downloading attachments, and never share personal information with unknown individuals or organizations. By staying informed and taking positive measures, job seekers can minimize their risk of becoming victims of these deceptive programs.
