Latest ID Theft Tactic: Fake Job Listings

citking writes "News.com.com reports that, in an attempt to curb identity theft on its service, online career listing site Monster.com has begun warning its users of fake job postings bent on stealing personal information. 'Regrettably, from time to time, false job postings are listed online and used to illegally collect personal information from unsuspecting job seekers', according to an e-mail sent by the company yesterday to registered users. With the increasingly difficult job market, things such as background checks and non-disclosure agreements are becoming more and more difficult to avoid, so where does one draw the line for giving out personal information in response to a classified ad? CNN has a small article about this as well."

Comments

My name.

[cperciva]

I draw the line at my name. If that, and Google, isn't enough for a potential employer to know if they are interested enough to interview me, I'm not interested in working for them.

Sure, they'll need to know more details eventually; but that can wait until after I've met them in person.

I thought job agancies already did this

[zenst]

I find this extreemly funny considering the number of job agencies that have been partaking in the practice of false job adverts for as long as I can remember, purly to get people on there books and CV's registered with them. It would seem they fear the competition, or is this there way of coping out the fact they dont vet jobs/job advertisers at all.

The line is drawn at where no information is given

[lavalyn]

Beyond the public knowledge of name, there really isn't any reason to give any information to untrusted sources.

Even if monster had absolute highest employer screening methods, you are still trusting that monster has a secure server, that their network infrastructure is resistant to attack, that monster's employees will not illegitimately sell off your information, or anything else.

All this hassle and the hiring rates out of these sites remains dismal because there are so many applicants. To any unemployed /.ers out there, I suggest you read "What Color is Your Parachute?" by Richard Bolles. And follow its advice of hunting for jobs on foot.

The left hand giveth, and the right hand ...

[Lumpish Scholar]

(Sorry, longish; skim the first quote if you want.)

I checked my job-search-only e-mail account, and found this message from Monster:

Dear Monster Member,

This is a critical service message regarding your use of Monster:

Regrettably, from time to time, false job postings are listed online and used to illegally collect personal information from unsuspecting job seekers. The placement of such false job postings is a violation of the Monster Terms of Use and may also be a criminal violation of federal and/or state law.

Monster is dedicated to stopping this abuse and providing the safest possible environment for you to search and apply to jobs and manage your career.

Here are some important tips to use when dealing with prospective employers:
* Do not give your social security number, even if they suggest that it is for a "routine background check."
* Do not provide credit card or bank numbers, or engage in any monetary transactions.
* Do not provide any non-work related personal information (i.e. social security number, eye color, marital status etc.) over the phone or online.
* Be cautious when dealing with contacts outside of your own country.
* Read the article, "Protect Your Personal Info." here:
http://resume.monster.com/dosanddonts/personalinfo /

If you see a questionable job posting or site activity, please report the suspected fraud to Monster at reportfraud@monster.com

If you think you have been a victim of fraud, immediately report the committed fraud to your local police and contact Monster at reportfraud@monster.com, so steps can be taken for your safety.

Regards,
Heather Abbey
Monster Seeker Support

Monster respects your online time and privacy. This is a one-time service related email to notify all Monster users about job search safety issues.

Questions? Email us directly at mayday@monster.com. Please do not reply to this email.

To read the Monster Privacy Commitment, visit http://about.monster.com/privacy/.

Monster, 5 Clock Tower Place, Ste 500, Maynard, MA 01754

Okay, nice of them to look out for me. So I log into Monster, and what's the very first thing I see?

Welcome back to My Monster!

Lock in the lowest student loan rate in history!

Do you have more than $10,000 in outstanding student loans? If so, you may be able to lock in an interest rate below 4% and reduce your monthly payment by up to 50% through a Federal Consolidation Loan through College Loan Corporation.

* Required Information

* Yes No Do you have more than $10,000 in outstanding student loans?
* Yes No Are you currently out of school or will you be leaving school within the next 6 months?
* Yes No Are you currently in default or more than 60 days delinquent on any student loans?

* Home Telephone
* Last School Attended
* Date of Birth (Must be 21 or over)

By clicking yes below, I authorize College Loan Corporation to access available data regarding my outstanding federal education loans to determine my eligibility. I will also receive additional information regarding consolidation, and a Consolidation Loan application. I understand that Federal regulations require a borrower who has federal education loans held by a single lender to request consolidation from that lender. Monster may share my name, address, phone number, email address, and date of birth with CLC.

Yes, send me loan information from CLC!

No, Thanks

This was on a web page served by FastWeb ("a Monster company"). I had to click "No" to get to my Monster home page.

Ug.

P.S.: My journal contains the stupidest, funniest job ads I've come across in the past year.

Re:Severe penalties

[Rubik Penguin]

Prevention would be better than a cure. Credit companies on receipt of a credit/loan application should write to the employer asking for confirmation the person is employed there. The letter should ask the employer to pass on to the employee an attached letter that tells the employee he/she has applied for credit and how to contact the credit company if he/she hasn't made the application.

Only when employer confirms and employee doesn't complain is it safe to advance any money.

Current practice of lending money without properly verifying the identity of the applicant is the real crime here.

What about legitimate companies?

[pacc]

The trend around here is that temporary worker providers is getting into more and more advanced markets, and the positions filled can't always be said to be temporary.

When one of these companies are hired for recruiting services for their customers you can get disclaimers that the applications can be used for statistical or 'corporate purposes within the said firm.

Isn't it a more immediate threat that more and more information is processed by these kind of middlemen with no real ethics of their own other than to find new ways to earn money. I think that any data could be used for data-mining, and if you have to attach disclaimers of your own to prevent it I can't see that it will be some rare exceptions...

No real loss to me.

[/dev/trash]

I gave up looking online for a job about 9 months ago. It's pretty much just a way to sell ads and to collect info.

Zero Knowledge

[Vagary]

The problem is that employers, for whatever reason, want all sorts of information that they don't need. What's needed are some digital certificates to replace all these numbers.

Need to know if I can legally work in the country? Here's my certificate from HRDC. Need to give me a paycheck? Here's a unique deposit number from my bank. Need to do a credit check? Here's a certificate from my bank. etc.