FBI PSA: Cyber Criminals Use Fake Job Listings to Target Applicants’ Personally Identifiable Information

The FBI has published a Public Service Announcement (PSA) regarding fake job or hiring scams. As described by the PSA, these scams occur when criminal actors deceive victims into believing they have a job or a potential job. Criminals leverage their position as “employers” to persuade victims to provide them with personally identifiable information (PII) or to send them money. The PII can be used for any number of nefarious purposes, including taking over the victims’ accounts, opening new financial accounts, or using the victims’ identity for another deception scam (such as obtaining fake driver’s licenses or passports). Since early 2019, victims have reported numerous examples of this scam to the FBI. The average reported loss was nearly $3,000 per victim, in addition to damage to the victims’ credit scores. The PSA provides indicators of these types of scams, tips to protect yourself, and steps to take if you become a victim. Read the PSA at the FBI.