Employment scams are skyrocketing in the US, according to a new report, and they will likely become more widespread in the future.
Employment Scams on the Rise
According to a new report from the Identity Theft Resource Center, an identity theft watchdog group, employment scams are on the rise thanks to the surging use of artificial intelligence technology.
118% Leap
The group has found that consumer reports of job scams leaped by a shocking 118% between 2022 and 2023, even as overall scam reports fell by 18% across the board.
AI to Blame?
The surge in job scams has been attributed in large part to the growing accessibility of advanced AI software, which helps scammers develop more sophisticated systems to convince people of their authority.
Better at Appearing Legitimate
“Identity thieves are improving at looking and sounding ‘legitimate,’ thanks in part to generative artificial intelligence, especially when it comes to job postings,” the ITRC reported.
The Process
But what is the process for employment scams, and how do they successfully take advantage of applicants? First, fraudulent job posts are made on legitimate job-seeking platforms and other websites used for professional development, such as LinkedIn.
A False Sense of Security
Many scammers go even further, linking these job posts to legitimate-seeming websites for businesses that don’t exist. Some even impersonate employees of well-known companies to lure applicants into a false sense of security.
Didn’t Seem Strange – at First
“Most victims did not think anything was strange,” the report noted. “We are in a new era of remote work, and using technology to communicate is very normal.”
Moving Off Platform
Once applicants had agreed to an interview, scammers would use the interview process to move off the original platform. They would then use email, text, third-party messaging apps, etc to send links and documents to applicants.
Providing Personal Info
At that point in the process, applicants would be asked to provide proof of identity and fill out documents that also asked for extra information – including their address, social security number, driver’s license, and more.
Part of the Process
The ITRC report noted that much of the success of these employment scams lies in the fact that applicants expect to be asked for proof of identity, such as a driver’s license or passport, and proof that they can legally work in the US, such as their SSN or direct deposit information.
Feelings of Discomfort
The report also detailed the experiences of a victim of one of these scams, who claimed that he began to feel uncomfortable with the people he spoke to during the interview process and did some further research.
Reverse Image Search
“He said he spoke to people he didn’t feel comfortable with, so he decided to look them up and found out that they used other people’s images,” an advisory note states. Unfortunately, by that point, the victim had already submitted his SSN, driver’s license photo, and address.
The Result of “AI-Driven Tools”
The ITRC claims that the rise in employment scams, and their growing success in stealing personal information, is “almost certainly the result of the introduction of AI-driven tools.”
Sophisticated Tools
AI tools are especially useful for scammers living in foreign countries, as they are able to use these tools to adjust their job pitches and communication by improving grammar and language usage and adjusting for cultural differences.
FTC Sheds More Light
Data from the Federal Trade Commission also sheds light on the scope of these operations. According to the FTC, consumers lost a combined $367 million to employment scams, including business opportunity scams, in 2022.
$2,000 Lost on Average
The average victim of these scams lost $2,000, and experts believe that that sum may climb higher in the future, with more people being affected.
As Long As There Are Jobs, There Are Job Scams
“Job scams have been around since there were jobs,” said ITRC president Eva Velasquez. ”[But] they’ll continue to grow because of a number of external factors that are occurring.”
Several Factors
These factors include the continual advancement of AI technology, the increasing demand and supply of remote work which largely operates through digital transactions, and the increasing lack of face-to-face interactions during the job hiring process.
A Simple Strategy
So, what does the ITRC recommend for job-seekers who want to avoid pernicious employment scams? According to the watchdog, it’s simple. “The primary defense against this advanced tech is effective and decidedly low-tech: pick up the phone and verify the contact directly from the source,” the ITRC writes.
Pick Up the Phone
If you notice anything strange or suspicious about an interviewer through their messages, those flaws will become more obvious when speaking over the phone. In some cases, they will refuse to speak to you at all, which is a sure sign that the interview offer is not legitimate.
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Fit Ztudio.
The content of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute or replace professional financial advice.
