Check that your details haven’t been compromised

You can check if your email or phone details have been leaked online here: https://haveibeenpwned.com/

Update your passwords and enable 2-factor authentication where possible

If you’re seeing strange activity in your online accounts – think unknown password reset requests – then consider updating your password and enable 2FA or multi-factor authentication to secure your accounts.

Be wary of messages and offers that seem too good to be true

Has someone reached out to you on LinkedIn with a job listing for a well-known luxury brand with a significant salary? Has the recruiter just started in recruitment or with this luxury brand? Does the role have a generic job title? Is the salary out of the ordinary for your market value?

If the recruiter has very few connections, the job title is generic and the salary isn’t aligned with market value, then you could be looking at a scam. Check the details before you reply.

Do your homework

Check that incoming messages and calls are from your country or region, unless you’re expecting a call from an overseas recruiter.

Before responding to a recruiter’s message, do your homework. Look them up on LinkedIn and online. You should get a good idea of what kind of candidates and clients they work with – and more importantly, if that suits the kind of role you’re looking for.

It’s a big red flag if the recruiter or agency has no online presence.

Do not engage with recruiters who ask you to pay an upfront fee

Recruiters and employers should never ask you for payment. They also won’t ask you for banking or tax information until the final stages of the hiring process – if someone is pushing you for this information – beware!

Keep up to date, keep your details safe.

As the job market fluctuates, employment and recruitment scams are increasing. Last year, Australians lost more than $8.7m to recruitment scams and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission warns that scammers are increasingly targeting the job market.

Keep your details safe by staying vigilant and reading the latest information from trusted sources.

More information from around the web https://www.idcare.org/fact-sheets/employment-scams

Australia https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/new-year-new-job-beware-of-scammers https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/jobs-employment/jobs-employment-scams

New Zealand https://netsafe.org.nz/employment-scams/ https://netsafe.org.nz/how-to-improve-your-online-privacy-and-security/

If you have any concerns or would like to report scams using the Talent brand or identities of our consultants, please report them to: cybersecurity@talentinternational.com