How To Spot Job Recruitment Scams on WhatsApp (2023)
There has been an increase in WhatsApp job recruitment scams lately. In September alone, lots of people received WhatsApp job offers from scammers posing as recruitment consultants for Tarsier Pharma, Insight Global, Russel Reynolds, Prysmian Group, etc.
Of course, it is all a scam. Sadly, lots of job seekers were victims of this scam as it looked real, especially as the scammers were posing as representatives for recruitment companies.
How Does WhatsApp Job Scam Work?
The scammers pose as recruitment consultant for some recruitment companies. In most scenario, they mention a well known recruitment firm. Once their victim indicate interest, the scammers use fake job opportunities with high pay to trick recipients. They often claim it is a ‘remote job’ ‘part-time’ or a data entry job, making it sound believable.
Once they’ve gained their victim’s trust, they request for personal information, and then proceed to convince them to send ‘equipment fee’ or ‘application fee’ money.
People who fall for the scam, end up loosing their money and being vulnerable to identity theft.
How To Spot Job Recruitment Scams on WhatsApp
1. You’re Asked To Pay Money
Legitimate employers and hiring managers don’t require an application fee or expect you to pay for training. Sometimes this fee can be labelled ‘equipment fee’ for training. Whatever name it is, don’t fall for it.
2. Upfront Requests for Sensitive Information
Sensitive information (like your social security number, date of birth, or bank account information) isn’t a part of early recruitment process. Eventually, your employer will need this information for taxes and benefits enrollment, but only after you have a written job offer and sometimes not until your first day on the job.
3. Impersonates a Recruitment Company
In order to gain your trust, the scammers often use the name and brand of known recruitment companies. The first thing you should do is to search for the company’s official email address online and contact them in regards to the job. That way, you can verify if it is scam or legit.
4. Only Uses Texts and Online Chats
As technology evolves, so do scams, and some recruitment scams have migrated to texts or online chats especially via WhatsApp. Most legitimate companies don’t reach out to recruit via text unless you already applied on the company’s site and opted to receive text messages.
5. If It Seems Too Good To Be True
It feels great that a company is fast-tracking you, contacting you within an hour of applying, and doesn’t require an interview or checking references. But as the saying goes, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
What To Do If You Receive Job Recruitment Texts on WhatsApp
Do Not Provide Your Sensitive Information
No matter how legit a prospective job offer looks, do not provide sensitive information like your DATE & YEAR of birth, Social security number, or bank account information.
Do Not Click on Any Link Contained in The Text
If the text or email contains a link, do not click on it as it could be malicious. Often times, hackers pose as job recruiters to gain access to their victim’s data. Clicking on the link might install a malware on your device that’d easily steal sensitive and confidential data.
Report The Scam and Create Awareness
The final step you should take is to report the scam to law enforcement agencies in order to stop the scam and create awareness. You can do to the FTC via ReportFraud.ftc.gov or Internet Crime Complaint Center.
End Note
WhatsApp job recruitment scam uses high pay to trick people into paying a fake ‘application fee’ and revealing their personal information. Don’t be a victim!
When approached by a job recruiter either online or offline, the first thing to do is research the company and the job opportunity. Find the company on the internet and review their online presence, including their social media. Enter the company’s name and the word “scam” on search engine to see if the business is legitimate.
See similar WhatsApp job scam; Johnston Vere, Reed Elsevier, Accept Recruitment UK, Interquest Group, LHR Recruitment, etc.
