The Better Business Bureau says scams have been on the rise over the past three years and one of the categories involves job hunting. The bureau has tracked more than 3,600 schemes involving employer impersonations.
It’s led to the theft of social media accounts, data breaches, and many other types of fraudulent activity.
Julia Lewis, who is with the BBB, says people who are entering the job market for the first time, such as students, are some of the more vulnerable because they’re not really aware of what a typical employment process involves.
She says if a business hires you on the spot, that would be a red flag for many, but perhaps not for somebody who is unfamiliar with common practices. It usually takes a company some time to hire but ones who do it quickly simply want your information.