The Rise of Employment Scams: How to Stay Vigilant During the Hiring Process

By: Isis Smith

Employment scams have become increasingly sophisticated, and we’ve seen this firsthand at A3 Consulting, LLC. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), reports of job scams have increased significantly in recent years, with victims losing millions of dollars annually to these frauds.?

Keisha Morton, Director of HR, reported that “multiple people this week have inquired about whether A3 had sent them job offers”. Scammers are targeting A3 by looking at available positions on the company website, then extending fraudulent offers to job seekers, often asking for money for equipment or sensitive banking information under the guise of sending payment. This scam is particularly deceptive because A3 is a legitimate company, and the fraudulent emails closely resemble our actual email domain. These scammers employ sophisticated phishing techniques, making it harder for victims to discern the fraud. Nick Staub, A3’s Director of Insider Threats, mentioned that “the folks ‘reporting’ the issue might be the actual phishing scam to get you to engage”. This is particularly dangerous as it gives these scammers sensitive information, like the names of A3 employees and the company’s email domain, allowing them to further deceive potential applicants and employees.

While misleading for job seekers, this also harms A3’s reputation and disrupts operations, as staff must address inquiries about fake offers. To protect both the company and applicants, employees should be vigilant, verify suspicious communications, be informed about the hiring process of any job for which you apply, and recognize red flags like requests for money or personal information, receiving an offer without being interviewed, or being offered a salary that seems too good to be true. To protect yourself, always verify company legitimacy, avoid sharing personal details early on, and never send money for a job offer. To avoid scams like these, A3 recommends that potential applicants refer to the A3’s company website or LinkedIn to confirm the legitimacy of a potential role, and contact the recruiting team to determine the accuracy of any offer. For further assistance, consult resources like the FTC or Better Business Bureau.