When you lose your job, it can feel like the weight of the world rests on your back. However, when browsing employment opportunities, you may see the perfect position. Not only is the pay great, but it’s close to home and offers great benefits. After applying, you may be ecstatic to learn that you’ve landed an interview, which subsequently leads to a job! Unfortunately, if after submitting your direct deposit information, your new employer goes radio silent, you may be the victim of fake job listings used to steal identities. If this reflects your situation, the following blog explores what you should know about these matters, including the importance of working with a Michigan identity theft lawyer to help you understand your rights and fight to reclaim your identity.
How Do Fake Job Listings Result in Identity Theft?
When you apply for a job listing without knowing that it is fake, you are not providing your personal information to a hiring manager but rather a thief or scammer. As such, you’ll provide them with sensitive information, like your full legal name, address, and phone number. However, when you get the “job,” the thief will likely ask for your banking information for payment purposes. By providing this, along with your personal details, they can steal your identity. In some schemes, the scammers will go as far as to pose as the hiring manager in order to make the applicant feel more comfortable sharing this information.
What Are Signs a Job Listing is Illegitimate?
When a fake job listing is posted, the goal is to make it as attractive as possible in order to obtain the most applicants or victims. As such, the first sign a job posting might be fake is that it seems too good to be true. For example, if it requires no prior experience but offers a six-figure salary and unlimited paid time off, it may not be legitimate.
Another method you can utilize is to research the company. Often, thieves will post job listings using the names of legitimate businesses to make them appear more realistic, even going so far as to clone the legitimate company’s website to link in the job posting. However, before you apply, you should verify the information using the actual company. You can check their website or a networking platform like LinkedIn to see if the job listing is mentioned anywhere else.
If you have reason to believe you are the victim of a fake job listing in Michigan, it’s imperative to connect with an experienced identity theft defense attorney with Lyngklip & Associates. Our team understands how complicated it can be to recover from identity theft, which is why we are here to guide you. When you need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact our dedicated firm today.
