From CNBC: 2024-07-07 09:00:01

Employment scams surged in 2023, with job scam reports increasing 118% from the previous year. Thieves pose as recruiters on sites like LinkedIn to steal personal information, leading to victims losing about $2,000 on average. Job scams accounted for $367 million in losses in 2022, revealing a growing threat.

AI advancements and remote work have fueled job-scam growth, allowing scammers to create more believable job listings. The rise of digital-only interactions during the pandemic era has made job seekers vulnerable to scams, as con artists push for money or personal information during the hiring process.

Job seekers should be cautious of requests for money or sensitive data during the hiring process, as scammers may promise reimbursement but fail to deliver. To protect oneself from job scams, it’s crucial to independently verify companies, avoid sharing unnecessary personal information upfront, and be wary of offers that sound too good to be true.

Read more: Job scams surged 118% in 2023, aided by AI. Here’s how to stop them