Fraud Alert: Posted resumes can lead to identity theft

Hunting for jobs on websites like Monster.com and Craigslist.com has become a ubiquitous part of the job application process. But posting resumes online through these web companies can put you at risk for identity theft. Resumes contain names, addresses and other sensitive information that can be abused by thieves.

One common fraud tactic is for an identity thief to pose as a potential employer and contact the job hunter asking for more information. Eager applicants may be more than willing to fork over their Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers and even bank/credit account information. According to an ABC News report:

Sometimes the thief is looking to open a bank account in your clean name. One 28-year-old man, who prefers to remain unidentified, says he got a call after posting his resume online. "He sounded like a professional executive on the phone," he said. "He was very articulate."

If you receive a call or email from a would-be employer, take a minute to verify their company exists before you proceed. Also, look for some common signs of fraud such as requests for sensitive identification numbers or for assistance with wire transfers. You can read more about preventing job search fraud online at Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com.

Comments

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My visa was just used to purchase 4 worth of something in Czechoslovakia, then 1500 worth of diamonds in Spain. Holy crap. She said it's nothing that I've done wrong, that the Evil Thieves are able to get credit card numbers from literally anywhere (like, for instance, the huge database theft that hit the parent company of HomeSense, where hundreds of thousands of visa billing records were stolen, likely a few of mine in there as well).