Insurer Says Swindler Posing As Highmark Job Recruiter
By Bill Toland, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Throughout the summer, 14 people reported having been contacted by a fictitious Highmark recruiter, who then "makes employment offers on behalf of the company. In most instances, those contacted have never applied for a position with Highmark," a company spokesman said.
"At this point,"
As with most employment scams, the solicitors are after things like
Generally, such scams are passive -- a bogus employment ad will be placed on websites and social media platforms such as
Some scammers try to immediately relieve job seekers of money, charging for fake "processing fees," "career services" or other costs associated with the nonexistent job. Others are after personal data, which they can then use to re-create identities, or which they can sell online to those looking to do the same.
But as people become wary of fake job ads, scammers have adjusted their methods, casting a smaller net and more actively targeting certain individuals. For example, fake recruiters might scan online resume sites to search for actual job seekers and their contact information, then contact them via text message or Facebook, claiming to be with a recruiting agency or a well-known company.
"If you get somebody on the phone, it obviously takes a lot more time, but it's obviously a lot more productive," said
In other words, "If you're desperate for a job, you're going to turn over the private information," even if it smells fishy, he said.
But less and less smells fishy these days,
Consumers are so used to spam emails and phishing attempts that it becomes "background noise. ... You walk into the store to buy something, and they ask you for your phone number" or ZIP code, he said. Asking for personal identifiers during routine phone, online or in-person transactions has become much more prevalent, which is why people sometimes let down their guard.
Rule of thumb: Never give out your
But Highmark -- and many other employers -- do, in fact, make unsolicited "cold" calls seeking to recruit potential candidates "about employment opportunities, even if they have not previously expressed interest in working for the company," Highmark said.
Employment offers "are not extended until a formal, multi-phase interview and screening process has been completed ... [recruiters] do not make employment offers during initial communications."
Highmark suggests that if any one suspects they have been contacted by a fake recruiter, they should contact the
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