Unemployed are popular target for identity theft on clarkhoward.com

RIP-OFF ALERT: The unemployed are the newest "fat target" for identity thieves, according to The Chicago Tribune. Scamsters are running fake help wanted ads, phony job search services and bogus resume-posting websites.

In the past, Clark has talked about the efforts that Monster.com made to warn people about employment scams. It's important to note the scamsters are not affiliated with Monster.com in any way.

So what kind of info are people divulging that they shouldn't be? Social Security numbers, their mother's maiden name and their addresses for the last 5 years!

That's basically everything an identity thief needs to build a new profile as if they were you or take over your existing accounts.

According to The Chicago Tribune article, there's been a 400% rise in this type of fraud since the recession began.

In some of the more sophisticated frauds, someone may even mock interview you to convince you that you're a strong candidate for a job…and then turn around and ask for your sensitive info.

What others are saying

Scam Alert
I received an email from Meta Investments Ltd. Uk in answer to an accounts Receivables/Collections position. They said money would come from their clients and go into MY bank account where I would deduct my % and forward the rest to them. I don't think so....................
By Janice @ 07/22/09 10:39:11 AMreport abuse
Craigs List
I think that at least 90% of all the employment offers on Crags list are scam of one kind or another.
By Stephen @ 07/10/09 11:51:09 AMreport abuse
Internet scams
Is there anything on the Internet that is not a scam ? I am begining to wonder.
By Stephen Gum @ 07/10/09 11:48:45 AMreport abuse
ABOUT CRAIGSLIST
most scammers like that you will see have a @google.com email address. For what i seen about 90% of craigslist scammers use that email.
By Daniel G @ 06/28/09 03:16:50 PMreport abuse
skip Craigslist
Join a professional networking group like LinkedIN. Don;t use Craigs list -- too many crazies.
By JB Frick @ 06/25/09 11:19:08 AMreport abuse
craigslist
Quit beating down cl, don't use them if you are afraid, you can find the same trouble in all classifieds, in all publications,in every countries, it has always been thus.
By william @ 06/24/09 08:00:57 PMreport abuse
CraigsList Job Ads
This brings up a point with respect to CraigsList job postings. I send cover letters and Resumes ONLY to those that provide information I can use to verify a company/firm actually exists. I see many, many job postings that provide only an anonymous CraigsList Email address, and some of those even ask for salary history and references. First, I never send those letters and Resumes to them; I have no idea of where my information is going. And when they ask for "salary history" and/or "references," even if I can verify the company, my cover letter states that salary history and/or references, as the case may be, "can be provided at time of interview." If they're really interested, they'll set up an interview and I can discuss that information at that time.

Moreover, for an address I have a post office box, and for a contact number I use a prepaid, anonymous cell number.

I work at a job that is overwhelmingly held by women, and I often wonder if those anonymous ads are an attempt to get women's information; e.g., home addresses, etc. As for me, I need a job as much as the next guy, but I'm not sending any of my information out when I don't know where it's going. I know companies are reluctant as well to reveal themselves because they don't want to be bothered by telephone calls and placement agencies, but still, you have to think about your own security. No one needs a job THAT badly.
By Tony @ 05/21/09 05:42:01 AMreport abuse
We were vicitms of identity theft by Property Management Company
This is one of the number one (#1) places that a person's identity will be stolen from. Be leary of any complex that "wants a 10 year" history of your addresses,details of your next of kin, children's social security numbers, list of past employers, etc. Even pet tag numbers.

We did these few things, and actually caught a "property manager and her staff" in the act of indentity theft against us:

1. Type your application out on a typewriter. This blocks any one "adding" to your applications.

2. Deliberately make a few "typos" in our case we change the middle initials on a couple of names: a T becomes a P etc.
3. Use only the reported addresses on your credit report for past addresses on your applications. You will need to pull all 3 of your credit reports to figure out the most common one used by the credit bureaus.
4. Have a mail drop to receive all of your mail--except what is to be sent by your "landlord". Landlord doesn't get the maildrop address, they only get your address of the rental property you have rented from them. ( this one factor alone, caught our thief)
5. Put a freeze on your credit, immediately after you rent. Treat it like you are locking a door on the new "property managemet company" without their knowledge.

Our complex thieves: attempted to re-direct our utilities bills, phone bills, and other mail from our former address to our new rental unit. But, because we had a drop box, they didn't know about, they were foiled. We became suspicious immediately, and started an investigation into both the manager and her employees. Sure enough, credit cards started showing up in the mail at our rental unit only--with the typos on the cards etc.

Set a few traps, don't trust anyone with your information.
By Christiana and Howard Hayes @ 05/20/09 12:01:40 PMreport abuse
Craigslist
I agree with the previous poster. C.L. is a joke. I saw what I "thought" were good job ads, but then they want you to sign up for stuff and give a cc #. No legit job ad needs that. If it sounds too good to be true....!
By sp @ 05/20/09 11:51:19 AMreport abuse
Craigslist
I have applied to so many companies through Craigslist and then received many scam emails.

I think Craigslist is the worst for dirtbags to abuse job seekers. It is too bad that Craigslist fails to protect its customers. I may stop using Craigslist for anything. I certainly do not send personal info. to any ad on the site.
By Jason @ 05/19/09 10:52:41 PMreport abuse
www.scams.com is a good place. Or, just google the company that contacts you (if they provided it), typically information will come up about those companies and you can judge for yourself after you read about them.
By Tina @ 05/19/09 06:33:30 PMreport abuse
Fake emplyment adds
Just wondering how we are supposed to guard against this?
:(
By Bertha @ 05/19/09 04:17:45 PMreport abuse

Scam Alert

I received an email from Meta Investments Ltd. Uk in answer to an accounts Receivables/Collections position. They said money would come from their clients and go into MY bank account where I would deduct my % and forward the rest to them. I don't think so....................

By Janice @ 07/22/09 10:39:11 AMreport abuse

Craigs List

I think that at least 90% of all the employment offers on Crags list are scam of one kind or another.

By Stephen @ 07/10/09 11:51:09 AMreport abuse

Internet scams

Is there anything on the Internet that is not a scam ? I am begining to wonder.

By Stephen Gum @ 07/10/09 11:48:45 AMreport abuse

ABOUT CRAIGSLIST

most scammers like that you will see have a @google.com email address. For what i seen about 90% of craigslist scammers use that email.

By Daniel G @ 06/28/09 03:16:50 PMreport abuse

skip Craigslist

Join a professional networking group like LinkedIN. Don;t use Craigs list -- too many crazies.

By JB Frick @ 06/25/09 11:19:08 AMreport abuse

craigslist

Quit beating down cl, don't use them if you are afraid, you can find the same trouble in all classifieds, in all publications,in every countries, it has always been thus.

By william @ 06/24/09 08:00:57 PMreport abuse

CraigsList Job Ads

This brings up a point with respect to CraigsList job postings. I send cover letters and Resumes ONLY to those that provide information I can use to verify a company/firm actually exists. I see many, many job postings that provide only an anonymous CraigsList Email address, and some of those even ask for salary history and references. First, I never send those letters and Resumes to them; I have no idea of where my information is going. And when they ask for "salary history" and/or "references," even if I can verify the company, my cover letter states that salary history and/or references, as the case may be, "can be provided at time of interview." If they're really interested, they'll set up an interview and I can discuss that information at that time.

Moreover, for an address I have a post office box, and for a contact number I use a prepaid, anonymous cell number.

I work at a job that is overwhelmingly held by women, and I often wonder if those anonymous ads are an attempt to get women's information; e.g., home addresses, etc. As for me, I need a job as much as the next guy, but I'm not sending any of my information out when I don't know where it's going. I know companies are reluctant as well to reveal themselves because they don't want to be bothered by telephone calls and placement agencies, but still, you have to think about your own security. No one needs a job THAT badly.

By Tony @ 05/21/09 05:42:01 AMreport abuse

We were vicitms of identity theft by Property Management Company

This is one of the number one (#1) places that a person's identity will be stolen from. Be leary of any complex that "wants a 10 year" history of your addresses,details of your next of kin, children's social security numbers, list of past employers, etc. Even pet tag numbers.

We did these few things, and actually caught a "property manager and her staff" in the act of indentity theft against us:

1. Type your application out on a typewriter. This blocks any one "adding" to your applications.

2. Deliberately make a few "typos" in our case we change the middle initials on a couple of names: a T becomes a P etc.
3. Use only the reported addresses on your credit report for past addresses on your applications. You will need to pull all 3 of your credit reports to figure out the most common one used by the credit bureaus.
4. Have a mail drop to receive all of your mail--except what is to be sent by your "landlord". Landlord doesn't get the maildrop address, they only get your address of the rental property you have rented from them. ( this one factor alone, caught our thief)
5. Put a freeze on your credit, immediately after you rent. Treat it like you are locking a door on the new "property managemet company" without their knowledge.

Our complex thieves: attempted to re-direct our utilities bills, phone bills, and other mail from our former address to our new rental unit. But, because we had a drop box, they didn't know about, they were foiled. We became suspicious immediately, and started an investigation into both the manager and her employees. Sure enough, credit cards started showing up in the mail at our rental unit only--with the typos on the cards etc.

Set a few traps, don't trust anyone with your information.

By Christiana and Howard Hayes @ 05/20/09 12:01:40 PMreport abuse

Craigslist

I agree with the previous poster. C.L. is a joke. I saw what I "thought" were good job ads, but then they want you to sign up for stuff and give a cc #. No legit job ad needs that. If it sounds too good to be true....!

By sp @ 05/20/09 11:51:19 AMreport abuse

I have applied to so many companies through Craigslist and then received many scam emails.

I think Craigslist is the worst for dirtbags to abuse job seekers. It is too bad that Craigslist fails to protect its customers. I may stop using Craigslist for anything. I certainly do not send personal info. to any ad on the site.

By Jason @ 05/19/09 10:52:41 PMreport abuse

www.scams.com is a good place. Or, just google the company that contacts you (if they provided it), typically information will come up about those companies and you can judge for yourself after you read about them.

By Tina @ 05/19/09 06:33:30 PMreport abuse

Fake emplyment adds

Just wondering how we are supposed to guard against this?
:(

By Bertha @ 05/19/09 04:17:45 PMreport abuse

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May 19, 2009 -- Unemployed are popular target for identity theft

What others are saying