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Westpac New Zealand is urging job-seekers to be especially cautious after its financial-crime data revealed a 50 percent rise in reported job-scam cases in the six months to the end of August, compared with the same period last year.
“When jobs are harder to come by, it’s totally understandable that some people take risks in the application process that they might not normally take,” Westpac’s Fraud and Scams Intelligence manager, Jessica Channing says.
She warns of increasingly sophisticated tactics: “It always pays to take a step back and ensure the job you’re applying for is legitimate. Be wary of any online ad that involves you paying to secure an interview, or an enticing offer that comes out of the blue on social media, by text or through a messaging app.”
Westpac reports that 110 customers were scammed between January and August this year, each losing, on average, $1685.
“But the risk of job scams is not just financial loss, but identity theft when victims hand over personal details and documents because they think it is a legitimate job opportunity, which enables the scammers to commit further fraud against them,” Channing says.
Scams include ads for so-called ‘work-from-home’ roles that ask for payment to secure training, equipment or identity checks. One victim lost nearly $7000 after being asked to top up a cryptocurrency wallet.
Channing urges anyone facing uncertainty about a job offer to pause and double-check: if there’s a request for payment, personal bank detail disclosure, or the role sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Warning signs of a job-scam
The job involves using a personal account to send or receive funds. A legitimate employer will always operate from a business account.
You’re asked to make a payment to be eligible to apply, to secure an interview, or for training materials or starter kits.
The job pays much higher than other similar jobs based on your skills and experience and you’re not required to work many hours.
You’re contacted out of the blue about a job opportunity and they use social media or messaging apps to communicate.
You’re asked to share sensitive personal or banking information upfront.
