Don't Lose Your Password in a Job Hunting Scam
Jackie here. Job hunting is stressful on its own, and identity thieves often try to cash in on eagerness find a job. This latest job-hunting scam might look like a promising job opportunity, but is really a way to obtain your password and gain access to other accounts. Here’s how to protect yourself.
Job Offers Aren’t Always as They Seem
You get an email that appears to be from a human resources department. They claim they found your info on LinkedIn. You’ve been searching for jobs and this seems like an answer to your hunt. The email looks legitimate. It often contains a company letterhead, a signature block, seemingly official email addresses, etc. The company asks you to click on a link to open a Google Docs file and share your information.
Don’t Click the Link
If you see this email, don’t click the link. It is actually a phishing attempt. The scammers have created public folder on Drive. When you click the link, you are directed to enter your password (as often happens when using Drive), but this time it isn’t Google asking, it’s the scammers and when you enter your password, they have it.
How to Protect Yourself
If you want to avoid this scam and others like it, I’ve got a simple piece of advice for you: don’t click on unknown links. If you receive an unsolicited email containing links or attachments, don’t click. You can find more advice for avoiding this scam from the BBB.