Experts reveal red flags for job seekers to distinguish between legitimate employers and fraudsters.
Fraud comes in many forms and is constantly evolving. There isn`t a single area of life left untouched by these malicious schemes. Recently, the job market, for instance, has become a «minefield.» Scammers, posing as recruiters, lure people with attractive vacancies and then extract money from unsuspecting victims for various «work processes» or to «assist» their new «supervisors.» We consulted with experts to find out how to protect yourself from scams in the job market.
A new threat targeting trusting job seekers is spreading online. According to a large financial corporation, fraudsters are extracting money from Russians using employment offers as their tool. Scammers post lucrative vacancies online, quickly «approve» candidates, and even sign fake employment contracts. Over the next few days, they simulate the work process, giving the «new employee» simple tasks. «After a few days, the `manager` urgently asks for help – to transfer money to specified details for buying medicine for parents or to pay via a link, promising to return the funds when they return from a business trip,» a bank press service described one such scam.
What follows is a familiar pattern for fraud victims: after the transfer, the fraudsters either demand more money or simply disappear, blocking all contact. Experts unanimously warn that requests to transfer money or pay for any «services» before starting a job are a clear sign of deception.
Ivan Solovyov, a Merited Lawyer of the Russian Federation and retired police colonel, told an MK correspondent about another scam scheme in the employment sector. A person receives a very attractive offer, usually for a civil law contract (GPC) or temporary employment. The contract looks good, the money is excellent, it matches their profile, and the company representative is very friendly. They discuss everything, the candidate agrees, and is sent the contract for review. As a «final touch,» they say: «Everything is good, but you need to prepay your NDFL (Personal Income Tax) to us; that is, you need to transfer this sum according to the contract. We will, of course, refund it when we pay your remuneration! But for now, this is a condition of the contract.»
«Since the remuneration (income) specified in the contract is substantial, the NDFL amount is also significant,» Ivan Solovyov continues. «And some people are so trusting and unaware that they transfer this NDFL amount to the fraudsters. These individuals are losing tens of thousands of rubles, sometimes up to 100,000 rubles. It is crucial to warn all citizens that tax legislation does not provide for advance payment of NDFL, so this is a clear case of fraud and abuse of trust.»
Regarding job market scams in general, the expert added that this area is one of the «juicy targets» for fraudsters, both Russian and those operating from other countries.
«This is all part of a hybrid war, so it`s necessary to double-check everything regarding employment,» warns the Merited Lawyer of the Russian Federation. «Don`t rush, read reviews, communicate in person only, not online, don`t send personal data to anyone. I believe everyone should already know not to pay money for placing a resume. And, of course, the company must be thoroughly checked for the presence of a license, reviews, that their official website isn`t a backup or fake version, but a legitimate site with history, plenty of reviews, and so on.»
If you are offered to undergo some «necessary» testing before being hired, but are asked to pay for it, this can also be a sign of fraud. To summarize: as soon as a recruitment agency or company you`re applying to asks you for any money for any purpose, you should stop communicating with them.
What other signs can help you distinguish a fake, potentially dangerous «employer» from a real one? «`To protect yourself from fraudsters when job searching, pay close attention to the email address from which messages are sent: it should match the official website of the employing company,` hh.ru press service told MK. `Always maintain the confidentiality of personal data and do not distribute it unnecessarily. Safe job searching is also facilitated by critically evaluating employer offers, using verified job services, checking employers for registration in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities (EGRUL). Additionally, you can check the hh.ru Russian Employer Rating – only reliable companies are included there.`»
Where do such fraudsters often operate?
«Currently, there are many scam schemes on recruiting platforms. For example:
- Telegram bots: Fraudsters contact potential victims as representatives of job search websites, claiming the chosen vacancy is fake and offering new, illegitimate options. They may also ask you to fill out a questionnaire via third-party bots, leading to data loss.
- Email lists: They send high-paying vacancies by email from a fake job site, then ask for a commission or card details for salary transfer.
- Login requests: Fraudsters ask you to log in through their account to download work-related applications.
- Password change warnings: They send an email warning about the need to change your password on a recruiting website, likely to steal credentials.
