A surge in job scams reported by consumers has been observed in 2023, with a staggering 118% increase, and the trend is expected to continue in 2024, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center’s latest report.
Scammers typically create professional-looking profiles, fake websites, and impersonate real employees to lure victims into their trap. The attacks often occur on online job search platforms such as LinkedIn, where scammers request applicants’ personal information, including Social Security numbers, driver’s license pictures, and addresses, during the interview process.
Victims often become suspicious only after sharing their information and not receiving immediate responses or being asked to provide login credentials to ID.me. The report suggests that artificial intelligence is likely playing a significant role in scammers’ refined pitches and messaging skills.
The increase in job scams mirrors the overall trend of scams, with Americans experiencing a record loss of $10 billion in 2023, a 14% increase from 2022. Investment scams accounted for roughly half of the losses, with more than 690,000 people falling prey to fraudsters in 2023.
“These digital tools are making it easier than ever for scammers to target hard-working Americans, and we’re seeing the effects in the data,” said Samuel Levine, director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
