By Jeremy Sollars
LOCALS are reminded to be cautious of employment advertisements that require them to hand over personal details such as tax file numbers, with online scams currently rife.
A Free Times reader form Stanthorpe contacted us over bogus advertisements for Pizza Hut on the online job search engine jora.com
The ads gave the address of Pizza Hut as 51 Marylands Street, Stanthorpe, with the chain not currently operating an outlet in Stanthorpe.
“The job ad goes to a third party in the United States who, after reading the fine print, keep and sell all information including tax file numbers,” the reader said.
“I am concerned for myself and for other jobseekers – I also noticed they had advertised in Toowoomba.”
Employment advertisement scams typically aim to commit ‘identity fraud’ and some ask for up-front payment of ‘job application fees’, and for travel and accommodation when applying for ‘vacancies’.
The Federal Government’s ‘Stay Smart Online’ website urges caution when trawling through online job ads.
“Scammers are understood to be posting fake job ads in newspapers and on recruitment websites,” the website advises.
“These scammers aim to obtain personal details such as bank and passport details so they can ‘steal’ the identity of the applicant in order to undertake malicious activities such as taking out loans in the victim’s name.
“This may force the victim into the sometimes complicated and expensive process of proving they are not liable for debts incurred or actions undertaken in their name by the scammers.
“Scammers may also seek to steal money from jobseekers by asking them to pay travel, accommodation or ‘job application fees’ as part of an application process for the fraudulent job.”
Stay Smart Online recommends that jobseekers independently verify any role they apply for. They can do this by contacting the company named in the advertisement directly and by verifying its phone number or email address by searching sources such as directories or the company’s official website.
Do not rely on details contained within the ad. For businesses that the jobseeker may not be familiar with, confirming their existence as official entities by searching the Australian Business Register for their Australian Business Number may also be useful.
Jobseekers should also be suspicious of any job offer that seems too good to be true, and of any up-front requests for sensitive personal information or bank account details. They should also be wary of jobs that involve moving money via their personal bank account or an account set up in their name, or forwarding packages to their home address, as these may involve illegal activity.
If you believe you have been a victim of an employment scam of any type, contact the government’s IDCARE hotline on 1300 432 273.
For more information on online safety visit www.staysmartonline.gov.au
