Identity Theft and Your Online Job Search

While identity theft is nothing new, the Web has opened up a whole new world of opportunity for identity thieves.

According to the FBI, identity theft is the number one online fraud. The US Federal Trade Commission says that identity theft is the number one source of consumer complaints: 42 percent of all complaints in 2001.

The thief will use your personal information to open credit card accounts, cell phone accounts, open bank accounts in your name, and write bad checks, leaving the victim with ruined bills and credit scores. Identity thieves can pose as representatives of banks, Internet service providers, and even government agencies to get you to reveal your Social Security number, your mother’s maiden name, financial account numbers, and identifying information.

In a recent article (http://www.msnbc.com/news/830411.asp), MSNBC reported the case of a man who fell victim to a fraudulent job posting posted on Monster.com. According to the article:

“It was just the job Jim needed: a marketing manager position at Arthur Gallagher, a major international insurance broker. And just days after Jim responded to the job posting on Monster.com, a director of HR sent an email promising “We’re interested in you,” the note said. Salary is negotiable, clients are great. In fact, clients are so valuable and sensitive that you’ll have to submit to a background check like part of the interview process. Eager for the job, Jim complied and submitted nearly every clue to his digital identity, including his age, height, weight, Social Security number, bank account numbers, even his mother’s maiden name “.

Jim spent the day canceling his credit cards, checking his balances, and contacting the credit bureaus, but he worries that his information is now “out there.”

There are warning signs that can alert you to fraudulent job offers. While these items don’t necessarily mean the listing is a scam, they are indications that you should perform additional verification.

–Incorrect grammar and spelling errors

–The area codes of the telephone or fax number do not match the address provided

–Unrealistic salary

Online job databases aren’t the only places identity thieves look for personal information. In recent indictments in the US, individuals have been accused of obtaining and using personal information in various ways. In Miami, two people have been charged with illegally tapping into restaurant computer networks using the cover of a shell corporation. A clerk at the New York State Insurance Fund stole office files and used stolen identities (of people across the country and of fellow employees) to obtain goods and services. A Kaiser Permanente phlebotomist has admitted using the personal information of patients and employees to open credit card accounts in multiple names.

Recently, an FTC investigation into a work-from-home scheme spawned an incredible “scam within a scam” when a man posing as an FTC employee emailed hundreds of victims of the scam. He requested personal information indicating that it was to be used as evidence in the case.

While it is impossible to completely eliminate your chances of becoming a victim, you can minimize your risk by doing the following:

–If a prospective employer asks you for personal information, you should ask for their contact information and then separately look up the company information and contact them to verify that they actually exist. While it’s not unusual for an employer to ask for certain job-related information (such as your employment history and previous employers), it’s not appropriate for them to ask for personal information (such as a social security number) unless they’re actually hiring you (and employers). have checked to make sure they are legitimate). Even then, you should never be asked for financial information like a credit card number.

–On online resumes, never include your social security number and keep even your employment history brief.

–Check your credit card statements frequently. Believe it or not, many people don’t even review them!

–Be sure to follow up with creditors if your bill doesn’t arrive on time. A missing credit card bill may mean an identity thief has changed your billing address to cover their tracks.

–Order your credit report from one of the major credit bureaus each year and verify that everything is correct.

What to do if you have been a victim of identity theft:

The FTC maintains the Consumer Sentinels Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse, the national repository for identity theft complaints. The FTC established the toll-free Identity Theft Hotline, 1.877.IDTHEFT (1.877.438.4338), and the Identity Theft Website (www.consumer.gov/idtheft) to provide victims of identity theft with a central place to report your problems and receive useful information.

The Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). You can use their online system to file a complaint.

[http://www1.ifccfbi.gov/index.asp]