IT Security Alert: Job Scams on the Rise

The Department of Information Technology has issued a warning regarding a notable rise in job scams targeting the Seton Hall community. These scams often aim to exploit individuals who are new to the job market by promising lucrative employment opportunities in order to deceive users into divulging sensitive personal or banking information. Students, faculty and employees are urged to familiarize themselves with the common signs of job scams and how to report them.

How to Spot a Job Scam

Job scams typically begin with the receipt of an email or text message, supposedly from a reputable organization or university source, inviting you to apply for or start a job. Many times, the job seems too good to be true, with unusually desirable conditions (short hours, easy work, lots of money, ability to work from home). After you apply, a short and easy interview process, light on actual job details, may be conducted. These scams can also start with someone offering to help you with your resume or find a placement in a job. Common scenarios include:

• Unsolicited Job Opportunities: Fraudulent employer sends an email with a legitimate looking job description and asks to call, text or email back. These job opportunities are often unsolicited, meaning you never applied or interviewed for the job. 

• Fraudulent Person Posing as a Legitimate Employer: The email will appear to come from a legitimate company or recruiter name but the email address and contact information does not match employer’s actual email extension or website domain.

• Posing as Another Student, Faculty Member or University Employee: At first glance, the sender address appears to be legitimate, often mimicking the format of a faculty or staff email address such as [email protected]. It's important to note that this scam is not restricted to Seton Hall. Recipients may also be contacted by spoofed accounts from other universities.

During the application process, you may be asked to provide an alternate email address or personal phone number. Scammers often use this information to continue communication outside of official channels, such as your Seton Hall email, in order to evade detection by our IT Security Team. Once 'hired,' you are typically instructed to deposit counterfeit checks into your bank account under the guise of legitimate tasks, such as ordering office supplies. You may then be pressured to transfer a portion of these funds elsewhere. Falling victim to these scams can have serious consequences, as you not only risk financial losses but also face potential legal repercussions for facilitating the scammer in their criminal activity.

Avoid and Report Job Scams

With the rise in job scams, individuals are urged to be cautious when encountering job offers, especially those received through email or text. To minimize the risk of falling victim to such scams, consider the following preventive measures:

• Exercise caution: Avoid revealing personal information, especially banking details, to a sender unless you know for sure who the sender is.  
• Confirm sources: Authentic Seton Hall employment opportunities are typically posted through official university channels, such as university job boards, career services, etc. Seton Hall University professors do not request banking information for student employment.
• Opt for direct communication: Contact the supposed sender directly using verified contact information. Use new emails or text messages rather than replying directly to suspicious messages received. 
• Verify sender: Before disclosing personal information in response to an email, examine the sender's address thoroughly. Beware of email spoofing tactics employed by scammers to redirect replies to malicious addresses.
• When in doubt, close it out: If any doubt arises regarding an email, avoid engaging or clicking on any links. Instead, utilize the Report Phishing button to promptly alert the IT Security team of any suspicious emails that may compromise both you and the entire Seton Hall community.

For more information, check out a printable infographic on five ways to spot a phishing email, and visit www.shu.edu/technology/phishing-scams.

Categories: Science and Technology