How to Avoid Identity Theft When Applying for Jobs Online

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Keep yourself while looking for work by knowing how to avoid identity theft when applying for jobs online.

A job search can be a daunting enough experience as is, but you also have to keep in mind how to avoid identity theft when applying for jobs online. 

Most offers out there are far from perfect. But every once in a while, a real gem pops up—flexible hours, great pay, unlimited PTO.

Imagine that you find a nearly too-good-to-be-true job, ticking all the right boxes for you. Well, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Sadly, the odds of it being a scam are higher than you might think. The Identity Theft Resource Center’s Trends in Identity report shows a massive 118% increase in job scams from 2022 to 2023 alone.

You’re facing a tough dilemma: risk falling victim to identity fraud or miss out on a great opportunity? This, however, is not a chance you have to take with no preparation and protection whatsoever.

Once you understand how these cybercriminals work, it’s not too difficult to avoid identity theft and job scams. And we’re about to show you how.

Let’s dive in!

6 tell-tale signs of fake job ads online

Many people assume all job scams are obvious and let their guard down if the job ad seems legitimate or comes from a real company. 

However, scammers can impersonate recruiters on platforms like LinkedIn, FlexJobs, or similar sites. They can schedule interviews and even send fake contracts to steal personal details. 

In fact, according to the FTC, imposter scams were the most common type of job scam in 2023.

Sadly, there’s no single formula to spot and avoid online job scams. Fraudsters use various tricks and techniques, often appealing to different emotions. Some might reach out to you directly on LinkedIn, making you feel valued. Others might offer amazing benefits in the job ad, sparking your imagination.

But if you know what to look for, you can still spot the fakes.

Here’s a list of tricks scammers use in fake job ads:

Sign 1: Unsolicited Contact 

Talent hunting is real, and many recruiters contact potential candidates as part of their job.

Scammers know this and will attempt to exploit it.

Not every message on LinkedIn is a scam, but it should raise a red flag—especially if there’s a link to follow or the recruiter seems to be in a rush.

Such messages, whether on LinkedIn, email, or SMS, might direct you to websites designed to steal your personal information.

Sign 2: Too-Good-to-Be-True Offers 

Another thing you should take into consideration if your aim is preventing identity theft when looking for a job is your gut. Some companies do offer lots of flexibility and even unlimited PTO. In fact, there’s a whole wealth of benefits you absolutely should be looking for. 

However, such benefits come at a cost to the company, making it unlikely for a business to provide these conditions without expecting a lot in return.

If you see a list of amazing benefits, topped with high pay and low effort—don’t let your imagination get the better of you. It’s likely a fake job listing and part of an identity fraud scheme. 

Sign 3: Requests for Sensitive Data

It’s normal for recruiters to ask for your personal information—but not immediately upon application. Legitimate recruiters may ask for sensitive information like your Social Security number (SSN) during the interview stage, at the earliest.

Even once you reach the job interview stage, you shouldn’t let your guard down. According to a study by the Better Business Bureau, most victims of job scams who took part in a “job interview” never got to see an actual human face. If this happens to you, it’s another major red-flag. 

If you’re asked to provide personal or financial information—especially early in the recruitment process or before actually meeting with a recruiter—be wary.

Getting your name, birth date, and SSN could be the goal of the scam as part of a larger identity fraud scheme.

Sign 4: Quick Hires

Some companies do prefer quick hiring processes. But unless it’s an in-person, walk-in job, it’s rare for real recruiters to give you an offer after just a brief conversation.

Cybercriminals, however, use speed to trick you and often propose a quick hire to catch you off guard. This can be especially prevalent when it comes to seasonal work. So, if you’re looking for a seasonal job, start early and take your time to avoid job scams.

Scammers want to rush you in the hopes you’ll give up your personal information before you have time to think.

Sign 5: Unprofessional Practices 

Carefully inspecting emails from recruiters can help you avoid identity theft when applying for jobs online.

Although it’s possible to spoof email addresses, not all scammers go that far. If the recruiter is using a personal email account hosted on Gmail, Yahoo, or similar services, it’s likely a scam.

Legitimate companies can easily set up professional email accounts, so it’s very unlikely that a real recruiter would use a personal email address.

The same goes for the language used.

The less specific it is, the more likely it is that something is wrong. Scammers often use universal language with less detail to appeal to broader audiences.

Sign 6: Suspicious Activities 

Scammers have many tricks up their sleeves. One of the most common is using links. Leading you to a malicious website is often the easiest way to steal your sensitive data or money.

But there are other tactics, too.

In the era of remote working, fake recruiters might trick you into giving away your personal and financial information by claiming they need it to run a check before setting up your home office.

Sign 7: Lack of verification

Businesses want to be visible online—hence all the SEO effort. 

If the company posting the job ad is hard to find, lacks contact details or a website, and has little to no online presence, these are all major red flags.

Do a thorough job researching the company before sending an application. You’ll need this not only to help you identify and avoid job scams but also to increase your chances of impressing the recruiter during the interview stage. 

5 tips to avoid identity theft when applying for jobs online

Now that you know how to recognize them, here are some tips to help you avoid job scams.

Tip 1: Remove your information from people search sites

Cybercriminals can use information found on employment sites in several ways. 

They can use it to find your contact details, such as your LinkedIn profile, phone number, email, and even home address. 

They can also use the information they find on those sites to craft highly convincing attacks tailored to you. 

For example, they can easily find your associates and name-drop them, raising their credibility. Or they can find your employment history and create a fake listing seemingly perfect for your experience. 

Removing your personal information from these sites, whether yourself or using a tool like Incogni, will effectively limit how many scammers find and reach out to you and make it much harder for them to make you fall for their tricks. 

Tip 2: Use a dedicated email and phone number for job applications

This helps protect your primary email and phone number from scams and spam. 

Additionally, if you happen to fall for fraud, any accounts linked with your primary email and phone number will stay protected. 

• Create an email address just for job applications.
• Use a different phone number for job applications—consider using a privacy-focused service, like this alternative phone number from Surfshark.

Tip 3: Be careful with the personal details you share with potential employers

Preventing identity theft when looking for a job requires discretion. 

Some scams aim to steal your sensitive data, like your Social Security number or pictures of your documents. 

Once scammers get this information from you, they might stop contacting you. It may take a while before you realize you’ve been scammed.

To prevent this from happening, whether it’s on your resume or forms sent from employers, share only your:

• Name
• Phone number
• Email address

Unless certain you’re dealing with reputable job sites, don’t share your:

• Address
• Birth date
• Social Security number
• Details of your documents
• Pictures of your documents 

Tip 4: Always check that job ads, recruiters, and companies are real

Making sure job ads, recruiters, and companies are real can go a long way toward preventing identity theft when looking for a job.

It’s not foolproof because cybercriminals sometimes impersonate real companies, but it might lead you to others who have shared their unpleasant experiences online.

Here’s how to check if the online job posting is legitimate:

• Verify if the recruiter is real—Google their name or check out their LinkedIn profile.
• Google the job ad or company details.
• If you find a job ad on a job site, check if it’s also on the company’s own website.
• If you’re unsure, contact the company directly to confirm the listing is real.
• Look for reviews or reports about the company and recruiter on job sites like Glassdoor.

Tip 5: Be cautious with links and files shared by recruiters online

Most scammers rely on malicious links to steal your information for identity fraud. It doesn’t have to be a trojan file automatically downloading itself to your computer, but could just as easily be a proxy site (in the form of a fake job listing) requesting your data.

Scanning software can help you with preventing identity theft when looking for a job.  

• Check links before entering them. 
• Scan PDFs and other files before opening them with a file checker.
• Make sure websites start with “https” in the URL.

What to do if you fall for online job scams

Here’s what you can do to lessen the impact of falling for fake job ads:

• Change the passwords for any accounts linked to the phone number or email you gave to scammers.
• Report identity fraud to the Federal Trade Commission. 
• Freeze your credit account.
• Keep an eye on your financial accounts for any unexpected activity.
• Stay on the lookout for phishing scams that may follow.

Now that you know how to avoid identity theft when applying for jobs online, you can keep yourself safe and avoid common scams while searching for your next career opportunity.