Identity thieves targeting online resume posters

[Phlegm]

From Business Journal:

Scam artists and identity thieves are finding fertile ground for potential victims of their nefarious plots -- résumé-posting employment Web sites.

The Internet offers job seekers a plethora of Web sites where they can post résumés and apply for positions as they climb the career ladder.
Story continues below ↓ advertisement

CareerBuilder, Monster, Azjobs.com, Jobing.com and a host of other employment Web sites offer Arizona job applicants the ability to post their résumés.

Those sites also offer personal information, addresses and work histories that are the golden ticket for scam artists and ID theft rings.

The concern is especially high in Arizona. The state ranks first in the nation in per capita identity-theft crimes. Arizona also is home to more than 500,000 illegal immigrants, who, in some cases, use false documents and fake Social Security numbers.

"I can see it as fertile ground for that kind of activity," said David Barton, a partner with Phoenix law firm Quarles & Brady Streich Lang and an ID theft expert.

Barton said job seekers should not include Social Security numbers and dates of birth on their online résumé because that, along with a home address, could help ID thieves get credit cards under false pretenses.

"What identity thieves are after is a profile, and a profile includes a home address, your birth date and your Social Security number," said Barton. "We have so many employees working out there with false credentials."

In some instances, ID thieves and illegal immigrant workers will establish fake identifications by using bits and pieces of various individuals' personal data. For example, an undocumented worker may use another person's Social Security number while maintaining his own name and home address.

Identity theft rings, which often are tied to illegal drugs, will use a hodge-podge of an individuals' personal data to establish credit card accounts.

Barton said those posting any personal data on the Web should keep close tabs on their credit scores and ratings to make sure new fraudulent accounts and cards are not being opened under their names.

"The key is vigilance," he said.

Officials at employment Web sites such as Monster and CareerBuilder, say they are concerned about the problem and tell résumé posters not to include key data such as Social Security numbers on their résumés or disclose confidential personal data or credit card information to prospective employers.

"I think it's important to note that the vast majority of jobs posted on CareerBuilder.com are the result of the ongoing relationships our direct sales force has with customers," said CareerBuilder spokeswoman Jenny Sullivan. "While scams are not a common occurrence at CareerBuilder.com, we take the issue very seriously and have implemented measures to help protect our job seekers."

Employment Web sites also are trying to make sure they are not allowing criminal elements access to their résumé databases.

Monster Anti-Fraud Vice President Michele Pearl said her company tries to make sure employers who contract to access résumé data are legitimate. Pearl said Monster screens prospective employers to ensure they will use résumé information for proper purposes.

Local ID theft experts say anytime an individual, business or job applicant posts information on the Web, that information is available to criminal elements as well as reputable businesses.

John Flynn, an attorney with the Tiffany & Bosco law firm, agreed that the key is to not post home addresses and telephone numbers along with more confidential data such as date of birth and Social Security numbers.

"Applicants should consider using a two-tiered approach so that they decide when to provide more information after their somewhat sanitized résumé has piqued an employer prospect's attention," said Flynn.

That means keeping personal data private until a formal interview has been established and working with only established and respected employers.

Still, Flynn said résumé posters have little recourse if their personal data is used for illegal purposes because most Web sites and companies require users to waive liability in order to post information.

"Everyone must be cautious and spend the time to craft a different sanitized, but still equally impressive résumé, that will get someone's attention," he said.

There also have been some cases of scam artists contacting individuals who have posted résumés online to try to lure them into check cashing and other frauds.

One recent scam involves a fake European company trying to get U.S. job seekers to cash fake checks purported to be official checks from the state of Arkansas. Victims are asked to cash those fake state checks at check-cashing outlets and then wire the money to Europe to help get the bogus company's U.S. operations up and running.

Flynn said the Internet offers job seekers the ability to get their résumé to potential employers in a fast, efficient manner. Unfortunately, that efficiency can also help ID thieves and other criminal elements.

"The speed which information flows through the Internet is a blessing and a curse," Flynn said.