Anyone who suddenly gets a text suggesting they are being offered a new job must be on high alert.It appears that young people looking for work are firmly in the sights of hackers, and worse still, these scams appear to be working.According to the team at Virgin Media O2, job scams are now in the top 10 most commonly reported.Phishing email scams target ‘vulnerable people’ says expert It's no surprise that cyber crooks have turned to this method.
According to the latest ONS figures almost one million 16–24-year-olds are currently not in education, employment or training.Article continues below ADVERTISEMENTSuddenly receiving some good news and the fear of missing out on a job can make these messages hard to ignore.In fact, Virgin Media O2 says that nearly one in three young people say they’ve fallen for a recruitment scam.That's the highest proportion of any age group.Here are some messages that should instantly raise a red flag.“Hello, this is Charles from [recruitment platform].
A job may fit your profile.Reply YES for details or STOP to opt out.” Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT“Simply take 60-90 minutes out of your day to work at your favourite time and place, and you can easily earn £100-£300!” Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT“Hi, I’m Anna from [recruitment agency].We’ve got a fantastic job opportunity that might be just what you’re looking for.
Can i share the details with you?” Urgent email warning issued to anyone with a Tesco Clubcard Virgin Media deleting email addresses unless you pay 99p and £65 a year fee Tech news, reviews and latest gadgets plus selected offers and competitions I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family.Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over.We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you.
This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you.You can unsubscribe at any time.More Info.Those fooled face losing money by being asked to pay for equipment or sign-up fees.
Many are also asked to download fake apps, which then set about installing dangerous malware.“Looking for work can be challenging, and an unexpected recruitment message can look like the break someone has been waiting for," Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, explained."Scammers exploit that hope, posing as familiar companies and recruiters to persuade people to respond.“With recruitment scams entering our Scam Index top 10, we’re revealing some of the messages fraudsters use so people know what to look out for.They don’t always promise extraordinary salaries – some look like an ordinary introduction from a recruiter."Before responding to an unexpected job message, check the opportunity directly with the company using contact details you’ve found yourself.”If you are worried by these scams there are some way to avoid becoming the next victim.Virgin says it's vital to find the organisation’s official website independently and use its published contact details to verify the recruiter and vacancy.It's also good to check if the company getting in touch is even genuine, and alarm bells should ring if high earnings are promised without needing experience.Finally, avoid clicking links, downloading software or sending payments or sensitive details in response to an unverified approach.
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