ATS Scam - Part 1 - Repost

ATS Scam - Part 1 (Repost - This just happened again to a client of mine - needed to make this aware again to all readers.

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An ATS scam (Applicant Tracking System scam) is a fraudulent scheme where fake recruiters manipulate your fear of being rejected by hiring software to trick you into paying for useless resume reformatting services. 

The job listing is entirely fake, and the sole goal of the scammer is to steal your money and personal data. 

Source: LinkedIn

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Does this post add value to your business day? I post about job search best practices and issues related to the job market 2x per day M-F. Click "Follow" on my profile - Allan

https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrownresumewriter/ (posting job search advice 1 – 2x daily)

Job Hunting Scams - - - Upfront Fees and Payment Requests

 

 Job Hunting Scams - - -  Upfront Fees and Payment Requests

Scammers often lure job seekers with seemingly legitimate opportunities but insist on upfront payments for training, specialized software, or essential equipment. Once the payment is made, the promised items never arrive, and the job offer turns out to be fake.

In some cases, these schemes disguise themselves as multilevel marketing (MLM) opportunities or remote roles requiring special tools.

Remember: Real employers will never ask you to pay to start a job.

Source: Flex Jobs

Recruiter Scams - Part 4 - Fraudulent Messages

Recruiter Scams - Part 4 - Fraudulent Messages 

More about recruiter scams...

What to look for in a fraudulent message:

• Receiving an unexpected message from an unrecognized sender
• A request for money or payment of unusual fees
• Messages purportedly from recruiting professionals via social messaging apps like SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, etc., or generic personal email accounts like Gmail or iCloud
• Extraordinary job opportunities where you are immediately offered high compensation packages and special benefits
• Requests for unnecessary personal information

What to do if you receive a fraudulent message:

• Do not engage with or respond to the sender
• Do not click on any links or attachments included in the message
• Do not share any personal information with someone you do not know
• Report the message as spam or phishing by using the platform’s “report” feature and block the sender

Source:SpencerStuart.com

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Does this post add value to your business day? I post about job search best practices and issues related to the job market 2x per day M-F. Click "Follow" on my profile - Allan

https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrownresumewriter/ (posting job search advice 1 – 2x daily)

"Bad Actor Recruiters" - Scammers - Related to ATS Scams - Part 3

 "Bad Actor Recruiters" - Scammers - Related to ATS Scams - Part 3

Article about “bad actor” recruiters that I published in July

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/beware-fake-recruiters-how-identify-cyber-thieves-allan-brown-lgyuf

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Does this post add value to your business day? I post about job search best practices and issues related to the job market 2x per day M-F. Click "Follow" on my profile - Allan

https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrownresumewriter/ (posting job search advice 1 – 2x daily)

ATS Scam - Part 2

ATS Scam #2

This is an example of how a scam works.  A client of mine, a senior - level technologist was approached on several occasions.  We worked together to figure it out.  Below is summary of what can occur during one particular scam.

How an ATS Scam Can Work

The Unsolicited Hook: A scammer posing as an executive recruiter or headhunter reaches out via LinkedIn or email with an attractive, generic job opportunity.

The Fake Rejection: After you send your resume, they reply that you are a great fit, but their system's AI or ATS automatically flagged your resume as "non-compliant" or "unreadable".

The Paid Referral: They direct you to a specific website or a "trusted partner" to get your resume optimized, usually charging anywhere from $15 to over $200.

The Disappearance: Once you pay for the service, you either receive a poorly reformatted document or nothing at all. The recruiter cuts off communication because the job never existed.

Source: LinkedIn / Reddit

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Does this post add value to your business day? I post about job search best practices and issues related to the job market 2x per day M-F. Click "Follow" on my profile - Allan

https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrownresumewriter/ (posting job search advice 1 – 2x daily)

ATS Scam - Part 1

 ATS Scam - Part 1

An ATS scam (Applicant Tracking System scam) is a fraudulent scheme where fake recruiters manipulate your fear of being rejected by hiring software to trick you into paying for useless resume reformatting services. 

The job listing is entirely fake, and the sole goal of the scammer is to steal your money and personal data. 

Source: LinkedIn

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Does this post add value to your business day? I post about job search best practices and issues related to the job market 2x per day M-F. Click "Follow" on my profile - Allan

https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrownresumewriter/ (posting job search advice 1 – 2x daily)

"Bad Actor Recruiters" - Scammers -

"Bad Actor Recruiters" - Scammers 

Article about “bad actor” recruiters that I published this week

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/beware-fake-recruiters-how-identify-cyber-thieves-allan-brown-lgyuf

Avoid Job Search Scams

There are numerous scams on the Internet, esp. LinkedIn that prey on job seekers.  Job hunters need to beware and watch for the following signs:

🚩Replies to your LI comments offering a "new opportunity"
🚩You see copy/pasting the same reply to others on LI
🚩Evasive behavior and failure to answer normal questions
🚩Directions to install a new video/teleconference app (malware)
🚩Requests to send a resume to a Gmail (or non-corporate) address
🚩A recruiter profile page with no or very few connections
🚩The job posting isn't on the company website
🚩Any request for personal data (DOB, SSN#)
🚩Pressure to accept an offer immediately
🚩Text based or chat "interview"
🚩Vague job descriptions

Any of these can point to the common scams I'm hearing about:

➤"Recruiters" requesting a fee for an ATS-friendly resume
➤ Fake job offers to get banking details for "direct deposit"
➤ "Resume Services" that use outdated templates
➤ Fees requested to help with background checks and visas
➤ "Work from home" offers that promise big money
➤ Upfront fees from training, equipment & materials
➤ Phishing via emails & calendar invites
➤ Application and exam fees

Source - Read on LinkedIn - Posted by Sarah Baker Andrus

Definition: Social Engineer

 Definition: Social Engineer (as related to online predators (in this case, recruiters who contact job seekers out of the blue):

A social engineer is someone who uses psychological manipulation and deception to trick people into divulging confidential information, granting access to systems, or performing actions that compromise security. Unlike traditional hackers who exploit technical vulnerabilities in software, social engineers exploit inherent human behaviors and emotions, such as trust, curiosity, fear, and the desire to be helpful. 

FOR JOB SEEKERS: If you are contacted by a recruiter unprovoked, do the following:

1. "Google" the name of the recruiter. If there are no results are limited results, the recruiter is a "social engineer"

2. Check to see if the email is from a company domain. If it from a "gmail or hotmail domain, it is likely a social engineer

3. If the sender indicates a company, "google the company". If there is not website, it is properly a fake.

If it seems suspicious, then it probably suspicious. Delete and block immediately.

Recruiter tip:

Recruiter tip:

If you get a message from a recruiter and you’re not sure if they’re legit, look at their LinkedIn profile first.

✔️Check their profile. Reputable recruiters usually have 500+ connections (networking is our thing).
✔️Look for a fully completed profile. We can’t encourage others to update theirs if we don’t keep ours current too.
✔️And finally, check the company they work for. If it looks sketchy or doesn’t exist, it’s probably not a real recruiter.

There are so many scams floating around right now. Please take a few minutes to verify who’s reaching out before sharing any personal info or details about your job search. Stay safe out there, friends.

Source: LinkedIn

Ghost Posting

  Ghost Posting

To begin, I would like to thank a long standing client Mary M. for this information!

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Amid complex hiring processes, a shadow is spreading in the U.S. business world. Companies are using fake online job openings to project an image of growth, keep existing employees motivated, and cultivate a pool of possible future candidates with no intention of hiring, according to research.

The practice is commonly known as “ghost posting,” and it accounts for 43 percent of online job openings across multiple industries. A Clarify Capital survey of more than 1,000 hiring managers showed that, beyond fake

growth metrics and productivity drivers, 1/3 of professionals claimed that they used ghost posts to placate overworked employees.

The phenomenon has caused universal frustration on both the applicant and hiring sides. On average, it can take up to eight weeks for a job seeker to receive an offer after submitting an application online, according to job listing site Indeed. The process often includes resume tailoring, lengthy applications, and multiple rounds of interviews.

That means applicants are wasting hours trying to get hired by companies that are not actually looking. JUST AWFUL!!!!!

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Looking for a new career position or guidance about best practices for job search, including how to handle ATS? If you have a moment, please review and follow my updated Instagram account: 

www.instagram.com/allanbrownresume/