How to Prevent Identity Theft During Your Job Search

resume identity theftOnline job searching has opened up a world of opportunities for job seekers. You can do everything from the comfort of home—from performing research to distributing resumes to submitting applications. Most companies prefer the online hiring process, too. It’s simply a more efficient way for both employers and employees to connect.

But job-hunting online also has its drawbacks, including a much higher risk for resume identity theft. Identity thieves know that many job seekers are desperate, and are willing to provide whatever information is requested to secure an interview. The result can be financial ruin for a job seeker who has done nothing wrong other than try to adhere to application requirements.

Thieves use a variety of tactics to commit resume identity theft:

  • Collecting your personal information: Identity thieves will gather as much information from you as they can. If you use a job site that allows you to post your resume, you’re at risk for identity theft because anyone with a profile can access it. It just takes a keyword search and a quick look at your resume to collect your name, address, phone number, former employers, and any other personal data you’ve included.
  • Fake job listings: Identity thieves also create fake job listings to gather job seekers’ personal information. They may even take it as far as to have an online interview with you. Before offering you the position, they will ask for some type of verification (such as a bank statement or utility bill). They then use this information to access your identity and their scam is off and running.
  • Unemployment scams: These prey on people who are desperate to earn money while they’re out of work. They offer to help you file for unemployment, only to steal your Social Security number, date of birth, and other personal information to hijack your identity.

Protecting Yourself From Resume Identity Theft

Before you apply for a job, do a little research on the company to make sure it even exists. Does it have a website and/or a social media presence? How does the information on the website compare to the job description? Also, never give out your personal information to companies online—regardless of whether they say it’s necessary for the job. An employer should never need your Social Security number, driver’s license number, or other personal information before meeting with you in person. If you will be working remotely, you should at least have a phone interview and a signed job offer before sharing your information.

You leave yourself vulnerable to identity theft when you provide the following types of information on your resume or on a job application online:

  • Social Security number
  • Date of birth
  • Gender
  • Mother’s maiden name
  • Marital status
  • Driver’s license number
  • The year you graduated school and the name of the school
  • Professional license number

Tips for Safe Online Job Searching

Watch out for these resume identity theft red flags as you perform your job search:

  • If an employer requests your Social Security number on an online job application, contact the company to ask why it needs this information just to process the application. Explain that you will provide it following the interview and a firm job offer.
  • Contact the company directly from its website and/or verify its corporate phone number, and always make sure the person interviewing you actually works there.
  • Look at the email address of the person requesting your information. If the domain name doesn’t match the company, it is unlikely that he/she works for the company.

Above all, be cautious and don’t be too quick to provide your personal information during an online job search. It can be a frustrating process already; the last thing you want to do is become yet another victim of resume identity theft. Remember that you should always be researching companies as much as they’re researching you.

We recommend that you be proactive and protect your identity before, during, and after a job search by signing-up with ID Theft Solutions, the only identity theft protection company that restores your identity back to pre-theft status when it’s stolen. You can also connect with us here at The Identity Advocate to learn more about protecting yourself and your family from identity theft.

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