Online 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.

Related Blog Posts:

• Think Credit Monitoring Prevents Identity Theft? Think Again
• Tax Refund Identity Theft: What You Need to Know
• Is Your Social Media Profile Putting You at Risk For Identity Theft?

It’s easy to let your guard down during the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping. But according to the Consumer Federation of America identity theft rates reach their peak around the holiday season. From pick pockets to online scams to credit card skimming, identity thieves are on the prowl to take advantage of consumers who are too busy to look out for them. Luckily, there are many things you can do to protect against ID theft this holiday season and keep your identity safe for the New Year.

Be Aware of Pick Pockets

Pick pockets are out in full force during the holiday shopping season. Ladies, carry a small purse close to your body (or avoid bringing one altogether), and gentlemen, put your wallet in your front pocket. Keep an eye on your personal belongings at all times. A stealthy thief only needs a second to brush up against you and disappear into the crowd with your credit cards and ID. For even better protection, buy an RFID-blocking wallet to prevent thieves from scanning the RFID chip in your credit cards.

Protect Yourself Online

Online holiday shopping is convenient, but it also puts you at risk for identity theft. Any online shopping should only be done over an encrypted connection. You can protect against ID theft by making sure the site has a verified security certificate as well. When you get to the payment section of your order, check the website’s address to make sure it begins with “https” (the “s” indicates a secure site) and includes a padlock icon. Clicking the icon will allow you to view the security certificate.

You also want to avoid making bank transfers over your cell phone or when using a public wireless network. Identity thieves may be monitoring those connections to gain access to your bank account information. If you must do banking via cell phone consider establishing a virtual private network (VPN).

Don’t Toss Papers and Receipts Away

Tossing out receipts and any other paperwork containing your personal information is never safe. This is especially true during the holidays when you have lots of shopping bags and trash going in and out of the house. Identity thieves have no qualms with sifting through your garbage to find the information they need. Protect against ID theft by shredding all documents that have your full name, date of birth, credit card information, Social Security number, and any other personal information instead of throwing them in the wastebasket.

Safeguard Your Credit Card Information

Shop with cash to reduce the chances of identity theft whenever you can this holiday season. If you need to shop with a credit/debit card, only use ATMs you trust. Many identity thieves install card skimmers on ATMs in high-traffic areas to swipe your debit card information. Skimmers are virtually undetectable to the naked eye, so you won’t know you’re a victim of identity theft until you see the fraudulent charges on your statement—and by then it may be too late to recover the charges. Remember that debit cards need daily monitoring.

When shopping online, try filtering the purchase through a payment gateway like PayPal or use a debit card specific for online shopping, instead of entering your credit card information directly on the site. Protect against ID theft by only buying from reputable websites (remember that HTTPS security) and, if you’re having your merchandise shipped, make sure to request a signature so you know when and who received it.

Be Proactive

Finally, check your credit card statements at least once a month and view your credit report by signing up for creditkarma.com to make sure nothing is amiss. You can also be proactive by using an identity theft protection service such as ID Theft Solutions. This trusted and affordable identity theft prevention firm is the only one that guarantees to recover your identity when it’s stolen.

Don’t become another identity theft victim this holiday shopping season. Take a few extra precautions, shop safely, and enjoy! Remember to visit www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com or call 310.831.4400 for more tips to protect against ID theft all year long.