Job scams have increased with remote work, and employment-related identity theft is also rising. Scammers now use stolen names, Social Security numbers, contact details, and likeness to apply for jobs rather than immediately stealing money. This approach helps them look more qualified, pass background checks, meet eligibility requirements, and sometimes bypass location restrictions. Reported cases reached 37,556 in 2024 and continue to grow. Job seekers are encouraged to learn warning signs of identity misuse and take steps to protect themselves and report perpetrators if they suspect fraud.
"Since the post-pandemic shift to remote work, there's been a noticeable spike in job scams, with 1 in 3 job seekers reporting stumbling across one. While these scams still successfully trap many inexperienced hopefuls, there's better awareness about how to avoid them and report their perpetrators."
"Today, a new subset of these scammers is playing the long game: Instead of moving right to trying to steal money directly, they're applying for jobs using someone else's name, Social Security number (SSN), and even contact information and likeness."
"Employment-related identity theft is usually committed by people who want to appear better-suited for a job than they actually are. It also helps scammers pass background checks and qualify for jobs they don't meet all the eligibility requirements for. They may also use someone else's identity to override location restrictions on some jobs."
"Identity theft has always been a threat, but it was usually framed as a way for scammers to apply for social security benefits, credit cards, bank loans, or other methods of directly getting money using the stolen identity."
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