The advancement of social media as a platform for job searching has brought with it the emergence of scammers capitalizing on desperate job seekers with fake job offers. In particular, the UAE’s fraud ministry is alerting the public of the surge of scam firms offering job opportunities through social media with the intent of stealing private information and/or charging hidden fees.
As Major Saeed Al-Shabli explained during an interview with Police Society magazine, social media has a lot of potentials when it comes to recruiting, making it the perfect target for scammers looking to exploit unsuspecting job hunters. “Fraudulent companies are using social media to prey on the aspirations of job seekers, offering tempting roles that ultimately lead to nothing,” Al-Shabli noted.
Such fake offer advertisements usually guarantee an appealing salary in addition to rapid recruitment, increasing their appeal tremendously. Even though most people consider these offers too good to be true, these “offers” usually come with a catch: demanding, sensitive information, or worse, advanced fee schemes disguised as training or administrative costs.
The Ministry is reminding everyone to take extra care when checking job listings and avoid applying on sites known for scams. Phishing scams are becoming more common every day. He also highlighted the need to report any suspicious employment offers to the relevant bodies in order to protect others from becoming victims of these deceptive offers.
Social media is filled with real opportunities now, but at the same time, it is one of the most targeted platforms for fraudulent activities. Job seekers should take extra care, thoroughly cross-check, and ensure the integrity of a job offer before providing any private and sensitive information. Stay vigilant and avoid scam traps set to deceive you!