RESEARCH conducted by Disclosure Scotland (DS) indicates that Nearly three in four job seekers (74%) who applied for jobs last month were affected by fake listings.
Information provided through fraudulent job adverts can be used in a number of ways by criminals, including identity theft.
The research shows that over 70% of job hunters admit they wouldn’t recognise the signs of a job scam, and would assume that any job posted online is legitimate.
DS are running a campaign to raise awareness of job scams and employment fraud among job seekers.
They are working alongside JobsAware, a non-profit organisation designed to support job seekers with suspected fraud, malpractice and other poor experiences.
The lack of awareness and education surrounding employment fraud is one of the reasons that job seekers fall victim to these scams.
Gerard Hart, Chief Executive of Disclosure Scotland said:“During the unprecedented times we have been living through, people’s economic security has been, of course, immensely challenged.
“Disclosure Scotland stands ready to assist our partners and the public in putting an end to such fraudulent and damaging scams.”
Keith Rosser, Chair of JobsAware added: “With the way we work and look for work continuing to evolve, job scams are becoming increasingly common and sophisticated.
“That is why it’s important to educate and arm job seekers with the understanding and support they need to recognise and report suspected fraud.”
