ATLANTA — It’s veiled legitimacy, Christina Norris said makes it easy for innocent job seekers to fall for.
“That is their way of getting into your account,” Norris said.
Norris said she was targeted three times in four months by people pretending to be legit companies.
“He reached out to me through my cell phone by text message and mentioned Indeed,” Norris said.
Norris has been looking for a stay-at-home job for months now. She told Channel 2′s Ashli Lincoln, two individuals, posing as job recruiters offered her jobs without having to interview.
“This is strange,” said. Norris
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Norris said the final red flag was when two companies sent her checks worth thousands of dollars.
“She said we just need to get it into your bank account in 24 hours,” said Norris.
The Better Businesses Bureau told Channel 2 Action News that once that check is deposited, the fake company will request for the job seeker to send the deposit slip, which has all the victim’s financial information. From there, the BBB con artist will then use that information to empty your bank account.
“That screams a scam,” said Simone Williams with the BBB.
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The BBB says thieves are using this scheme to grab people’s identities and worse, make their victim’s unknowingly commit fraud by depositing stolen checks.
“This can lead to identity theft and fraud,” said Williams.
Tips to protect yourself from the BBB:
- https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/14438-bbb-tips-for-avoiding-job-scams-this-holiday-season
- https://www.bbb.org/all/scamstudies/jobscams/jobscamsfullstudy
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