It might be tempting to see job ads that promise a big pay raise, great benefits and short hours. But if a career opportunity sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
One day, you log on to social media and this job ad pops up:
Making money quickly and easily sounds a bit too good to be true, but they're hiring just a few people. You don't want to miss out on a golden opportunity. It won't hurt to call and ask for details, will it? So you make the call.
"It's an easy job. We just need to borrow your bank account to make some money transfers. We'll deposit some money into your account, and once you've wired the money to our account overseas, you'll receive a commission. All we need is a copy of your HKID card, proof of your income, proof of your address and some cash upfront to make sure you won't run away once you've received the money for the transfers. It's just a precaution."
You think to yourself, "They're transferring money into my account, so of course they'll need my personal details and a cash deposit. That sounds fair."
So you take a picture of your HKID card, pay statement and proof of address, and use your mobile payment app to transfer a deposit to your 'future boss'. You hope you can start this project soon as it'll bring in extra money without having to work hard. It's really easy!
Slow down and think. Have you ever wondered why your 'new boss' needs to borrow your bank account for transfers? Why does the company need you to give them copies of your pay statement, proof of address and HKID card at such an early stage? And why do you have to pay them before you start work?
The truth is: you thought you found the perfect job, but it was actually a scam.
"They can't scam me if I don't pay them anything." Unfortunately, this isn't true. Giving out your personal information will already make you more likely to lose money. Fraudsters only need your online banking credentials, a recent headshot, one-time-passwords (OTPs), your date of birth and HKID number to complete a transaction or make a transfer in your name.
In fact, all that's needed to get a loan from a bank is a copy of your HKID card, pay statement and proof of your home address. A scammer can easily apply to borrow money and leave you responsible for their debt.
Even if you're digitally savvy, you shouldn't underestimate the damage fake online job offers could cause. Follow these tips to keep your personal data safe from career scams.
Remember, there's nothing wrong with being eager to find a new job or get a higher salary. Just be aware that this could make you more vulnerable to job scams.
If you think you've already experienced a scam, don't wait any longer and report it to us immediately.
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