Scam of the Week: This Job Won’t Work

You receive a text message from a “recruiter” who says they work for Amazon. It seems suspicious, since it was sent from a personal email address instead of a phone number. However, what catches your attention is that the message says you're a perfect fit for a remote job that pays $250 to $500 per day. You would only need to work 60 to 90 minutes per day, for four days each week, and the work isn’t difficult. There are only a small number of roles available, and since the job seems too good to be true, you might be tempted to reply immediately.

But the text you received is actually a scam! Cybercriminals are hoping to trick you using a fake job offer that is too good to ignore. If you reply, they may even give you small tasks to make the job seem legitimate. But eventually, they’ll ask you for your personal and financial information as part of your “onboarding.” Since this “job” isn’t real, any information you send goes straight to the cybercriminals!

Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to this scam:

• If something seems suspicious, trust your instincts. It’s unlikely that a real Amazon recruiter would message you unexpectedly from a personal email address.

• If an opportunity seems too good to be true, it usually is! Use caution before applying for jobs that have vague descriptions and list high salaries for what seems to be a small amount of work.

• Cybercriminals like to use high-pressure tactics to trick you into responding quickly. Always stop and think before you take action!

The ORAM Corporate Advisors Security Team