Thanks for posting this timely and valuable post. It's alarming how cybercriminals are adapting their methods to target job applicants. The mixing of legitimate recruitment practices with scam schemes makes these scams particularly insidious and perilous.
Impersonation of major tech companies is the most successful approach, as applicants are prone to trust brand names without verifying origin. Advance fee cons in the name of onboarding costs or training packages are now found to be more prevalent. Localized logistics cons rely more on familiar language and culture, thus making it harder for victims to notice warning signs.
The impersonating of government agencies, like has been suggested with the Government of Singapore, is particularly upsetting - not only for the theft of national ID numbers but also for the potential compromise of communication platforms like Telegram.
Job candidates should be encouraged to:
Verify job postings and employers via legitimate company websites or LinkedIn.
Be cautious of employment opportunities that require payment or sensitive personal information early in the hiring process.
Be cautious when you click on a link or download a file from an unknown source.
Report activities that appear questionable to the relevant authorities or platforms.
Spreading the word and developing a community sharing these tales can stop others from being exploited. Kudos for shining a light on this important discussion.
------------------------------
GOPI CHAND VEGINENI
Senior UI/UX Developer
Individual contributor
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: May 10, 2025 08:22:06 PM
From: Suresh Kumar Akkemgari
Subject: Threat Actors Attacking Job Seekers
Cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting job seekers through advanced scams that blend legitimate recruitment practices with fraudulent schemes. These scams are particularly effective at evading detection while extracting money and personal information from victims.
Impersonation of Tech Companies: Scammers pose as recruiters from well-known technology firms, using advance fee fraud tactics to extract money from job seekers.
Localized Logistics Recruitment Scams: Operating across 18 countries, these scams impersonate logistics recruitment agencies to collect personal information and money from victims.
Government Impersonation: Some threat actors masquerade as the Government of Singapore to harvest national identity numbers and compromise Telegram accounts.
------------------------------
Suresh Kumar Akkemgari
------------------------------