Can Searching for a Job Leave You Vulnerable to Identity Theft?

Since the early 1990s, job seekers have been finding new advantages in searching for a job by embracing online job posting sites such as Monster.com. In addition to serving as a searchable database of jobs, many job sites also allow job seekers to post their resumes and other information online so that recruiters and hiring managers could also actively search for a viable candidate for a particular job.

Unfortunately, several scammers have also become opportunists, using personal information found on job sites, or acquiring personal information from candidates through fake job postings. If a scammer uses the information to commit identity fraud, finding a job will be the least of the victim's problems.

How to Prevent Job Identity Fraud

There are several ways to prevent identity fraud. In relation to job sites, it is pretty much common sense and being careful with the information you post online for others to see.

• First and foremost, if you are going to post your resume online, do so only on reputable sites and post it privately. This decreases the chances of any scammer happening upon your resume, as it should only be available to hiring managers or recruiters that have registered with the site. Of course, this isn't foolproof, as a scammer could just as likely create a fake profile and register.
• Include information in your resume that is only relevant to the job you are looking for. There is no reason to include your social security number on your resume, nor should it be required information for you to register on a job site or complete a job application. It is also not necessary to include your date of birth, your driver's license number, or even the schools you attended. Your degree and the year you acquired your degree should be sufficient.
• Another one of the more common ways to prevent identity fraud is to utilize a separate email address for sending and receiving messages from job sites. It may also be a wise idea to utilize a PO Box for correspondence, or, if possible, leave your actual address unlisted on job sites and your resume.
• Be aware of scam job postings designed to get your personal information. There are an awful lot of fake job postings offering vague details and general information that require you to fill out a significant amount of personal information on an online application before discovering more about the job. Some scam job postings target general sites such as Craigslist, but others target niche job sites and job applicants, such as flight attendants or copywriters. Do not fill out or provide information to any job posting that looks suspicious or lacks important information without doing further research first to discover if it is legitimate.

Monitor Your Identity

When searching for a job using online websites, it is nearly impossible not to submit some of your basic personal information to whichever sites you are utilizing. And even a reputable site such as Monster.com can be and has been hacked. Therefore, when engaged in activities such as job searching in which you know personal information may be available to or accessed by thieves and scammers, it is a good idea to get the best identity fraud protection possible.

Identity fraud protection services will monitor your identity on a consistent schedule, and will alert you if any suspicious activity occurs, such as a new credit account being opened. When you get the best identity fraud protection, another benefit that can be gained when you monitor your identity is you'll be able to monitor all public records of your information, as well as discover ways in which you can improve your credit score.

Amy Johnson is an active blogger who is fond of writing articles on identity theft and helping people to protect against identity theft. Follow her on Twitter to know more on searching for a job leave you vulnerable to identity theft.