What to look out for
Opportunities that seem to good to be true, usually are. Be wary of advertisers requesting the following:
- An up front fee (e.g. for 'processing' your application)
- Acceptance of a money transfer where you can retain a portion as "payment"
- Bank or credit card details
- Drivers licence or passport information
- Tax File Number
- Non work-related personal information, such as your appearance, marital status
- SEEK username or password
- Any other personally identifying information
Always check the legitimacy of any ad, email or employer that seems suspicious before you respond. For example, large well known companies usually don't include hotmail or other free email addresses in their ads. If you have any concerns, call the company and verify the ad, don't just assume that just because an ad claims to represent a company that it actually does.
What to do if you suspect an ad or email
If you have any concerns about the legitimacy of a job ad or email from SEEK:
- Do NOT respond to the ad or email
- Look the company up in the White Pages and call to verify the ad
- Make sure you have up-to-date anti-virus software to protect your computer
- Report it to SEEK immediately, providing a link to the ad or a copy of the email
- If you have supplied your bank account or credit card details, please contact your financial institiution immediately and ask for their advice.
If you feel you may have been the victim of fraud contact the Australian Federal Police.
Below are details of recently identified fraudulent emails.
Date: 18 November 2009
Subject: Application For Admin Assistant - Ref: SEEK
Spammers are sending emails that mimic SEEK application emails or refer to job applications made via SEEK. Don't reply to emails relating to jobs that you have not applied for on SEEK. Be particularly wary of emails coming from "EPS".
Date: 27 October 2009
Subject: Necessary to be read
This email is a
phishing scam, intended to deceive SEEK advertisers into supplying their login details to criminals. The link in the email is to a site that is not connected to SEEK. Always check the site address in your browser before logging in. It should start with http://seek or http://www.seek.
Date: 24 September 2009
From: Catherine Adams
This email appears to be an attempt to launder money through Australian's bank accounts. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: 19 August 2009
Subject: Vacancy is practically yours!
This email appears to be an attempt to launder money through Australian's bank accounts. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: 28 July 2009
Subject: We have a great job offer for you!
The email from Alliance Asset Management appears to be an attempt to launder money through Australian's bank accounts. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: 13 July 2009
Subject: AOS Personnel Department awaiting your reply
The sender of this fraudulent email claims to have obtained your details from SEEK which is untrue. In order to protect your privacy we advise you not to reply to this email.
Date: 24 May 2009
Subject: ATTN: New Information
This email is a
phishing scam, intended to deceive SEEK advertisers into supplying their login details to criminals. The 'From:' field of this email indicates that it comes from advert@seek.com.au when in fact it does not. The link in the email is to a site that is not connected to SEEK. Always check the site address in your browser before logging in. It should start with http://seek or http://www.seek.
Date: 18 May 2009
Subject: Response to resume
The 'From:' field of this email indicates that it comes from job@seek.com.au when in fact it does not. SEEK never sends individual jobs by email, other than by Job Mail. This is a money laundering ploy. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: 23 April 2009
Subject: An alleged criminal fraud occurred in Sydney on the 9th April. The details under investigation but are as follows:
A company calling itself 'Evaluation' allegedly posted an ad on several recruitment websites.
Individuals who responded to the ad were apparently invited to an interview at a serviced office at Park Street in Sydney. As part of an 'interview' process, the alleged fraudsters requested passports and other forms of ID for verification which were allegedly taken into a purported adjoining room for 'photocopying'. The 'interviewers' subsequently vanished with the identity documents.
SEEK and other job boards are co-operating closely with the police on this matter.
Date: 5 March 2009
Subject: Re: SEEK: Application For Administrative Assistant
Spammers are sending emails that mimic SEEK application emails or refer to job applications made via SEEK. Don't reply to emails relating to jobs that you have not applied for on SEEK. Be particularly wary of emails coming from "Auction Express".
Date: 3 March 2009
Subject: Position Available. Please read
The 'From:' field of this email indicates that it comes from no_reply@seek.co.nz when in fact it does not. SEEK never sends individual jobs by email, other than by Job Mail. This is a money laundering ploy. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: 27 February 2009
Subject: We have a great job offer for you!
The email from Alliance Asset Management appears to be an attempt to launder money through Australian's bank accounts. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: 26 January 2009
Subject: Earn the big money with us!
The 'From:' field of this email indicates that it comes from job@seek.com.au when in fact it does not. SEEK never sends individual jobs by email, other than by Job Mail. This is a money laundering ploy. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: 25 January 2009
Subject: We have a great job offer for you!
The email appears to be an attempt to launder money through Australian's bank accounts. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: 19 January 2009
Subject: Earn the big money with us!
Spammers are sending emails that mimic SEEK application emails or refer to job applications made via SEEK. Don't reply to emails relating to jobs that you have not applied for on SEEK. Be particularly wary of emails coming from "Auction Mile".
Date: 16 January 2009
Subject: Earn the big money with us!
The 'From:' field of this email indicates that it comes from no_reply@seek.com.au when in fact it does not. SEEK never sends individual jobs by email, other than by Job Mail. This is a money laundering ploy. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: 26 November 2008
Subject: Position Available, Please read
This email claims to refer to a job ad on SEEK but it is actually a money laundering ploy. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: August 2008
Subject: Phishing Emails
Spammers are sending emails that mimic SEEK application emails or refer to job applications made via SEEK. Don't reply to emails relating to jobs that you have not applied for on SEEK. Be particularly wary of emails coming from Sinoco Pty Ltd, Auction Mile or Duty Free International.
Date: 29 May 2008
Subject: Work for everyone living in Australia!
The 'From:' field of this email indicates that it comes from advert@seek.com.au when in fact it does not. SEEK never sends individual jobs by email, other than by Job Mail. This is a money laundering ploy. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: 17 April 2008
Subject: Safeguarding customer information [message ref: xxxxxx]
This email is a
phishing scam, intended to deceive SEEK advertisers into supplying their login details to criminals. The link in the email is to a site that is not connected to SEEK. Always check the site address in your browser before logging in. It should start with http://seek or http://www.seek.
Date: 13 April 2008
Subject: Necessary to be read
This email is a
phishing scam, intended to deceive SEEK advertisers into supplying their login details to criminals. The link in the email is to a site that is not connected to SEEK. Always check the site address in your browser before logging in. It should start with http://seek or http://www.seek.
Date: 6 February 2008
Subject: CareerNow JOB 41012 is no longer active
This email claims the recipient has an expired job ad on a jobsite called CareerNow and makes reference to multi-listing that expired ad on SEEK. The jobsite is fictitious and is in no way affiliated with SEEK. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to the email.
Date: 29 January 2008
Subject: SEEK: Corporate Foreign Exchange position
The subject line claims that this email is from SEEK but it is actually a money laundering ploy. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: 29 January 2008
Subject: Haven't found a Job yet? A Job found You!
The 'From:' field of this email indicates that it comes from job@seek.com.au when in fact it does not. SEEK never sends individual jobs by email, other than by Job Mail. This is a money laundering ploy. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: 17 January 2008
Subject: Seek.com.au is looking for...
The subject line claims that this email is from SEEK but it is actually a money laundering ploy. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: 15 January 2008
Subject: CRITICAL UPDATE : New Terms of Use Available
This email is a
phishing scam, intended to deceive SEEK advertisers into supplying their login details to criminals. The link in the email is to a site that is not connected to SEEK. Always check the site address in your browser before logging in. It should start with http://seek or http://www.seek.