14 DAY TRIAL // Emails that offer too-good-to-be-true job opportunities can sometimes hide something really malicious, as experts from Solutionary highlight.
It’s not uncommon for users to receive links that point to a shady website that advertises work-from-home jobs. However, this is not the only method preferred by fraudsters and in some cases they’re looking for much more than someone who’s willing to pay a small fee for the key to success.
So, let’s take a look at an email that promises a lot of money to anyone willing to perform a few easy tasks.
“We have an excellent opportunity for an apprentice applicant to join a rapidly expanding company. An at home Key Account Manager Position (Ref: 30721-126/5HR) is a great opportunity for stay at home parents or anyone who wants to work in the comfort of their own home,” the email reads.
Then, the crooks continue by highlighting the fact that it’s not a scam and present a short list of basic requirements.
“Applicants must have an excellent telephone manner, have a friendly approach, excellent communication skills and be computer literate. You must have the ability to type and talk at the same time to customers, as you will be taking customer details over the phone and inputting data onto company database.”
Finally, they mention the amount of money that can be earned and, as expected, the amount is fairly high for a job that involves typing and making a few calls.
A noteworthy fact is that the emails originate from email addresses hosted at careerin-finance.com, a domain registered at a Chinese registrar that’s known to support shady operations.
However, this is not just a regular job scam. In reality, it’s an attempt to recruit money mules – knowing or unknowing individuals who help fraudsters launder money.
So, if you reply to such an offer (we highly recommend against doing so), you shouldn’t be surprised if your “employer” would ask you to transfer some money to and from your bank account, send money via Western Union, or perform other suspicious transactions.
If you want to learn how to avoid fake job offers, take a look at this advisory.