- Fraudsters target job applicants, and young workers are most at risk.
- Despite awareness, LinkedIn says young workers are desperate for jobs
- Most attacks move away from trusted platforms and toward personal messaging apps
New LinkedIn data claims Gen Z workers are more vulnerable to job scams despite growing awareness: About one in three (32%) admit to ignoring the warning signs of scams due to the rarity of being able to find suitable employment.
As a result, 40% of Gen Z workers have been victims of job fraud, compared to just 27% of older Gen X workers.
In total, around three quarters (72%) of candidates now question the legitimacy of the job offer before applying and more than half (57%) are more suspicious than a year ago.
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Young workers victims of job scams
“Young job seekers aren’t careless, they’re under pressure,” said Oscar Rodriguez, LinkedIn’s vice president of trust products. “When opportunities seem few and far between, it’s harder to slow down and examine each interaction.”
LinkedIn also noted that Gen Z workers are reportedly 30% less likely to question random calls from recruiters compared to Gen X workers, while the younger generation is also less likely to question pressure to make a quick decision.
However, even as scammers target potential workers, the recruiting platform has some telltale signs, including the fact that attackers often move away from trusted platforms with built-in protections. Nine out of ten reported scam attempts redirected users to personal messaging apps.
According to the report, the two riskiest moments for candidates are viewing job offers and first contact with a recruiter.
Workers are therefore advised to pause and evaluate whether the process seems rushed or vague, or whether the supposed recruiter is steering them away from a trusted platform early.
As for LinkedIn, the company is committed to blocking fake accounts and fraudulent messages before they reach the victim. The Microsoft-owned platform has also been actively developing its verification tools for several months now, with the aim of verifying everyone with an account.
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