Scammers are hacking the names and email addresses of legitimate resume writers

These scammers email or send DMs on LinkedIn to job candidates, flattering them by referring to some publically available information regarding their careers, and then telling them about an intriguing job opportunity. However, the scammer always recommends having their target send their resume for revision by a “recommended provider.” Using a fake email address, the scammer hacks a legitimate resume writer’s name, and requests a fee for improving the resume.

The latest scam targeting resume writers (and probably others, as well) is to email providers with a plausible reason for needing a new resume; these emails contain a lot of detail because that’s what makes them appear to be legitmate.

This recent scam has been around long enough that I can’t believe it hasn’t worn itself out.
I was forwarded a LinkedIn DM that appeared to come from my account, telling the recipient that while it’s been a long time since we worked together, “I” am hoping to reconnect, and btw – I know of a job that the recipient would be perfect for. The message referenced the recipient’s employer and her title.
“I” suggested that she send me her resume for a review.

The only thing the scammer didn’t realize? The recipient is my niece.

Another scam involved Zoom to “meet” with a resume writer

I received two such requests recently, both from “women” named “Sarah” with different surnames. Both said they were contacting me on behalf of their husbands (in and of itself, this is not all that unusual), and asked if we could have a Zoom meeting to discuss.

Each “Sarah” described a completely different scenario, so I wasn’t initially suspicious.

The first “Sarah” sent me a Zoom link that gave me a message that it would only work on Windows or Android. That was a yellow flag. I emailed “her” back to say that the link didn’t work, and suggested an old school phone convo. I got pushback instead, and got instructions that involved making changes to my permissioning, which I obviously wasn’t going to do.

I repeated my request that “she” simply call me, and her reply made it clear that this was a scam: “No ma’am! I don’t let ladies get my husband on the phone.” HUH?

When I didn’t respond, I got another email saying that my silence was “a threat.”

This morning, a second “Sarah” asked if it was a convenient time to speak over Zoom.
Fool me once…..

 

Don’t let yourself become a victim of scammers by being super cautious

• never pay anyone up front to work on your resume
• verify the name of the “person” who contacted you (check them out on LinkedIn and send them a DM asking if they had reached out to you)
• don’t click on an email with a link