Tips: Identity Theft Protection For Job Hunters

August 28, 2007

The recent hacking of Monster.com serves as a reminder to all job seekers of the dangers of placing a resume on the Internet. The Internet can be a valuable asset for job seekers and for employers as long as both sides take the necessary precautions to protect personal identifying information.

The Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit that focuses on identity theft issues, would like to warn job seekers to not place these items on resumes posted on the Internet, sent by mail or in response to an ad on a Web site to reduce your risk of identity theft.

  • Your Social Security Number (SSN).
  • Date of birth (DOB).
  • The year you graduated from various schools. The preferred option is to list any degrees received and the subject or area of specialty.
  • Professional license number.
  • Sex and age -- it is against the law for them to ask you for this information.
  • Disabilities -- unless the job specifies a request to describe any physical limitations, you should not offer this information up front.
  • EIN (taxpayer id number if you use that as an alternate to the SSN).
  • Driver's license number.

By not including these items on a resume, someone will not be able to steal your identity with that document even if a site is hacked. A resume is only an introduction to your work history and opens a door to an interview. Job offers are very rarely made based on resumes. In addition, all job seekers, whether they have used the Internet or not, should verify an interview if it is not being held at the corporate headquarters or the nearest main office of a company that wants to get to know you better. If someone asks for your Social Security Number before an interview, in writing or over the telephone, consider that a suspicious response to your posting. Contact the company directly, using an Internet search for your tool, and find out if the phone number and the person contacting you are legitimate.

Common scams attached to e-mail job offers include:

  • Money transfer jobs where you are asked to serve as a third party to help the parent company collect money from businesses within the U.S.
  • Jewelry making or envelope stuffing.
  • Courier services.
  • Companies that wish to use your bank account to transfer funds or use your Social Security number to open a business credit card in the United States.

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