Protect Yourself: A Guide to Cyber-Safety for Job Seekers in Australia
Did you know that job scams are common in Australia, with scammers using tactics to deceive job seekers into providing personal information, paying upfront fees, or even working for free?
When applying for work it's important to protect your personal and sensitive information. If this falls into the wrong hands, it can be used to commit fraud, identity theft, or other cybercrimes.
The challenge is that sharing information, such as your name, date of birth, and address, as well as sensitive information such as your tax file number and banking details, is all part of a standard job application process.
So, what can you do to protect yourself when applying for work?
Only apply for jobs using a secure internet connection. Avoid using public Wi-Fi networks or unsecured Wi-Fi hotspots, as these can be easily hacked.
Use a reputable job board such as SEEK, Indeed, LinkedIn or our website workpac.com.These job boards have security measures in place to protect your personal information.
Be cautious of emails or job postings that ask for personal information or require payment upfront. Legitimate job postings won't ask for payment or sensitive information upfront, so trust your instincts and be wary of any request or offer that doesn’t seem right.
Before applying for a job, check the company's website and verify the job opening is legitimate. Scammers often create fake job postings to collect personal information.
Use a strong, unique password for each job application and keep your resume current to avoid being targeted by scammers who use outdated resumes to steal personal information.
Never share personal information such as your tax file number, bank account details, or driver's licence until you’ve taken steps to verify that the request is legitimate. WorkPac will always provide you with the option to share sensitive information/documents via our secure candidate portal myworkpac.com.
Be cautious of online interviews that use software you're not familiar with. Use antivirus software on your computer and verify any links before the interview to avoid downloading malware.
Finally, if you suspect that you've been targeted by a job scam, report it to the authorities and take steps to protect your personal information.
To learn more about cyber safety in Australia, please visit the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s website https://www.cyber.gov.au/