What to look out for
Opportunities that seem to good to be true, usually are. Be wary of advertisers requesting the following:
- An up front fee (e.g. for 'processing' your application)
- Acceptance of a money transfer where you can retain a portion as "payment"
- Bank or credit card details
- Drivers licence information
- Tax File Number
- Non work-related personal information, such as your appearance, marital status
- SEEK username or password
- Any other personally identifying information
Always check the legitimacy of any ad, email or employer that seems suspicious before you respond. For example, large well known companies usually don't include hotmail or other free email addresses in their ads. If you have any concerns, call the company and verify the ad, don't just assume that just because an ad claims to represent a company that it actually does.
What to do if you suspect an ad or email
If you have any concerns about the legitimacy of a job ad or email from SEEK:
- Do NOT respond to the ad or email
- Look the company up in the White Pages and call to verify the ad
- Make sure you have up-to-date anti-virus software to protect your computer
- Report it to SEEK immediately, providing a link to the ad or a copy of the email
- If you have supplied your bank account or credit card details, please contact your financial institiution immediately and ask for their advice.
If you feel you may have been the victim of fraud contact the Australian Federal Police.
Below are details of recently identified fraudulent emails.
Date: 29 May 2008
Subject: Work for everyone living in Australia!
The 'From:' field of this email indicates that it comes from advert@seek.com.au when in fact it does not. SEEK never sends individual jobs by email, other than by Job Mail. This is a money laundering ploy. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: 17 April 2008Subject: Safeguarding customer information [message ref: xxxxxx]This email is a
phishing scam, intended to deceive SEEK advertisers into supplying their login details to criminals. The link in the email is to a site that is not connected to SEEK. Always check the site address in your browser before logging in. It should start with http://seek or http://www.seek.
Date: 13 April 2008Subject: Necessary to be readThis email is a
phishing scam, intended to deceive SEEK advertisers into supplying their login details to criminals. The link in the email is to a site that is not connected to SEEK. Always check the site address in your browser before logging in. It should start with http://seek or http://www.seek.
Date: 6 February 2008
Subject: CareerNow JOB 41012 is no longer active
This email claims the recipient has an expired job ad on a jobsite called CareerNow and makes reference to multi-listing that expired ad on SEEK. The jobsite is fictitious and is in no way affiliated with SEEK. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to the email.
Date: 29 January 2008
Subject: SEEK: Corporate Foreign Exchange position
The subject line claims that this email is from SEEK but it is actually a money laundering ploy. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: 29 January 2008
Subject: Haven't found a Job yet? A Job found You!
The 'From:' field of this email indicates that it comes from job@seek.com.au when in fact it does not. SEEK never sends individual jobs by email, other than by Job Mail. This is a money laundering ploy. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: 17 January 2008
Subject: Seek.com.au is looking for...
The subject line claims that this email is from SEEK but it is actually a money laundering ploy. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: 15 January 2008
Subject: CRITICAL UPDATE : New Terms of Use Available
This email is a 'phishing' scam, intended to deceive SEEK advertisers into supplying their login details to criminals. The link in the email is to a site that is not connected to SEEK. Always check the site address in your browser before logging in. It should start with http://seek or http://www.seek.
Date: 13 September 2007
Subject: Don't Miss This Offer! Make 10% comission.
The 'From:' field of this email indicates that it comes from jobs@seek.com.au when in fact it does not. SEEK never sends individual jobs by email, other than by Job Mail. This is a money laundering ploy. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: 2 July 2007
Subject: Want To Make 500-1000 AUD a week?
The 'From:' field of this email indicates that it comes from offer@seek.com.au when in fact it does not. SEEK never sends individual jobs by email, other than by Job Mail. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: 8 May 2007
Subject: New Position Available
This email claims to be a response to an application made to SoNax PLD via the SEEK website. The email appears to be an attempt to launder money through Australian's bank accounts. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: 13 March 2007
Subject: Freelance manager form seek.com.au
The subject of this email suggests it comes form SEEK, when in fact it does not. The email advertises freelance work opportunities for Next Level. This email is a money laundering ploy. In order to protect your privacy, please do not reply to this email.
Date: 14 March 2006
Subject: The unique possibility to increase your income.
This phishing email appears to come from SEEK and links to a spoof site which attempts to collect your personal details. Please do not provide any personal details in response to this email.
Date: 17 March 2006
Subject: IMPORTANT INFORMATION: YOUR ACCOUNT.
This phishing email appears to come from SEEK and links to a spoof site which attempts to collect your SEEK account details. Please do not provide any personal details in response to this email.
Date: 14 December 2005
Subject: seek.co.nz - reply to your resume.
This email is an illegal money laundering ploy by a company called Medley Studio Inc. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.
Date: 28 November 2005
Subject: JOB OFFER OF THE WEEK.
This email is an illegal money laundering ploy by a company called Norbix Group. In order to protect your privacy, please do not respond to this email.