The Oregon FBI is warning of yet another pandemic-related scam: hiring fraud.
COVID-19 hit the economy hard, driving up the state’s unemployment rate as industries – especially hospitality, food, and travel – scaled back their payrolls.
With more than 11 percent of state residents currently out of work, scammers are using fake ads, spoofed company websites, and false interviews to fleece targets of sensitive personal and financial information. Sometimes offers are made, followed by requests for a drivers license, the purchase of startup materials, or credit card numbers.
Officials say people can research the hiring company. If job postings on online job boards aren’t mentioned on the official company website, that could signal a potential scam.