If you are applying for a job at Appnovation, you should be aware that there is a recent text messaging scam circulating. Scammers attempt to use fake job offers to obtain sensitive personal and financial information. These scammers frequently misappropriate and use a company's logo, names and photographs of its executives, and detailed information about the company, to make it look like they are legitimate representatives of a company.
The fraudulent text is from a Wisconsin number (715-446-7909) and looks like this:
"Hello. My name is Audrey E. Williams" Hiring Supervisor For Appnovation Technologies Vancouver, BC. Sorry For This Text Message Job Offer Notification Method. We Realize The Emails Sent To You Have Not Been Going Through. Are you [NAME]??
Appnovation Technologies"
The scams prey upon those seeking employment, and use false and fraudulent offers of employment with companies such as Appnovation to steal from their victims. Appnovation believes that one of the best ways to put a stop to these types of scams is to make you aware that they exist, provide tips on how to identify and avoid them, and clearly identify how we recruit for positions with Appnovation so that you can more easily identify fraudulent recruiting advertisements:
- Appnovation does not communicate with potential employees via text message. Appnovation's recruitment team only sends email communications to job applicants from "@appnovation.com" or "@appnovation.co.uk" email addresses. Email accounts such as Yahoo and Gmail are not used for recruiting purposes. You should assume that any email claiming to be from Appnovation that does not have a "@appnovation.com" or "@appnovation" address is fraudulent and is not from Appnovation.
- Appnovation never requires any job applicants to pay money to anyone (Appnovation or anyone else) as part of the job application or hiring process. If someone asks for money or offers to send you a cheque for training, equipment, etc. as part of the recruiting process, they do not work for or represent Appnovation and are likely seeking to defraud you.
- Appnovation only conducts job interviews in person, by telephone, or via BlueJeans/Zoom. Never using chat rooms (such as Google Hangouts), or through instant messaging systems. If someone tells you that they want to interview you for a job through a chat room, via text or instant messaging, they do not work for or represent Appnovation and are likely seeking to defraud you.
How can you recognize the risk?
The individuals who perpetrate frauds like this are continuously changing and evolving their methods, and one of the most important defences is healthy skepticism based on the discussion above. Despite the fact that Appnovation cannot predict the various ways scammers might operate in the future, the following is a non-exclusive list of warning signs of recruiting fraud:
- The supposed "employer" contacts you by phone/text message or through a chat room or instant messaging service, and gives no way to call them back or the number they do give is not active or goes only to a voicemail box. For example, such supposed "employers" often direct that you "meet" them in chat rooms at specific times.
- You are asked to provide credit card, bank account number(s) or other personal financial information as part of the "job application" process.
- The position requires an initial monetary investment, such as a payment by wire transfer.
- The message includes spelling errors, grammatical errors, syntax errors, or otherwise appears to have been written by someone not fluent in English.
- You are offered a payment or "reward" in exchange for allowing the use of your bank account (e.g., for depositing checks or transferring money related to promised employment).
- You are asked to provide a photograph of yourself.
- The job posting does not mention required qualifications and job responsibilities, but instead focuses on the amount of money supposedly to be made.
- The job posting reflects initial pay that is high compared to the average compensation for the type of job.
What you can do: Report phishing attempts
If you believe you have been the victim of a job recruiting fraud scam, you can:
- Call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501
- File an incident report at http://www.cybercrime.gov
- Call the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357)
- File a complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigation at https://ic3.gov
- Contact your local police to report the fraud
- Contact your financial institution or credit card company to close your account and dispute any charges related to the fraud
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