While searching for a job, it's crucial to safeguard your personal information from potential scams and fraudulent employers, and even more important to know what steps to take if your information has been compromised.
If you've accidentally given personal information to a fraudulent contact or suspect your personal information has been compromised, it's important to act quickly.
Here are the steps you should take right away:
- Contact your bank or credit card company. If you've shared any financial details or sent money to a fraudulent employer. They can help protect your accounts and dispute any unauthorized transactions.
- Secure your accounts. Change passwords on any accounts that may have been compromised, and double-check that account settings and payment details look as expected.
- Flag the employer. If they're on Handshake, flagging the employer automatically alerts our Trust & Safety team so they can investigate and take appropriate action. For more information, refer to Safety: Flagging an Employer on Handshake.
- File a report with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). If you've encountered a scam involving our business or been a victim of online fraud, report it to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov by clicking "File a Complaint" and providing your contact details, a description of the scam, any financial losses, and supporting evidence (screenshots, emails, links). Be sure to note if the scammer impersonated our name, logo, or website.