- Scammers target job applicants, and younger workers are most at risk
- Despite awareness, LinkedIn says younger workers are just desperate for a job
- Most attacks are moving away from trusted platforms to personal messaging apps
New LinkedIn data has claimed that Gen Z workers are more vulnerable to job scams despite increasing awareness – around one in three (32%) admit they ignore warning signs of scams because of how rare it is to be able to find a suitable job.
As a result, 40% of Gen Z workers have fallen for a job scam, compared to just 27% of older Gen X workers.
Overall, around three-quarters (72%) of applicants now stop to consider the legitimacy of the job posting before applying, and over half (57%) are more suspicious than they were a year ago.
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Younger workers fall victim to job scams
“Younger job seekers aren’t careless, they’re under pressure,” explained LinkedIn’s Trust Product VP Oscar Rodriguez. “When options feel scarce, it’s harder to slow down and scrutinize every interaction.”
LinkedIn also noted that Gen Z workers would be 30% less likely to question random recruiting calls compared to Gen X workers, while the younger generation is also less likely to question being pressured into making a quick decision.
But as scammers target potential workers, the recruiting platform shared some telltale signs — one of which is that attackers often move away from trusted platforms with built-in protections. Nine out of 10 reported scams sent users to personal messaging apps.
According to the report, the two riskiest times for applicants are when they are browsing job postings and during the first contact from a recruiter.
Workers are therefore advised to pause and assess if the process ever feels rushed or vague, or if the suspected recruiter moves them away from a trusted platform sooner.
As for LinkedIn, the company is committed to blocking fake accounts and scam messages before they reach the victim. The Microsoft-owned platform has also been actively pushing its verification tools for a number of months now with a goal of verifying everyone with an account.
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