Picture this: you're scrolling through your phone when a text message appears, offering a remote job that pays $100-$600 per day for just 1-2 hours of work. The message looks professional, mentions a "remote online evaluator" position, and promises complete flexibility to work from home at any time. Sounds like the perfect side hustle for the title professional.
This exact scenario has been hitting phones across the country recently, with multiple people receiving nearly identical messages from different phone numbers. What makes this scam particularly clever is how it exploits our desire for flexible income streams - something especially appealing in an industry where earnings can fluctuate with market conditions.
The scammers behind these messages are playing a numbers game. They send out thousands of identical texts hoping someone will bite by responding "yes" or "interested." Once you respond, you've essentially raised your hand and said you're an active phone number worth targeting further. From there, the scam can unfold in four different ways, and none of them end well for you.
- Advance fee fraud: After explaining the "job," they'll ask you to pay for training materials, startup costs, or equipment - usually demanding payment in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. Remember, legitimate employers never ask you to pay them for the privilege of working.
- Identity theft: Under the pretense of completing employment paperwork, they'll direct you to a website asking for your full name, address, Social Security number, and banking details. This information gets sold on the dark web or used to open accounts in your name.
- Money laundering: They might turn you into an unwitting money mule. You'll think you're doing legitimate work, but you're actually helping launder stolen money or cryptocurrency. When law enforcement comes knocking, you'll be the first person they find, giving the real criminals time to disappear.
- Phishing attacks: Even without immediate money requests, they'll send malicious links or ask you to install apps that steal information from your device.
What makes this particularly insidious is how the scammers exploit our natural job-seeking behavior.
Here are your takeaways for staying safe:
- Never respond to unsolicited job offers via text, even to say no. Any response confirms your number is active and worth targeting further.
- Be skeptical of opportunities that seem too good to be true. If a job promises exceptional pay for minimal work with no experience required, it most likely isn't legitimate.
- Watch for upfront payment requests. Legitimate employers will never ask you to pay money up front for the privilege of working for them. Any request for payment during the hiring process should be an immediate red flag.
- Stick to reputable sources when job searching. Use established job boards and company websites. The best opportunities rarely come from random text messages to your personal phone.
- Act quickly if compromised. If you've already engaged with one of these scammers, stop all communication immediately and don't send money or personal information. Consider monitoring your credit and financial accounts for any unusual activity.
#ALTACyber
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Genady Vishnevetsky
Chief Info Security Officer
Stewart Title Guaranty Company
Houston TX
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