Job scams surged 118% in 2023, aided by AI

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Job scams are an emerging threat. They surged 118% in 2023 from 2022, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center.

Scammers may pose as recruiters or post fake job ads in order to get sensitive personal and financial information from job seekers.

Improvements in artificial intelligence and the rise of remote work are big contributors to the growth in employment scams, experts said.

Employment scams surged last year, as criminals leveraged artificial intelligence to steal money and personal information from unsuspecting job seekers, experts said.

Consumer reports of job scams jumped 118% in 2023 from the prior year, according to a recent report by the Identity Theft Resource Center.

Thieves generally pose as recruiters and post fake job listings to entice applicants, then steal valuable information during the "interview" process.

Often, they put these phony listings on reputable websites like LinkedIn and other job search platforms, ITRC said, making it tough to disentangle truth from fiction.

The typical victim loses about $2,000

A chief danger is divulging information about financial accounts or sensitive personal data (like a Social Security number) that criminals can then use to steal a job seeker's identity.

Consumers reported losing $367 million to job and business opportunity scams in 2022, up 76% year over year, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

The typical victim lost a "whopping" $2,000, the FTC said.