Kmart scam text message warning for Aussies: 'Beware'

Aussie jobseekers have been told to stay vigilant about fake job offers going around, with Scamwatch warning about a new Kmart job scam.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Scamwatch said the scam message could come via social media or Whatsapp messages and tended to claim you could get easy profits or upfront payments for repeated tasks like buying products or submitting reviews.

Scamwatch figures revealed Australians lost more than $8.7 million to recruitment scams in 2022.

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Scamwatch warned young people in particular to protect their personal information when applying for jobs, and to beware of job offers made through social media platforms or messaging services such as Whatsapp.

“We know younger people are particularly vulnerable, with Australians aged between 25 and 44 reporting the biggest losses to job scams,” ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said.

“If you are job hunting and you are offered work that requires little effort for a big financial reward, it is most likely a scam. This might include repeatedly clicking a button on a website or app to purchase products or submit reviews.”

There were more than 3,194 reports of job scams made to Scamwatch in 2022, and many of the victims were lured on the promise of making money quickly.

Scammers will often ask for a payment in exchange for a guaranteed income. They pretend to be hiring on behalf of high-profile companies and online-shopping platforms and impersonate well-known recruitment agencies.

“In the final months of 2022, we saw a significant uptick in reports and losses associated with recruitment scams, and we are concerned these scammers will continue to ramp up their efforts as people look for work in the new year,” Rickard said.

“With many Australians looking to make the most of a highly competitive job market, we are urging jobseekers to be wary of opportunities that seem too good to be true.

“Never make a payment or upfront investment to secure a job. If you think you’ve been scammed, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.”

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