Be alert to potential schemes and conspiracies by con artists wanting to obtain your personal information. Please take reasonable precautions to protect yourself. If a job offer makes outrageous claims, then it probably is too good to be true.

Things to avoid:

• Providing social security number during the application process. Never provide your SSN in an on-line application unless the website is secure. Even then, be careful. The closed LOCK is the symbol for a secure site. Rule of thumb is that SSNs are provided at time of hiring and not at the point of application.
• Providing any financial information. On a job application or request, never provide your bank name, bank account number, credit card number, etc. This kind of information has no relevance on a job application.
• Responding to unsolicited email. Be very skeptical of unsolicited e-mails. Keep track of companies you have contacted and check that the email is truly from a company you have submitted an application or resume. If sender is unknown, DELETE email and do not forward; and permanently DELETE from DELETED ITEMS FOLDER.
• Handling a check or money order for untendered services. Never take pre-payment for services via checks and/or money orders that represent a "small fee for your services" with the understanding that you're to send/return the balance.

In the past, we have seen job hunters targeted with e-mail messages identifying the sender as associated with a state job bank. The e-mail directs the seeker to sign up at false websites or requests financial information or money. These are often schemes aimed at identity theft and/or taking money from your bank account.

More recently, we have had reports of a fraudulent job posting. When contacted, the company will send you a check to deposit in your account with instructions to keep 10% and send the other 90% to someone else by MoneyGram / Western Union. This is an attempt to get your banking information. Please contact the New Mexico Attorney General's Office http://www.nmag.gov/office/contact.aspx and report this activity.

More worrying than the typical spam e-mail, which can often be discarded because they make outrageous claims, are the changes in tactics of posted jobs on job boards. As noted in The Wall Street Journal February 17, 2009 article "It Isn't Always a Job Behind an Online Job Posting", "What may look like an ad for employment may lead to something entirely different, like a hard sell for career services or job-training manuals." Never be rushed into signing a contract. High-pressure sales tactics are used to get you to act now without giving you time to research the offer.

Here are a few more suggestions for spotting job ad scams:

• Ads should clearly contain the name of the hiring company.
• Ads should contain details about the position, including tasks and required education.
• Be skeptical of wage claims significantly higher than the local labor market or what the required education level would indicate. You can review wages for New Mexico at laser.state.nm.us.
• You can research extreme claims at www.snopes.com.

Always research a potential employer:

• Google the company's name to research recent articles about its products and services. Not only will this bring to light any shady job announcements, but might give you insight into how to best apply for the job.
• Check for any complaints filed against the company with the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org).
• Check the New Mexico Attorney General's website for current scams (www.nmag.gov).

Here are a few suggestions to protect you from identity theft during your job hunt:

• Provide a resume with a post-office box address instead of your home address.
• Use a disposable email address to prevent spam from clogging up your normal in-box.
• List just your initials in the document and not your full name.

If you feel that you've been targeted by one of these scams please notify the NMVOSS System Administrator directly at Report.Job.Scams@state.nm.us and the New Mexico Attorney General's Office at http://www.nmag.gov/office/contact.aspx.