The U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) issued an alert Thursday warning that fraudsters claiming to be involved in hiring for legitimate organizations, including FINRA, are using Skype and other online video platforms as a way to phish for personal information and money.
“Scammers attempting to obtain sensitive personal financial information are becoming ever more sophisticated in their tactics, manipulating moments of trust such as a job interview while simultaneously turning trusted tools such as online video platforms into potential weapons of fraud,” says Gerri Walsh, senior vice president of investor education, FINRA, in a statement.
The alert sets out some red flags that may signal that an online video job interview is actually a scam, including requests for personal information, or for payment. It also reports that a scammer posing as a hiring manager for FINRA, asked a victim to download a file, purportedly from its HR department, which can contain malware or spyware.
“It is important for consumers to know that legitimate companies and employers will not ask you to provide confidential information through non-secure means — and you should never do so unless you are certain the interview is legitimate,” Walsh adds.