New job hiring scam warning this week in Ontario

Scams are a year-round nuisance, with more sophisticated variations popping up every few weeks. However, the goal of the fraudsters behind the scams remains the same — target vulnerable people and steal their money and personal information.

Here is the latest scam circulating in Ontario:

For anyone facing layoffs or financial struggles may encounter a glimmer of hope in unsolicited job offers. Yet, it’s crucial to remain vigilant as these emails, text messages, or phone calls could be another deceptive ploy devised by scammers.

In this recent scam, fraudsters send texts to victims. Operating under fictitious names, the scammers adopt a friendly demeanour, claiming to be from a recruitment agency. Adding a layer of deception, they often use the names of legitimate companies, misleading individuals into believing the job offer is genuine.

In this scenario, “Softgarden” is a company that makes software for businesses to help manage the entire recruitment process, from job posting to hiring. However, it is based in Germany.

It would also be important to note the phone number from which the message is being delivered.

The 289 area code is associated with Toronto, Canada. However, a quick online search reveals a mismatch between the company’s claimed location and the phone number. Such a check can verify to the recipient that they are being duped.

The representative in the message informs the victim about a potential job opportunity and asks if they can send additional information.

According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, fraudsters will exploit real businesses, luring victims with freelance job opportunities to promote products, apps, or videos using software they’ve developed.

Once a victim installs the software and creates an account, they’re assigned “orders” or “tasks” to complete. To deceive victims further, they may receive a modest payment or commission, making it seem like the job is “real.”

The fraud prevention centre advises residents never to share personal information with unverified people or groups. This includes information such as their name, address, birth date, social insurance number, and credit card or banking information.

Additionally, individuals should block the number and avoid responding to the message, as doing so could allow a scammer to obtain important personal information.