Don’t Fall for Fake Redfish Technology Job Scam Text

Employment scams are on the rise again. This time around scammers are impersonating Redfish Technology recruitment agents. They target job seekers via texts, WhatsApp and email. The scam text goes like this;

”Hi,I’m Alice a Recruiter at Redfish Technology. I saw on the company’s job posting that you’ve been looking for a job recently. May I ask if you’re currently still looking for a job?”

Once you reply to the text, you get drawn into a scam that either asks you to perform unclear tasks or makes you pay for ‘equipment/training’ fee.

As a Cybersecurity analyst, I’ve taken my time to investigate this recruitment scam. This article provides information on how the scam works, who is behind the job scam and how to spot similar job scams.

Why Its a Scam Redfish Technology Recruitment Text

First and foremost, Redfish Technology (an IT & Tech Recruiting Firm) does not send unsolicited recruitment job texts without receiving an application letter from job seekers.

Secondly, the company wouldn’t reach out to you via WhatsApp or Text. They’d rather do so via email, from their official email address @redfishtech.com.

How The Job Scam Works

Starting with a job offer for a non-existing job, recipients are lured with high pay and benefits. After a sham interview on Telegram or Signal, the victims are told they’v been hired. However, they’re told they need some equipments for the job.

The job scammers then proceed to email a fake check for equipment (scanner, printer, and several types of software). Then ask their victims to print the check and deposit it into their (the victim’s) account via the mobile app.

Once it is in the account, victims would be asked to Zelle the payment to a “private vendor” so they could start working on the order for the work equipments.  

Even when the check is placed on hold by the bank, the scammers would insist the victims make the payment from their personal account. Convincing them that the bank would clear the check soon.

People who fall for this scam, end up loosing their money and being vulnerable to identity theft.

Who is Behind The Fake Redfish Technology Job Recruitment

The recruitment scam is orchestrated by one of the following sets of people;

• Foreign cybercrime group  – This people create fake job postings mimicking real companies. Their goal is often to install malware, steal personal information, or extort money from victims.
• Local scammers – This could be someone within the country who’s exploiting the trust people have for Outpost Alaska.
• A Shady Competitor – In this scenario, a competitor may spread fake postings to damage Outpost Alaska’s reputation and steer job seekers away.
• Individual opportunistic scammer – A single scammer may have crafted the emails to take advantage of people urgently looking for jobs.

Warning Signs of Employment Scams You Should Be Wary of

1. If You’re Asked To Pay Money

 Legitimate employers and hiring managers don’t require an application fee or expect you to pay for training. Sometimes this fee can be labelled ‘equipment fee’ for training. Whatever name it is, don’t fall for it.

2. Upfront Requests for Sensitive Information

Sensitive information (like your social security number, date of birth, or bank account information) isn’t a part of early recruitment process. Eventually, your employer will need this information for taxes and benefits enrollment, but only after you have a written job offer and sometimes not until your first day on the job.

3. Impersonates a Recruitment Company

In order to gain your trust, the scammers often use the name and brand of known recruitment companies. The first thing you should do is to search for the company’s official email address online and contact them in regards to the job. That way, you can verify if it is scam or legit.

4. Only Uses Texts and Online Chats

As technology evolves, so do scams, and some recruitment scams have migrated to texts or online chats especially via WhatsApp. Most legitimate companies don’t reach out to recruit via text unless you already applied on the company’s site and opted to receive text messages.

5. If It Seems Too Good To Be True

It feels great that a company is fast-tracking you, contacting you within an hour of applying, and doesn’t require an interview or checking references. But as the saying goes, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

What To Do If You Received The Redfish Technology Recruitment Scam Text

Do Not Provide Your Sensitive Information

No matter how legit a prospective job offer looks, do not provide sensitive information like your DATE & YEAR of birth, Social security number, or bank account information.

Do Not Click on Any Link Contained in The Text

If the text or email contains a link, do not click on it as it could be malicious. Often times, hackers pose as job recruiters to gain access to their victim’s data. Clicking on the link might install a malware on your device that’d easily steal sensitive and confidential data.

Report The Scam and Create Awareness

The final step you should take is to report the Recruitment scam to law enforcement agencies in order to stop the scam and create awareness. You can do to the FTC via  ReportFraud.ftc.gov or Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Conclusion

Like The Staffworks Recruitment ScamThe Redfish Technology scam recruitment uses high pay to trick job seekers into paying an advance fee for ‘equipment’ and revealing their personal information. Don’t be a victim! It’s a fake job offer.

When approached by a job recruiter either online or offline, the first thing to do is research the company and the job opportunity. Find the company on the internet and review their online presence, including their social media. Enter the company’s name and the word “scam” on search engine to see if the business is legitimate.