Trade Me warns individuals to remain vigilant as recruitment scam messages are being circulated by people falsely claiming to represent the company.
The scam messages said they were seeking part-time assistants for online work that would require only one hour of effort per day, with promised daily earnings ranging from $488 to $2,378.
Recipients of the message were informed that all they needed for the job, which included a salary plus commission, was a phone or computer.
The offer also included benefits such as maternity leave and statutory holidays. However, applicants were required to be at least 25 years old.
“We’re also aware of similar messages impersonating recruiters from other companies,” Head of Trade Me Jobs Nicole Williams told 1News.
Williams stated that most of these scam messages are sent via iMessage. She also emphasised that they are actively collaborating with their scam response partners to implement measures aimed at protecting Kiwis from fraudulent messages impersonating the Trade Me Jobs brand.
She also advises anyone who has received these messages to report and delete them.
“For anyone who has responded to the sender with personal information, it’s best to report the incident to CERTNZ and use Own Your Online resources to determine how to respond. Alternatively, seek advice from police on the best course of action.”
Recruitment scam messages lure individuals by offering fake positions that require minimal effort but promise financial gains or “guaranteed” income, sometimes even posing as a “dream job” at a legitimate company they are impersonating.
The ultimate objective in every case is to deceive victims into providing money and/or sensitive personal information, such as the target’s passport number, driver’s license, and other credentials.