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Protect Yourself From Job Search Scams

Searching for a job is challenging enough in a recession. Job seekers who are eager to reply to any hint of a paying gig must also avoid online scammers and identity thieves who are targeting them.

The Better Business Bureau found that 73% of job seekers reported using online sources for help in 2007, compared to 66% in 2005. And that number is estimated to be higher now. But while there are certainly a number of good jobs to be found on sites like Monster.com and other job search sites, there are also pitfalls when it comes to online job hunting.

“There has been a significant upturn in job-related scams online as we see a downturn in the economy,” says Craig Butterworth, media specialist for the National White Collar Crime Center, which tracks online scams and reports findings to the F.B.I. “People are trying to make ends meet, so even when they get a job offer or see a listing that seems fishy, they try to rationalize it. But as the saying goes, sometimes when something seems too good to be true, it usually is.”

Here are some tips from the experts on how to avoid being scammed.