Current Scams
Current scams
At SEEK, we take your online safety, security and privacy seriously. We are constantly on the lookout for potential risks that may target our customers. Our top priority is not only to protect you from those risks, but also provide you with clear and concise information to help you ensure your own online safety.
Scams targeting job seekers
We are aware of scammers out there pretending to represent SEEK and reaching out to job seekers through SMS, messaging apps like WhatsApp and social media platforms like Instagram. We want to make sure you are aware of these types of scams so that you can stay safe while searching for jobs. Your online protection is our priority.
No one from SEEK in Australia or New Zealand will contact job seekers via WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, or other social media platforms.
The only text message SEEK sends is from SEEK Pass notifying about a request for reference check on behalf of the company to which you have applied, or from someone requesting you to provide a reference. Remember that SEEK and SEEK Pass will not include links in text messages. Be wary of scams who may be impersonating SEEK or SEEK Pass trying to get you to click on malicious links.
Current Scams
One of the challenges we face as a trusted brand is that unscrupulous actors may exploit our reputation for their own unlawful activities. Scammers are getting more inventive in their tactics, using the names of well-known brands, including ours, to build a false sense of trust with potential victims.
"Your resume has been recommended by several online recruitment agencies” scam
Scammers are impersonating SEEK employees to offer a fake remote job with attractive benefits, such as same day high payment for a short daily period of work. This scam further tries to make you believe you’re a top candidate by stating “your resume has been recommended by several online recruitment agencies”. Financial rewards and flattery are commonly used social engineering tactics by scammers.
We want to emphasise that this is an ongoing scam and not legitimate communication from SEEK.
How to protect yourself
Question why you are receiving this communication. Scammers usually cast a wide net in the hopes of baiting at least one victim. If you haven't submitted your resume to any online recruitment agencies recently then you shouldn't be receiving these out of the blue messages.
Be suspicious of group chats. Why would recruiters create a group message and offer multiple people a job? Be suspicious of how people are engaging with you in a job recruitment process.
Be vigilant of similar attempts. Scammers may change minor details, such as their name, phone number or even choice of words in their repeated attempts to avoid detection. Be vigilant of similar offers!
Impersonating a SEEK HR Manager to offer fake remote job (Bitcoin ATM Assistant)
Scammers are posing as HR managers and other people who are typically authorised to offer jobs. In this example, the scammers offer a fake remote job opportunity as a Bitcoin ATM assistant and promise high pay for just 15 minutes of work.
We want to emphasise that this is an ongoing scam and NOT a legitimate communication from SEEK.
How to Protect Yourself
Use official channels for job searches and application. Always search for and apply to jobs using official platforms, such as the SEEK website (www.seek.com.au). Avoid responding to job offers from unsolicited messages or calls.
Verify the identity of contacts. If someone unexpected reaches out to you, verify their identity. You can contact SEEK’s Customer Service (1300 658 700 (Mon to Fri, 8:30am - 6pm AEST) or [email protected]) to confirm the existence of such an HR manager at SEEK, and if the role is legitimate. Do not rely solely on information provided through the original communication channel.
Report suspicious activity. If you encounter something you suspect as fraudulent communication or a scam, report it immediately. Block the contact and notify relevant authorities, such as Scamwatch, to help prevent others from becoming victims.
Fake part-time job offer impersonating SEEK
Scammers attempt to psychologically trick people by pretending to be legitimate companies. In this example, they are posing as a SEEK recruiter and offering a fake part-time job with high pay for just one hour of work daily.
This tactic creates a false sense of reward and excitement, leading us to act quickly without considering the risks involved. It is effective because, as humans, we are naturally drawn to quick monetary gains with minimal effort.
We want to emphasise that this is an ongoing scam and NOT a legitimate communication from SEEK.
How to Protect Yourself
Be wary of unrealistic offers. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. These offers are often designed to exploit our desire for quick financial gain, making us overlook the red flags.
Check if messages are real before taking action. SEEK will never contact you with job offers through text, WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, or other social media platform.
Watch out for changes in messages in repeated attempts. Scammers may change minor details such as their name, phone number, or even replace a phone number with a link instead, in their repeated attempts, to avoid detection.
Keep personal details private. Never share personal or financial details. SEEK will never ask you to provide sensitive information like your email address, passwords, or bank details via unsolicited messages.
Report scams. If you come across any scam messages or spot suspicious communication or activity, report it immediately and block the number or contact.
Fake ads impersonating SEEK
Phishing scams aren’t limited to emails. Phishing can also occur via different platforms such as text messages, phone calls and even on social media.
In the example above, an Instagram ad is impersonating SEEK by using the SEEK logo and color scheme to make the ad look legitimate. We want to emphasise that these communications are NOT from SEEK and are part of a scam.
How to protect yourself
Always check the advertiser’s name. Legitimate ads from SEEK will clearly display “SEEK” as the advertiser or social media handle. If the account name is different, like the example above showing it’s from HireWave HR Solutions, it is a scam.
Navigate directly to a company's official website or carefully review the URL. Scammers often mimic brands and logos to appear legitimate, so visiting the webpage through the official website reduces your chances of landing on an impersonated or phishing site. If you're unable to find the webpage directly, check the URL for a legitimate domain name (e.g., @companyname) or look for any misspellings. For example, "seek.com.au" is legitimate, while "se3k.com.au" is fake, where the 'e' is replaced with a '3,' a small alteration that could easily be overlooked.
Avoid supplying your personal and financial information to unsolicited ads. SEEK will never ask for sensitive information (like your email address, bank details, or passwords) through social media ads. Be wary of ads that ask for this type of information.
If you spot a suspicious ad on Instagram or any other social media platform, report it immediately. Social media platforms often take down fraudulent ads after receiving reports. Click here to see how to report an ad on Instagram.
Head to Scamwatch to learn more about side hustle scams
See below for more information about staying safe online.
Does SEEK send unsolicited messages via messaging apps or social media apps in Australia or New Zealand?
No, we will never contact you with unsolicited messages or job offers via these methods. Scammers use publicly available data, including logos and photos along with fake phone numbers, to impersonate people working at SEEK.
However, SEEK Pass may notify candidates and referees via text message to provide a reference check. This may be seen as unsolicited but this can be easily verified by logging onto the SEEK Pass website or contacting the company or employer who has requested the reference.
If I get a message that looks like it's from SEEK, what should I do?
The only text message SEEK sends is from SEEK Pass notifying about a request for reference check on behalf of the company to which you have applied, or from someone requesting you to provide a reference.
If the message appears to be from SEEK and is suspicious like offering a job or asking you to take action urgently, like clicking on links, it is a scam. Here’s what to do:
Do not reply or engage with the scammer.
Report the sender.
Block the number and delete the message within the platform.
Share about the scam with other job seekers, including friends and family, to protect them. The more people that are aware of these scams, the less effective they are.
I think I've been scammed! What do I do?
If you suspect that you've been targeted by scammers, we recommend you do the following:
Please do not respond to any emails or other contact in relation to your application for that position. The fraudulent user may contact you requesting further information to progress your application (e.g. by completing a website form). Please ignore these requests.
Remain vigilant across all online accounts for any suspicious activity, including unsolicited contact from the company in question, or relating to job openings.
If your CV, SEEK Profile or cover letter included information relating to any government identity document (e.g. driver's licence, Medicare card, passport) or you have provided such information following suspicious contact, please contact the agency that issued the identity document for advice.
If you have supplied your bank account or credit card details following suspicious contact, please contact your financial institution immediately and ask for their advice.
If you feel your identity is compromised, please contact your local police station.
For more information on scams, or to report any suspicious activity, reach out to Scamwatch.
Please contact SEEK on 1300 658 700 (Mon to Fri, 8:30am - 6pm AEST) or via [email protected] if you have been in contact with anyone in relation to fraudulent activity.
We're committed to protecting your privacy and helping you keep safe online. For more hints and tips about staying safe, visit our Protect Yourself Online page.