Attorney General Joseph Foster and Employment Security Commissioner George Copadis have opened an investigation of a potential employment scam involving various companies contacting job seekers and offering fake job opportunities in an effort to obtain confidential information from these individuals. It appears the perpetrators of these fraud schemes are utilizing the names of legitimate companies here in New Hampshire.

These companies have sent emails to several New Hampshire job seekers over the past few days claiming to be interested in hiring them for current job openings. The email is designed to obtain confidential information from the job seeker and to steal money or the identity of these unsuspecting individuals under the guise of providing the job seeker a long awaited job opportunity. The companies often require job seekers to provide personal bank account information so that the "employer" can then send them funds to purchase certain software or equipment they will need in order to perform the job. Skeptical job seekers promptly and appropriately contacted New Hampshire Employment Security to report these incidents.

These companies initially registered with the New Hampshire Job Match System, an on-line resume posting system run by New Hampshire Employment Security designed to connect legitimate employers with job seekers. They appear to be using the names of legitimate companies for purposes of registration. The companies then contact job seekers registered in the system. Employment Security has taken immediate steps to block any involved entity from further access to the system and has also contacted each individual job seeker potentially affected by this scheme. Employment Security has also taken further steps to reduce the likelihood this scenario occurs again in the future.

"The Department does its best to guard against fraud schemes in the job match system. The system serves a useful and beneficial purpose in providing another venue for job seekers to connect with hiring employers. Unfortunately, no matter how diligent we are in trying to guard against fraud and abuse, there is always the risk of this type of activity with unscrupulous individuals trying to take advantage of unsuspecting New Hampshire citizens. The bottom line is that people need to keep their guard up and if something sounds too good to be true, including a job opportunity, then it generally is," stated Commissioner Copadis.

In response to these and other similar email solicitation scams, both agencies offer job seekers these useful tips to better protect themselves:

• Do not open any unsolicited emails or attachments if they are not from a familiar or trusted source or contain suspicious subject lines or no subject line at all even if from a recognized sender;
• Beware of emails that link to a website that lacks details about who is running the company, where it is based or does not have a phone number to contact the company;
• Never provide any personal information such as your social security number or date of birth;
• Never provide any banking information without verifying the person with whom you are communicating;
• Never deposit suspicious or unexpected checks into your account. Remember that even if your bank makes funds available from a deposit, that does not mean the check is good. It could still be fraudulent or forged and you could be responsible to replace those funds;
• Never wire funds to strangers. Make sure you know the person very well before sending them money through a wire service like Western Union or MoneyGram;
• Call or check with your local NH Works office if anyone claims to be "partnering" with or affiliated with the New Hampshire Job Match System; and
• If the offer appears "too good to be true", it probably is.

If anyone, including job seekers or employers, have concerns regarding suspicious activity or need additional information please contact the Consumer Protection Bureau of the Attorney General's office at 1-888-468-4454 or Deputy Commissioner Richard Lavers (603) 228-4065 at New Hampshire Employment Security.