HELENA – Online purchases are the most reported scam, but employment scams were the riskiest last year, according to the Better Business Bureau.
New data shows employment scams are so risky in part because they impact every demographic.
Scammers will create fake sites that appear to be legitimate online resources and might ask for personal information like social security numbers and bank information.
Montana Marketplace director Hannah Stiff said victims can lose a lot of money.
“We know that median victim loss reported to us was $1,200. So that makes it especially risky because it could happen to anyone and they’re losing a lot of money,” Stiff told MTN News.
She recommended having a face to face meeting before giving any critical personal information to an employer.
Additionally, if an online application is required, seek out the website yourself, and avoid unsolicited sites sent in texts and emails.
