Protect Yourself from Job Scams: Stay Vigilant Against Deception
April 26, 2024
HKSFPA recently received a request for assistance from a member who reported being contacted by a certain headhunting company (employment agency) regarding job opportunities and was asked to provide and update their resume. According to our understanding, many companies are currently not hiring through headhunting firms due to financial pressures. Upon learning about the situation, our association immediately contacted the company that was claimed to have job vacancies and received the following confirmations: (1) the company has no plans to recruit employees through headhunting firms due to budget cuts; (2) the company has not commissioned any headhunting firms for recruitment activities; and (3) the company has not received any job applications or resumes from the aforementioned member.
Based on the above situation, the member's time was severely wasted, leading to missed job opportunities. Therefore, our association hereby urges:
1. Given the current difficult industry situation, many professionals are facing unemployment or pay cuts, which can affect their morale, making them easy targets for fraudulent activities. Therefore, professionals should remain vigilant and guard against calls, emails, or messages from unknown or suspicious sources.
2. When seeking jobs through headhunting firms, please verify the legitimacy and existence of the headhunting company (employment agency) on the Labor Department’s employment agency dedicated website before proceeding. Check whether the email domain (i.e., @xxx.com) matches that of the employee from the agency. If necessary, return the call to the employee using the phone number provided on the agency's website.
[Link here]
3. Even if a headhunting company holds an employment agency license, one should still consider the reputation of the company or its representatives.
4. Search for job vacancies on reputable employment agency websites.
5. Request that the employment agency provide the names of the companies, positions, and roles they are representing in writing (including emails or instant messaging). If the agency refuses to disclose this information or claims confidentiality, even if they are a licensed agency, you should immediately cease communication to protect your rights.
6. Seek recommendations from fellow professionals.
7. Be aware that resumes contain sensitive personal information, and if leaked, they may be misused by criminals, potentially compromising the rights and protections of job seekers.
8. Stay updated on the Labor Department’s employment agency dedicated website.
[Link here]
9. Pay attention to the Labor Department's warnings about job scams.
[Link here]
10. Be aware of the Police Department’s alerts regarding job fraud.
[Link here]
If you have any labor-related questions, feel free to contact our association via email (info@hksfpa.org) for inquiries or assistance.
Hong Kong Securities and Futures Professionals Association.