Protect yourself online

We’re committed to protecting your privacy online. As part of this commitment, our dedicated online security team regularly trawl the SEEK site for evidence of suspicious job ads and advertisers, and immediately remove them. Using these resources, in addition to other filtering tools, we’re continually improving our efforts to make job hunting safe and secure.

Noticed something suspicious?

Have you seen suspicious activity on your account, or accidentally performed any of the following:
  • Received and/or replied to a suspicious email
  • Clicked on a suspicious link
  • Received and opened an attachment that you weren’t expecting
  • Visited a suspicious website.
If the answer is ‘Yes’, then here are some steps you can take to help protect yourself:
  • Run a virus scan on your computer
  • Change the password of your SEEK account
  • If you’ve used this password on another website, please change this password too, (don’t reuse the same password when doing so)
  • Change the password for the email address you use to sign in to your SEEK account.
As an additional precaution, we recommend changing the password for every account where you have used the same email address that you use to sign in to your SEEK account. For instructions on creating a strong password, see How to create strong passwords
Please contact Customer Service on 0508 733 569 if you believe your SEEK account has been compromised, so we can investigate further.
If SEEK have contacted you regarding our concerns about the legitimacy of an advertiser, please cease communication with the advertiser immediately and if personal details have been provided, in addition to the above steps you can take, refer to the information below.
  • Bank details: if you have provided your bank details, please immediately contact your financial institution.
  • Fraud and identify theft: If you feel your identity is compromised, please contact your local police station. SEEK will work closely with the police should they request any details.

Cyber Security Awareness Month – Top Tips

In October, SEEK will be celebrating Cyber Security Awareness Month, an annual yearly initiative that aims to raise awareness about how we can stay safer and more secure online. Below are our top 5 tips to keep you safer in your job hunt!
Your SEEK profile is your gateway to applying for jobs and attracting the right employers. As such, it is important to ensure that your account stays safe and is only accessible by you. Having a unique and strong password can help to secure your account.
We recommend using a password that is:
  • Unique and different to the other online services you use, to limit access across multiple accounts if you’ve been part of a data breach.
  • Long and strong (such as using a passphrase), or complex (including letters, numbers and symbols).
Our SEEK staff use a password manager to save complex and unique passwords for all work-related sites and personal accounts. Consider using a password manager for your passwords and feel confident your passwords and data stays safe across different sites. To check and see if any of your accounts or passwords, be they personal or work related, have been part of a known data breach see the Have I Been Pwned website.
Potential employers will most commonly request information such as your name, contact details, education and qualifications, personal and professional achievements, and top skills. Potential employers may ask for documentation regarding your right to work, such as a passport, and other forms of identity, such as a driver’s licence.
However, sharing personal documents and information online can expose job seekers to risks such as fraud or identity theft.
Before sending personal information or documentation, ensure you:
  • Check to see the employer is legitimate and the listing is from the legitimate company, including checking their website and email addresses/links for submission.
  • Consider why an employer would need that information, particularly at an early stage in the process.
We recommend using Certsy to verify your credentials and share with SEEK for free. Certsy helps keep your personal documents safe when applying for jobs on SEEK. Certsy can verify your right to work or qualifications without revealing your passport or other identity documents at that early stage in the process.
Sharing that you are looking for a job on your social media networks is a good way to leverage your contacts. Be mindful that sharing specific information on your social media networks, including LinkedIn and Twitter, can open yourself up to scammers or fraudsters using this information to create targeted “spear” phishing emails.
If an opportunity arrives in your inbox or direct message that is out of the blue, or seems too good to be true, make sure you:
  • Check the header information, including the sender’s name, email address and/or company information. If they don’t match or look different to the company’s true web addresses think before replying and engaging with them.
  • Hover over any links before clicking on them. Hovering your mouse over embedded links will show the actual website address. If the link address looks weird or is not reflective of the company website, don’t click on it. Consider visiting the website by typing in the known address or contact them directly via their known customer service number if in doubt.
A legitimate employer should not get upset or frustrated if you take extra steps to verify the sender or the information that they are providing to you. If they respond with a sense of urgency, anger, or try to instil fear, be mindful that this is another common tactic of scammers. If you feel uncomfortable, consider not engaging any further.
An important step in any job seeking process is an interview. Make sure you consider your physical security when job hunting and in the interview process. In addition to fraudulent job ads, dishonest people may pose as recruiters or employers to take advantage of unsuspecting job seekers.
To protect your personal safety:
  • Ensure your interview is being conducted in the employer’s place of business or via a legitimate recruitment agency. If the employer’s place of business is a private residence, suggest a Zoom interview or meet an employer in a public place.
  • When attending an interview, ensure that you make your own transport arrangements and let someone know where you will be.
A legitimate employer should not question your right or desire to feel safe in the interview process, or push you to meet somewhere private. If they respond with increased pressure, consider why the employer would need such privacy outside of an office, and remember that this is often a coercive tactic from fraudsters. If you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, consider not engaging any further.
Cyber security is not a solo mission, it takes a village to combat it effectively and keep everyone safe. The best way to reduce the risk and impact of cyber threats is to communicate openly about them.
To help protect those around you:
  • Report any suspected fraudulent job ads to both SEEK and the Commerce Commission.
  • Discuss with friends and family any phishing emails or text messages you’ve received and how they might identify any in their inbox.
  • Communicate with your children, parents, and grandparents about the potential for fraudsters to engage in romance scams or engage them in a scam via social media. Highlight that some cyber threats may not be obvious straight away.
If we all work together, we can keep each other safe and better prepare ourselves and those around us for any future cyber threats! For more comprehensive information on how to stay safe and communicate it to friends and family, we recommend looking at Netsafe resources.

Fraudulent job ads

We regularly screen for illegal job ads that ask for personal or financial information. However, from time-to-time these job ads may appear on SEEK.
Opportunities that seem too good to be true usually are. Be wary of advertisers or employers requesting the following:
  • An upfront fee (e.g. for things such as ‘processing’ your application). A genuine advertiser or employer WILL NOT ask you for money or your bank or credit card details.
  • Acceptance of a money transfer where you can retain a portion as ‘payment’.
  • Bank or credit card details.
  • A copy of your driver’s licence or passport information as part of the application process.
  • Tax file number. This information should only be provided once you have accepted a genuine job offer.
  • Non work-related personal information, such as your appearance, or marital status.
  • SEEK username and password.
  • Any other personally identifying information.
Always check the legitimacy of any job ad, email or employer that seems suspicious before you respond. For example, large well-known companies usually do not include Hotmail or other free email addresses in their ads. If you have any concerns, call the company directly to verify.
If you have any concerns over the legitimacy of a job ad:
  • Do NOT respond to the ad.
  • Report it to SEEK immediately, providing a link to the ad. Report here.
  • Make sure you have up-to-date anti-virus software to protect your computer.
  • If you have supplied your bank account or credit card details, please contact your financial institution immediately and ask for their advice.
  • Be alert for suspicious emails asking for personal details.
If you receive a suspicious email, the best course of action is to delete it immediately. Do not follow any links, or reply to the sender. By following a link, you may accidentally download a ‘Trojan’ or ‘key logging’ program, which could compromise your security. By replying, you run the risk of receiving more emails from this source.
Unfortunately, from time to time, fraudulent advertisers have found ways to upload job ads and use other features of our site without detection. If you have any concerns over the legitimacy of a job ad, report it to SEEK immediately, providing a link to the ad or a copy of the email.
If you suspect fraudulent activity, please:
The most helpful information will be the JobID, link to the ad or a copy of the suspicious email.
SEEK endeavours to ensure that all job ads on our site are for legitimate job opportunities and will remove any job ads that are identified as having contravened our Terms and Conditions. If you suspect that a job ad on SEEK is suspicious please contact us on 1300 658 700 in Australia and 0508 733 569 in New Zealand.
If SEEK have contacted you regarding our concerns about the legitimacy of an advertiser, please cease communication with the advertiser immediately and if personal details have been provided, refer to the below.
  • Bank details: if you have provided your bank details, please immediately contact your financial institution.
  • Fraud and identify theft: If you feel your identity is compromised, please contact your local police station. SEEK will work closely with the police should they request any details.

Job hunting and interview safety

It’s important to protect yourself throughout the job hunting and interview process. In addition to fraudulent job ads, dishonest people may pose as recruiters or employers to take advantage of unsuspecting job seekers. Follow these tips to protect your personal information and wellbeing.
Never include personal information such as your driver’s licence, bank account or credit card information in your resume or online profiles. Be cautious of individuals, recruiters or businesses who ask you to pay for more details about a job ad or an upfront fee.
If you’re unsure of the legitimacy of an individual, recruiter or business, take the time to verify that the company exists. This includes searching online for further information about the company including a legitimate phone number, location and ABN in Australia or NZBN in New Zealand, as well as researching the person interviewing you to ensure they are who they claim to be.
Most interviews are carried out at the employer’s place of business or via a legitimate recruitment agency. Be wary of employers who ask to meet you in a private place. Never agree to meet an employer at a private residence even if they operate their business from home.
Only agree to meet an employer in a public place that you are familiar with, ensure you make your own transport arrangements, and let someone know where you will be.
If meeting in a public place, always request an interview confirmation by email and ask that the location, time, date, and expectations of the interview are included.

Phishing

Phishing is a type of fraud whereby someone sends you an email, posing as SEEK or another trusted company, in an attempt to acquire your username, password or credit card details. These deceptive messages often mimic legitimate and trusted organisations like SEEK, and can be sent via email, SMS, instant messaging or social media platforms.
The aim of these emails is to trick you into clicking on links to:
  • a fake website where you are encouraged to enter confidential details
  • accidentally download a "Trojan" or "key logging" program, which could compromise your security.
Common signs of a phishing email include:
  • Not addressing you by your name.
  • Using poor spelling, grammar and punctuation, and inconsistent graphics/images.
  • Asking for sensitive information or requesting you confirm the security of your account.
  • Creating a sense of urgency - scammers may try to test you by stating that something needs your immediate attention.
  • Using a sender address that may look unfamiliar or peculiar.
  • Having unfamiliar or unexpected attachments - don’t open them as they may contain malicious software.
  • Including instructions to click on a link to sign into SEEK or open an attachment.
If you have any concerns over the legitimacy of an email:
  • Do NOT respond to the email.
  • Report it to SEEK immediately, providing a copy of the email. Report here.
  • Ensure you have up-to-date anti-virus software to protect your computer.
  • Contact your financial institution immediately and ask for their advice, if you have supplied your bank account or credit card details.
  • Be alert for suspicious emails asking for personal details.
If you receive a suspect email, the best course of action is to delete it immediately. Do not follow any links, or reply to the sender. By following a link, you may accidentally download a ‘Trojan’ or ‘key logging’ program, which could compromise your security. By replying, you run the risk of receiving more emails from this source. If you suspect that you have received a phishing email you can report it to Scamwatch here.

Trojans

Malware is malicious software also known as Trojans which are inserted into a computer system for the purpose of causing harm, such as stealing personal and financial information.
If you think an email is a hoax, or if it is from an untrusted/unknown source, never click on it’s links or attachments. If you did click on a link and you are worried, use your security anti-virus/anti-malware software to run a scan of your computer or device.
Symptoms to look for:
  • Unusual pop ups asking for personal or financial information, such as credit cards or date of birth.
  • Unusual changes to your Internet Banking pages, e.g. displaying upgrade or ‘under maintenance’ messages.
  • Irregular webpage layout such as missing fields or additional buttons.
  • Significant slowness in logging on.
  • A “please wait” message replacing the login button, after it has been pressed.
Trust your instinct if something feels suspicious. If it doesn’t look quite right, err on the side of caution and assume it’s not right.
‘ASSURE’ yourself and stay one step ahead of the fraudsters:
  • Abort what you are doing - close the browser or exit the app.
  • Seek security software updates.
  • Scan your PC/Device to remove threats.
  • Use another device, check for anomalies and payment history.
  • Report any suspected fraud immediately.
  • Enquire further if in doubt.

Scams and spam

Electronic junk mail is commonly known as spam. These are electronic messages you haven’t asked for that are sent to your email account, mobile phone number, or instant messaging account. The content of spam messages varies. Some messages promote legitimate products or services, while others will attempt to trick you into following a link to a scam website where you will be asked to enter your bank account or credit card details.
Scammers can easily fake an official-looking email, using the same logo and email design as the real company. They collect or buy your address from websites, customer lists or viruses that harvest address books.
It is best to be wary of unexpected emails, especially if it is from a company you’ve dealt with before, such as SEEK, or an online shopping site you use. Always be alert for fake emails. If you receive an email you’re not expecting, don’t click on any links or open any attachments. Contact us if you have any concerns.
Things to consider:
  • Don’t open messages if you don’t know the sender or if you’re not expecting them.
  • Be suspicious of messages that aren’t addressed directly to you, or don’t use your correct name.
  • Don’t reply to, attempt to unsubscribe from or forward, chain letters you receive by email.
  • Think carefully before clicking on any links or opening any attachments.
  • Ensure you have up-to-date anti-virus software installed on any device used to access email.
  • Protect your email accounts with two-step verification.
  • Sign up to Scamwatch to keep on top of current scams.
The best way to protect yourself from malicious emails is to stop them from reaching you.
Spammers and scammers can be clever though, and some messages might still make it through to your inbox. To protect yourself from these malicious messages:
  • Don’t share your email address online unless you need to, and consider setting up a separate email address just to use for online forms or shopping.
  • If you’re suspicious of an email, access the website by typing the address into a browser, not by clicking the provided link.
  • As much as possible, have separate email accounts for personal and business use.
  • Use a spam filter to catch these messages before they get to your inbox. Most email systems have reasonably effective spam filters to prevent spam appearing in your inbox. If you’re not sure, ask your internet service provider.
  • Delete spam messages without opening them.

Hints and tips

Our dedicated online security team regularly screen for illegal job ads that ask for personal or financial information. However, from time to time these job ads may appear on SEEK.
  • Before entering personal information on a web site, check that the URL (web address) has changed from ‘http’ to ‘https’ and that a closed padlock icon is present.
  • The safest way to access any web site is to type the web address directly into the browser and bookmark it. Hover over web links with your cursor to check for spelling errors or unexpected web addresses before you click. Phishing emails often contain links to dangerous sites.
  • Choose passwords for your online services that are difficult for anyone else to guess. A strong password is long and complex (a variety of letters, numbers and other characters), unique (not re-used for other apps), current (changed at least every 90 days) and not obvious (avoid dictionary words, dates, names etc.).
  • Only provide information that’s necessary for what you’re doing.
  • If you’re using a public computer make sure you log out before you leave and never let the computer save your passwords or usernames.
  • Install anti-spyware and anti-virus software to stop intruders getting into your computer system. Run your anti-virus software regularly to scan your system and remove any malicious software.
  • Check the sender’s email address - does it appear to come from a legitimate source?
  • Contact the company using a phone number from their website (not from the email) before you reply, if you’re unsure about an email, .
  • Check that the links contained in the email are legitimate by ‘hovering’ your mouse over the link to view the URL without clicking.
  • Never open an attachment that you’re unsure about as it may contain malicious software designed to infect your computer.
  • Use a spam filter to block deceptive messages from reaching you.
  • Understand that SEEK, your financial institution and other large organisations would never send you a link and ask you to enter your personal or financial details.
SEEK endeavours to ensure that all job ads on our site are for legitimate job opportunities and will remove any job ads that are identified to have contravened our Terms and Conditions. If you suspect that a job ad on SEEK is suspicious please contact us on 0508 733 569.
If you suspect fraudulent activity, please:
Report it to SEEK - so we can remove any fraudulent ads and alert other jobseekers or advertisers.
Report it to the Commerce Commission New Zealand - who will investigate misleading job and business opportunities or email.
The most helpful information will be the JobID, link to the ad or a copy of the suspicious email.

Helpful Links

SCAMWATCH
Information about jobs and employment scams.
Australian Federal Police
Learn more about your online safety and report fraud and phishing crimes.
Australian Communications and Media Authority
Report SMS or email spam.
MoneySmart
ASIC acts against financial scams, including online schemes.
Stay Smart Online
Practical tips and advice on securing your computer and transacting online.
Stay smart online homepage