Fraudulent job postings targeting young job-seekers have increased by 12 percent this year, according to recent research conducted by Barclays. These fake advertisements are primarily designed to collect personal information from applicants, rather than immediately demanding money.

The study highlights that a significant majority—69 percent—of young people searching for employment do not verify the legitimacy of job ads before submitting their applications. This practice leaves them vulnerable to various forms of identity theft and impersonation.

Paul Davis, head of economic crime at Barclays, explained that while the scams may not involve an upfront financial loss, the information requested—such as CVs and bank details—can be exploited by criminals to assume the victim’s identity and carry out further fraudulent activities. He emphasized that these preliminary data-gathering steps enable scammers to cause substantial harm even without direct monetary transactions.

The rise in such deceptive job postings underscores the importance of increased vigilance among job applicants, particularly younger candidates, who may be less experienced in recognizing online scams. Barclays’ research suggests that job-seekers should perform due diligence by independently verifying the authenticity of job offers before providing sensitive information.