A consumer advisory has been issued regarding a scam being conducted on Craigslist. The scam takes advantage of those seeking work or a place to live.
The scam compels Craigslist users to register for a credit report through a link provided in the ad or via an e-mail, which is sent to the user via the ad. The user must type in sensitive information in order to receive the report.
The scam involves a fake job or apartment listing posted on the site. When a user responds to the ad, the scammer sends an e-mail to the user’s inbox, asking the user to click on the included link to move forward with the apartment rental or job interview process. The credit report is supposedly part of the process, which the e-mail says is needed in order to obtain the job or residence. The credit report link asks for credit card and other personal information to purchase the credit report.
The scammer, once he has this information, disappears into thin air, along with the job or apartment. And if you’ve fallen victim to this scam, you can bet the thief will do one of two things with your information: he’ll use it to obtain credit cards, payday loans or any number of other money-making schemes, or he’ll sell it on the black market to make a quick buck.
But if you’re a LifeLock customer, you’ve got no worries. LifeLock’s eRecon™ service will search the Web for the illegal selling or trading of your personal information, and notify you if anything happens.
And LifeLock will also monitor the unregulated Internet and file sharing networks for your information, and let you know if you’re at risk. They’ll even make sure no one applies for a payday loan using your personal information.
With LifeLock, you’ll know before the damage is done. And you just can’t put a price tag on that kind of peace of mind.
