Cybercriminals have launched a new campaign targeting college students in North America with fake job offers in the bioscience and health industries, aimed at extracting fees from unsuspecting victims, according to researchers at Proofpoint, a cybersecurity company.
The scam emails, sent during the graduation season, came from addresses related to legitimate bioscience, healthcare, and biotechnology organizations, and offered remote data entry jobs with interview requests and PDF attachments outlining job specifics. The tactic used in this campaign is part of the larger trend of advance fee fraud, wherein scammers deceive individuals seeking employment into paying fees upfront, preying on their eagerness to secure jobs after graduation.
Proofpoint noted that the fraudulent job offer emails have been a preferred method for scammers for years, and the current situation, with layoffs by several tech giants impacting thousands of workers, has made the scams even more dangerous.
College students are particularly susceptible to these scams as they are eager to find work and may be more open to remote job offers delivered through email. The emails often contained fake names of real people from reputable companies, and Proofpoint warned that international students and some native English speakers might not recognize the signs of scam emails, such as fraudulent addresses and unusual requests for advance payment.
The attachments in the scam emails listed hardware and software requirements for employment, costing around $7,000. Proofpoint theorized that scammers may ask victims to pay for the supplies upfront, promising reimbursement in the first paycheck, or they may provide a fake check that bounces upon use. The researchers also observed that the threat actors behind these scams might request cryptocurrency payments to cover supposed “shipping expenses” of items they claim to purchase.
While the campaign appears focused on bioscience, biotechnology, and health themes, Proofpoint highlighted that similar tactics have been observed across various industries. The company warns prospective employees to be cautious and verify job offers from legitimate sources to avoid falling victim to such scams.
