Employment Scams

Fortescue is aware of instances where individuals are posing as Fortescue employees or representatives on legitimate and false recruitment websites, using fake company emails or social profiles on sites such as LinkedIn. 

Scammers often create fake job advertisements or directly approach individuals, conducting interviews and other recruitment activities to build trust. Once they have gained the job seekers’ confidence, they request personally identifiable information or demand a processing fee, which can amount to several thousand dollars, before the individual can start their ‘new role.’ 

Warning signs it might be a scam 

  • You receive an email communication that does not come from a xxx@fortescue.com email address. Instead, it might be sent from a free web-based email account such as gmail, hotmail, or yahoo. 
  • A recruiter contacts you unexpectedly through text message or encrypted message platforms like WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram. 
  • The recruiter uses one-way video interview tools such as Willo, HireVue, Hireflix or Spark Hire. 
  • You are told you can earn a high income while working from home and with little effort. 
  • The hiring process is quick. There’s no interview or discussion about your qualifications, experience and references. 
  • You are told to top up an account with your own money or cryptocurrency to complete tasks. 
  • The job involves transferring money, making purchases or receiving packages on behalf of someone else. 
  • You are required to pay a 'recruitment fee’ or pay for training materials before you begin the job.  

How to protect yourself 

  • Don’t trust a job advertisement just because it appears on a trusted platform or website, scammers post fake ads too. If you come across a scammer, report it to the platform or agency. 
  • Never send money or give your personal information, credit card, online bank or cryptocurrency account details to anyone you have only met online, through email or over the phone. 
  • Scammers may deceive you by giving you a small payment for completing a job or task. Never send your own money. 
  • Know who you are dealing with. Contact Fortescue or the recruitment agency using phone numbers you have sourced yourself online, 
  • Don’t be pressured to act quickly. A legitimate offer won’t require you to make a fast decision. 
  • Don’t take payment or rewards to recruit other people. 
  • Be careful about including personal information such as your physical address or date of birth in your resume. 
  • Never send your passport or identity documents to an employer or recruitment firm, unless you are certain they are genuine. 

Think you’ve been scammed? 

     1. Act fast 

  • Contact your bank or credit card provider immediately to report the scam. Ask them to stop any transactions. 
  • Change passwords on all your devices and online accounts like banking, email, government and shopping, particularly if you’ve used personal information that you’ve shared with the scammers. 

     2. Get help to recover

IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service. They will help you make a plan (for free) to limit the damage. Call them on 1800 595 160 or visit their website to find out more. 

There are similar services globally: 

  •  Argentina: Defensoría del Pueblo de la Nación provides assistance and guidance to citizens affected by scams. Unidad Fiscal Especializada en Ciberdelincuencia (UFECI) investigates scams and cybercrime. Reports can be made at the police station, complaint reception office, call (5411) 5071-0040 or email datospersonales@aaip.gob.ar.  
  • Brazil: Report scams or cybercrime to Polícia Federal - Departamento de Cibersegurança and seek support from PROCON, that safeguards consumer rights and helps in cases of fraud and scams. 
  • Norway: Forbrukertilsynet (The Consumer Authority) includes listed tips on how to detect scams. Can also contact the Politiet (the police) informs you how to protect yourself from scams.
  • People’s Republic of China: You can visit the Cyber Security Bureau website to report the scam. If your situation is urgent, please call the police number "96110" immediately. For more information on cybercrime in China, please visit the Illegal and Adverse Information Reporting Center website. 
  • United Kingdom: Head to the National Cyber Security Centre website (What we do - NCSC.GOV.UK) to report a scam.  
  • United States of America: IdentityTheft.gov can help you report and recover if the scammer stole personal information like your Social Security number. The Internet Crime Complaint Centre (IC3) also provides guidance to victims of internet crime here. 

     3. Report the scam 

Please report the fake job ad or social media account impersonating a Fortescue employee or brand to the platform so that it is taken down.  

Help someone who's being scammed  

If you are concerned that someone you know has been affected by an employment scam or other online fraudulent activity, you can help them. 

A person who is the target of a scam may not recognise they are being scammed. You can play a vital role in protecting them from harm. 

The Australian Government’s ScamWatch has some helpful advice on how to support someone who is being or has been scammed.