Job seekers beware – a fake hiring email scam has been targeting applicants involving the brand name BambooHR. Emails sent from [email protected] aim to dupe recipients into providing personal details and bank information, often under the guise of a remote job offer.
But is this email domain legitimate? Should you trust communication from this address? Let’s investigate further into this recruitment scam making the rounds.
Overview of the BambooHR Fake Email Vacancy Scam
For starters, Bamboo HR is a real human resources software company that offers applicant tracking and other HR solutions to businesses. However, the email address has no affiliation with the genuine firm.
Scammers are simply name dropping the brand to try and add credibility to their fake hiring emails and build trust with applicants. The end goal is to extract sensitive information or even dupe targets into depositing fake checks.
So how does this scam typically play out for victims? Here’s a quick rundown:
- Job seekers apply for a promising remote or work-from-home role listed on sites like Indeed.com.
- Shortly after, they receive an email from [email protected] stating interest in their application and asking to schedule an “interview”.
- Recipients are instructed to download messaging apps like Signal or WhatsApp to communicate with a supposed hiring manager.
- A brief text-based chat occurs, after which the applicant is quickly “hired” without a proper interview.
- The new “employee” is asked to deposit a check to purchase home office equipment that will be reimbursed. But the payment is fraudulent.
This is known as a fake check scam, a common ploy targeting those looking for jobs. While details may vary slightly, the core tactics remain the same across these [email protected] frauds.
How Does the Bamboo HR Hiring Email Scam Work?
Cybercriminals exploiting the BambooHR brand for their cons will post fake remote job ads to sites like Indeed, ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn and more. Titles often include data entry clerk, administrative assistant, customer service rep, and other remote-friendly roles.
After an applicant shows interest, the scammers initiate contact via an unsolicited email from [email protected]. This is apparently an attempt to add legitimacy through association with Bamboo HR’s domain while also indicating a “notification” from some kind of HR system.
The messages express interest in the candidate’s background and asks to schedule an “interview” via Signal, WhatsApp or other messaging apps. This is an immediate red flag, as no legitimate hiring process would conduct screenings or evaluations over text chat.
Despite the dubious communication channel, victims proceed hoping the opportunity is genuine. A brief chat ensues where “managers” ask rudimentary questions or just aim to butter up the applicant with praise.
Within minutes, the target is offered the job without doing any kind of real interview. They are then instructed to deposit a check sent to them in order to purchase equipment like computers and phones for remote work.
Unfortunately, these checks are counterfeit or fraudulent. They may initially clear the recipient’s bank account before eventually bouncing. By this point, the scammers already made off with any funds spent on work items as the victim is left on the hook.
What Do Scam Hiring Emails From [email protected] Say?
The messages from [email protected] aim to tempt applicants with a flexible remote job paying an attractive hourly wage. They express interest in learning more or even claim the target’s resume stood out from other candidates.
After buttering them up, instructions are provided to connect with a hiring manager over text chat. Here is an example message:
We like what we’ve seen and would love to discuss the position further. We have received and reviewed your resume submitted on Indeed for the Data Entry Operator opening. Please follow instructions below to schedule an interview via Signal messenger. Hourly pay is $24. Add hiring manager Mrs. Karen Thompson at phone number 484-563-1029.
Other telling signs of these BambooHR scams:
- Positions advertised as 100% remote with flexible hours.
- Quick turnaround from application to “job offer”.
- Requests for personal details like bank account and SSN.
- Poor grammar, spelling mistakes, and inconsistencies.
- Check payments listed from an individual, not company name.
Essentially they aim to entice applicants by discussing the details publicly sought after – work from home, great pay, rapid hiring. But legitimate recruiters would never conduct screenings via text apps or demand sensitive information outright.
User Complaints and Reviews Expose Fake Hiring Email Scam
One place online where people have reported receiving the suspicious messages from [email protected] is on the reddit platform. Job seekers have exposed the scam attempts tied to real companies in their reviews.
For example, one victim applied to an administrative role at marketing agency Fallen Apple. Shortly after they were contacted by the fake email address with instructions to chat over WhatsApp.
I received an email from [email protected] for an interview for this position. I thought it was legitimate until they asked me to do the interview over WhatsApp.
Another Indeed user applied for a customer service job at Triangle Solar. But instead this message arrived asking to schedule things via Signal:
Contacted via [email protected] hr.com to set up interview with hiring manager over Signal who quickly offered me the job and just asked for my personal info like SSN.
And this person received communication with the same questionable address regarding a supposed opening with Pomponio Ranch:
Got email from Erin Torino hiring manager via [email protected]. Total scam artist don’t apply here.
These and other similar reviews about Indeed applicnts confirm that the email is being utilized to target applicants across many companies. Scammers just plug in new details with each fake ad.
Is [email protected] a Legitimate Email Address?
Plain and simple – no. [email protected] has no affiliation with the legitimate Bamboo HR company. As you know, anyone can create a Bamboo HR account which is an app/services for companies that helps with HR related things like recruiting, hiring etc.
So, anyone using Bamboo HR service can send email through that email and scammer using these tactics to trap victims.
The real software provider has explicitly warned job seekers not to trust any communication from outside their @bamboohr.com email addresses. Their recruitment team is battling against these impersonation scams.
Furthermore, applicants state human resources contact during actual Bamboo HR hiring sequences only takes place over the company’s own platform or official channels like Zoom. External tools such as WhatsApp or Signal are never utilized.
So messages from [email protected] can be safely assumed fraudulent. Any job opportunity, interview request, or offer letter received from this domain should raise red flags. Links contained pose malware risks as well.
How to Avoid Falling Victim to Hiring Scams
The Federal Trade Commission provides guidance on how to spot and avoid employment cons attempting to extract money or data. Here are tips to keep in mind:
- Research companies before applying to verify legitimacy. Scammers spoof real business names.
- Be wary of offers requiring upfront fees for training or expenses. Employers typically cover these costs.
- Ignore unsolicited contacts demanding urgent action regarding offers or interviews. This signals a scam.
- Conduct interviews via official company platforms like Zoom or Google Meet, never unofficial apps.
- Never provide personally identifiable information over email or suspicious texts.
- Real background checks and onboarding will never involve personal bank accounts or requesting deposited checks.
Essentially, take time vetting job opportunities requiring financial commitments upfront. And think twice before handing over sensitive details outside of secure online forms on a company’s official website.
What to Do If You Receive a Fraudulent Hiring Email
If you get an email from [email protected] or communication referencing Bamboo HR that seems suspicious:
- Do not engage with the sender any further. Instead, cease contact right away.
- Document details like the message contents, date/time received, any names provided, etc. Save screenshots as evidence.
- Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission here.
- Notify BambooHR directly of the scam attempt by emailing [email protected].
- Search online for recent reports about the company named in the email along with keywords like “scam” or “fake job”. Add your own review detailing the scam attempt to warn others.
- Contact your bank if you mistakenly provided account information or deposited a fraudulent check. Notify them of the hiring scam targeting you.
The more awareness raised regarding tactics utilizing these emails, the less victims these employment cons can claim. Intervention from authorities can also help curb the issue.
In Summary…
- [email protected] has no legitimate ties to Bamboo HR and is being deceptively used to defraud job applicants.
- Emails aim to dupe candidates into providing personal information under the false premise of a remote job opportunity.
- Scammers utilize messaging apps and fraudulent checks as part of fake hiring sequences targeting those seeking employment.
- Cease all communication and report the incident if you receive suspicious correspondence referencing this domain. Verify job offers carefully.
- Search online for recent scam reports tied to companies named and report your experience to help others avoid this trap.
In the ongoing battle against employment scams, awareness and vigilance are the top defenses for job hunters. Double check any remote roles requiring money deposits or sensitive data upfront. And limit what details are shared outside reputable company sites.
If an unbelievable opportunity lands in your inbox involving messaging apps and quick hires, tread carefully. Scammers are always honing new ways to hook applicants through the allure of flexible work. But learning how these cons operate makes them easier to recognize and shut down.
