Caution: Beware of Online Recruiting Scams
Penske has recently become aware that criminals are using its name, branding, false but realistic-looking websites, look-alike email addresses, social media accounts, and even creating online job listings on various employment websites as a part of employment recruiting scams.
Recruitment scams start with an email or text message sent to a candidate outlining a job they believe the individual may be interested in with a promise of a high salary and remote work.
While the individuals may have never applied for a career opportunity with Penske, scammers attempt to legitimize their fraudulent job offer by using Penske’s name, logo, and names of associates from the recruiting and HR team in correspondence.
Be Careful on LinkedIn and Other Social Platforms
Recruiting scams are increasingly circulating online via email, social media, and through websites as noted by the Federal Trade Commission's job scams advice webpage.
Much of the recent recruiting scam activity is taking place on LinkedIn with false, yet very realistic, recruiter or copycat recruiter profiles. While LinkedIn has taken steps to verify accounts, the verification badge is not foolproof and has been subverted by several scammers or not used at all.
Job seekers on LinkedIn and other social media platforms should be very careful about disclosing their personal information. These scams may appear very professional and legitimate. However, they are neither legitimate nor affiliated with Penske in any way. Job seekers should be on alert for online scams when job hunting online.
Prospective applicants should carefully research the legitimacy of any unsolicited recruiting communications that appear to come from Penske or any other employer to help stop fraud and avoid falling victim to such online scams.
Penske Career Applicants:
- Must apply to jobs online via our websites for consideration (i.e. www.gopenske.com, www.penske.jobs)
- Must interview with a Penske representative before the extension of any job offer
- Job offers from Penske will always be verbally extended, with a formal offer letter sent, and outlined pre-employment screening requirements outlined (i.e. background screening, clinical services, etc.)
- Please note: All legitimate email addresses from Penske Transportation Solutions, Penske Truck Leasing, or Penske Logistics representatives will end in: penske.com and not in any other form.
- Be Suspicious If:
- You haven't applied for a job with Penske but received an unsolicited offer of employment
- You receive any unsolicited employment offers and/or unsolicited employment contracts from Penske
- There are misspellings or poor grammar in the communication
- Anything that seems even slightly out of place on the website, paperwork or letterhead
- You receive employment offers or communications from non-Penske.com email addresses (e.g.: yahoo.com, gmail.com, hotmail.com, aol.com, etc.)
- You receive requests for sensitive personal information such as Social Security Numbers, account numbers, or requests to access accounts or transfer any funds or to make or receive payments to or from a third party of any kind
- Any organization that emails you a copy of a check and tells you to print it out and deposit it.
Penske Never:
- Sends unsolicited job offers or employment contracts of any kind
- Requires any fees, payments, checks, or access to any of your financial, banking, or any other types of accounts
- Would send a candidate a check, with a request to have that check deposited before an official start date.
Helpful Resources
As mentioned above, The Federal Trade Commission provides consumers with free tips and information on how to avoid being scammed online and what to do if you feel you have been scammed.
You may view those tips and information via the Federal Trade Commission's website. If you have been scammed online, you may also report the crime through the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crime Complaint Center's website.
Questions? We're Here to Help.
If you ever have any questions regarding the authenticity of any communication sent purportedly by or on behalf of Penske's Human Resources Department or members of its recruiting team, please contact us at 1-855-297-3675.
By "Move Ahead" Staff