In today’s digital landscape, it is increasingly common for cybercriminals to use job searching as an attack vector to compromise the security of professionals and organizations. Fake job offers have become a sophisticated method to deceive unsuspecting candidates and run malicious code on their devices, putting valuable information and corporate environments at risk.
How this scam works:
You are presented with a job offer at a well-reputed company.
They invite you to the first interview, you search for the interviewer on LinkedIn, they seem like an interesting person, you talk about your experience, education, availability… You pass the first interview.
You attend the second interview with the head of human resources, you talk about your difficult moments, they comment on the company’s values… You pass the second interview.
The third interview arrives, your project manager or a senior executive shows you documents about the current project, completed phases, next steps. You pass the interview.
It makes you excited about this new job where you could develop and grow your salary.
Until..
… the 4th interview arrives, a technical interview. The applicant receives a technical test or a file with instructions to perform an evaluation:
You need to fix the 3 errors in this code
And the applicant passes the 4th interview. The code is fixed and works wonderfully.
The following week they contact you for the 5th and final interview.
A few days later, €120,000 in crypto assets disappear. And nothing, there is no trace, no idea what happened.
It takes days to remember that technical test from the 4th interview, “that code that worked wonderfully..” and their suspicions were correct:
The code contains malware. When executed, it installs malicious software that may include remote access trojans, backdoors, or spyware.
In my friend’s case, it was a personal loss, and at the same time, I want to point out that this technique is being used to hack companies. A target within the company is chosen, they are made a good job offer as if you were from the competition….
This technique is being used daily to hack companies.
It not only compromises the candidate’s device but can also open a gateway to attack the corporate network, access sensitive data, and steal credentials or financial information.
These attacks use advanced social engineering techniques: they generate trust, leverage time pressure, and camouflage the infection within routine practices of the selection process, making it difficult to detect even for experienced professionals.
How to protect your company and team?
At Delbion, we help organizations strengthen their digital defenses against these emerging threats. We offer:
● Cybersecurity consulting to identify and mitigate risks in recruitment processes and digital communication.
● Practical training for teams in fraud detection and social engineering attacks.
● Audits, certifications, and security management that include specific controls to protect corporate networks and devices against sophisticated malware.
Don’t let a job search become the gateway for a cyberattack. Strengthen your company’s security and protect your strategic information with Delbion.
To learn more about our programs and how we can help you, visit www.delbion.com or call +34 607 256 586 and take the step toward certified, effective, stress-free cybersecurity.
