Seek warns users over new online job scam

The scam e-mail details a job involving the transfer of money on the bogus company's behalf. Previously, the scammers have employed the names Plasma Connection or Plasma TV.

The job "offer" employs phrases such as "Powered by Seek or "Seek Job of the Week" and even claims that the e-mail address was provided to the company by seek.com.au.

Seek communications manager Simon Waring said the fake company was not registered with Seek and had not advertised with Seek. He also emphasised that the e-mail addresses of recipients had not been supplied by Seek.

"These claims are false, illegal, and Seek will pursue all legal avenues open to it to protect our reputation and the privacy of our registered users," Waring said.

Waring advised that users who get this type of e-mail should not respond to the job offer or submit their bank details or other private financial information in any application process. He added that if the users have already supplied bank account details, they should immediately contact their bank for advice. Users who have been victimised by the scam should contact the Australian Federal Police Hi-Tech Crimes Unit, Waring said.

"We advise [users] to be wary of any companies that ask you to accept, transfer or 'launder' funds on their behalf. Seek regularly posts warnings about fraudulent advertising, and you can read the latest on safe job searching at our Web site," Waring said.

"Seek has been working for some time with the AFPHTC Unit in Canberra on combating the growth of fraudulent spam, and will continue to alert our registered users to the circulation of fraudulent e-mails," he added.