Employment Fraud Prevention

Identifying employment fraud

1. Seems too good to be true

• Offers salary and benefits not in line with standard expectations of the role.
• Exaggerated claims about job opportunities, such as promising high salaries, quick promotions, or guaranteed income without prior experience or qualifications.
• Remote work opportunities requiring upfront purchase of equipment or software with the promise to receive high returns.
• Money purchasing scams involving fake checks or money orders requiring a bank deposit to cover startup expenses, software, background checks, and/or equipment costs. Claims that these funds will eventually be returned are fraudulent, and in most cases the victim is responsible for the financial losses.

2. Unprofessional communication

• Grammatical errors, misspelled words, inconsistent formatting, and a lack of contact information are red flags.
• Use of inconsistent communication methods such as WhatsApp or generic emails from addresses such as Yahoo.com or Gmail.com.
• Communications from a person unlikely to contact you about job opportunities. Most companies have a dedicated team of professionals responsible for hiring. Be cautious if you receive unsolicited correspondence from a person claiming to be a member of the executive team.

3. Misleading brand representation 

• Legitimate employers provide clear information about their organization. Be cautious of inconsistencies in the company logo and messaging.
• Domain names that use slight misspellings to confuse job seekers. For example, using the web domains of careershumanna.com, centerwellcarreers.com, or connvivacareers.com instead of the correct domain spellings of careers.humana.com, centerwellcareers.com, and convivacareers.com.

4. Vague job description

• If the job description is unclear or lacks specific details about responsibilities and expectations, it is likely to be fraudulent.

5. Unusual interview requests

• Requests for payment: Legitimate employers will NEVER ask for money upfront to cover the cost of interviews, background checks, video interview software, or equipment.
• High pressure acceptance: Fraudulent individuals will often pressure applicants into making hurried decisions without researching the company and verifying the legitimacy of the employment offer.
• No interview: If you are offered a job without an interview or the opportunity to discuss your qualifications, it is most likely a scam.
• Too many perks: A job offering an excessive number of perks, with no clear business reason, is a cause for caution.

6. Requests for personal information

• Personal banking information: Legitimate employers will never ask you to provide protected information including banking or credit card information during the application and/or interview process.
• Personal identification numbers: Authentic requests for information including social security number or copy of passport or driver’s license, would occur well into the hiring process, often after a legitimate offer has been accepted. Anyone requesting this information upfront is highly likely to be involved in employment fraud or identity theft.

Protecting yourself from fraudulent activities

• Verify company website: Always visit the company’s official website to confirm the legitimacy of the information received.
• Research company: Look for company reviews on popular websites like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, or Indeed.
• Verify email address: Most companies will use their primary domain name for all emails. An example would be johndoe@humana.com. An example of a fraudulent email address would be johndoe@information.humana.com
• Trust your instincts: If something does not feel right, press pause and consult with friends or family for a second opinion.

Reporting employment fraud

• If you believe that you have received a fraudulent application, interview request, or employment offer from Humana or a subsidiary, report it to our Fraud Investigation Team at yourcareer@humana.com.
• Additionally, employment or identity fraud concerns should be reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at Federal Trade Commission Fraud Reporting.
• If you have provided personal identifying information, consider freezing your credit to ensure there are no opportunities for scammers to access your personal information to open fraudulent accounts. You can do this by contacting the three major credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, and Transunion.
• If you have provided access to your ID.me account, contact ID.me fraud support immediately.

Remember to stay informed, cautious, and proactive to avoid fraudulent job activity

It is crucial to research potential employers thoroughly, be vigilant when sharing personal information, and trust your instincts when you sense any red flags. There are countless legitimate job opportunities available, do not let those looking to take advantage of you discourage you from finding your perfect career.

To verify the legitimacy of any outreach claiming to have been sent by, or on behalf of, Humana and its subsidiaries, please email yourcareer@humana.com.