'I lost my savings after a job interview scam'

A job‑seeker who had recently resigned and announced a search for new work on LinkedIn was duped by a fake recruiter into downloading a seemingly ordinary Google Sheet document that was actually malicious software. After completing a technical assessment during a video interview, the victim discovered hours later that hackers had accessed his cryptocurrency wallets and drained £18,000 of savings. The individual, who asked to remain anonymous, described the loss as “a horrible feeling” and recounted wiping his computer, changing passwords and feeling both disbelief and anger at the perpetrators and himself.

The incident highlights a growing “Gen Z Scam Gap,” with LinkedIn reporting that 32 % of younger professionals are exposed to recruitment scams, yet another 32 % admit they ignore warning signs because of a competitive job market. Both LinkedIn and Indeed have issued warnings about a surge in sophisticated job‑related frauds that use realistic interview processes and digitally signed apps to bypass typical red‑flag checks. Cyber‑security researchers at Have I Been Squatted explained that the attack was not a simple phishing email but a fully staged interview on authentic‑looking Google pages, making detection especially difficult.

Security firms note that criminals are increasingly exploiting the urgency of job searches by distributing booby‑trapped mobile applications masquerading as “Indeed Interview” or “MyInterview” apps, promising salary details or interview completion upon installation. Malwarebytes warns that once such apps are installed, they can harvest private data for extortion or direct financial theft. Indeed has clarified that its platform conducts interviews entirely in a browser and never requires a separate app, urging users to treat any download request as illegitimate. The case underscores the need for heightened vigilance among job seekers, particularly younger workers, as scammers refine their tactics to mimic legitimate recruitment processes.

⚡ Effects Interpreter