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Protecting yourself online

Some people may argue that doing things online is more risky than doing them offline as there’s a greater chance of people getting hold of your details and potentially using them in a harmful way. However, provided you apply the same common sense that you would offline then this argument is unfounded.

If you were buying something in a shop and the cashier asked to take a photocopy of your bank card and for you to provide your address, date of birth and pin number, you’d never agree to it (hopefully!) and would probably quickly walk out. You would be suspicious, and rightly so, as they have no need to have this information about you. This is the same common sense logic you should follow online.

If you’re looking for a job and a recruiter asks for information that is irrelevant to you applying for that job then question why they want this and do some research into the background of this recruiter to make sure they’re genuine.

As a rule there should be no need for a recruiter to ask for any of the following when you’re applying for a job:

  • Your passport number
  • National Insurance number
  • Driving license
  • Credit card or banking details
  • Taxation references

That also means that there is no need to include any of this information in your CV.

Being aware of which sites you’re registered to and what information you’ve made available to different organisations will also help to keep you protected. If you’re contacted by someone saying they’ve got your details from an organisation but you know you’ve never had any dealings with that company then you immediately know to treat this person with caution. Similarly, if you’re approached by someone acting on behalf of a company that you know holds details on you but they’re requesting all of this information again or have got information about you incorrect then you should also exercise caution – just because someone contacting you says they’re from an organisation that you use doesn’t mean you should immediately trust them, they may just be using this organisation’s name on the off chance that you’re registered with them.

It’s a sad fact of life that there are people out there who try to take advantage of others for their own gains. These people operate both online and offline so whenever you have to provide your personal details make sure that you always check that the company or organisation you’re dealing with is legitimate and think carefully about what information you provide to them.

Following these simple guidelines will help to ensure that no-one gets hold of any details about you that they shouldn’t.

You can also read our article on Finding a Job Online Safely if you’d like more advice.

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avatar Vince 3 September 2010 Career advice
  • Sandy Chandra

    In this article, it was mentioned that a recruiter shouldn’t ask for my passport details. Because I am from New Zealand, a lot of agents ask to see my passport before they go any further with a job opportunity – which I assumed was reasonable. Is this not the case?

  • Vince

    Hi Sandy,
    We’d never advise that you include your passport details in your initial application, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t very good reasons why an agency would need to see it at some point during the recruitment process – in your case to verify that you have the required visas to work in the UK.
    When making the initial application you will often only have limited information about who exactly will be receiving it, so you should only supply them with your core career details; enough to make them want to find out more about you. But once they have got in contact with you to take your application further you’ll have more information about the company and you can verify they are a reputable organisation before showing them your passport.
    As ever, using a bit of common sense to decide when to share any personal information will go a long way to prevent most issues.

  • Jurg Denzler

    In this article I was interested to read that you don’t need to provide National Insurance number to a recruiter, what if they say that they need it to confirm your working details? I agree with what was said in the article though, and although I haven’t much experience of organisations that ask for more personal info, I am sure that in these tricky times there may be cowboys out there trying to get info from people.

    Thanks for the email updates!
    Jurg

  • Minty

    I was asked by a temping agency for my bank details and NI number, supposedly so that they could pay me if I did work for them (I had a similar set up in my university job shop, so didn’t think anything of it). It all looked legitimate, they have a website, the place itself was in a shopping centre with many people also entering and leaving the building, but this article has got me thinking and unsettled me slightly… Is there any way that I can confirm that it was safe?

  • TOMMY SETTLE

    In this article,it mentions about not giving bank details,I have recently seen a job advert with McCohen Enterprise Ltd and they need my details for me to work for them.I can’t decide whether to trust them or not.Help!

  • Cheryl Morgan

    Hi Tommy,

    You’re right to be cautious. This company don’t appear to be legitimate and is discussed in this blog by people who have been targeted by them: http://scamfraudalert.wordpress.com/2010/08/15/mccohen-enterprise-ltd-mccohen-ltd-net/.

    In a situation like this where you’re unsure whether the job offer is above board or not, the best thing you can do is reply to the email and ask lots of questions. You’ll normally find that you won’t hear back from a company if they’re trying to engage in fraudulent activity.

    If you ever see a job advert on Jobsite that you’re not sure about then please get in touch with us and we’ll make sure ithat t’s all ok for you.

    Good luck with the rest of your job hunt.

  • Cheryl Morgan

    Hi Minty,

    If you want to put your mind at ease you could do a search for the company online and see if anything negative comes up about them. You could also ask your family & friends to see if anyone else has used them & what their experiences were.

    If you are working with a temping agency they will need a copy of your NI number to check that you’re eligible to work and will also need your bank details so that they can pay you. Many won’t take your bank details until you’re actually in a job that they’ve secured for you but some may take them when you sign up to try and save time later on.

    If you’re not comfortable with this then they should have no problem waiting for your bank details until you’re in a job through them.

  • Pam

    Is it safe to put your home address on your CV when you apply for a job online?

    • Vicky Taylor

      Hi Pam,

      There is no need for you to put your address on your CV, but it’s up to you if you choose to do so.
      It can sometimes help recruiters to know where you are based to see if you are suitably located near to the job, but it is not obligitary to include it.

      Hope that helps,
      Vicky

  • Lee Potter

    well iam looking around for part time work i live near ipswich as i got a job but i been told by my doctor got to look out for part time do to my health

  • Lee Potter

    i would like any part time cleaning work around ipswich thank you please can you get back to me as soon as you can.

  • Johnogden

    Debenhams ask for ni number when applying for jobs is it okay to give it them

  • Hollysanford

    i like cleaner and care work but need bit more traning

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