Scammers Target Panicky Job Hunters

Another hurdle for job-seekers as unemployment nears 10%

(NEWSER) - Finding a job when unemployment is at 9.4% is hard enough. But the recently laid-off have another hurdle to contend with: Many employers are most interested in attracting candidates who are still working, the Wall Street Journal reports. “If they’re employed in today’s economy, they have to be first string,” says a partner at an executive recruiting firm. More»

Researchers find a fifth of people are most likely to be fooled by fraudsters

(NEWSER) - British researchers have identified several traits that make a person more likely to be sucked in by a scam, the Daily Telegraph reports. The country's fraud watchdog warns that while nobody is immune to being conned, the following traits make around a fifth of the population most vulnerable:

• An inability to control certain emotions, including excitement and greed.

Bogus email asks for cash payment to attend Oprah 'giveaway'

(NEWSER) - The FBI has warned that Oprah Winfrey isn't really giving anybody $1 million, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Scamsters have been sending people emails about a supposed "Oprah Winfrey Millionaire Contest Show." Recipients are told they have been nominated to attend a special show where the host will hand out millions—and asked to fork over travel expenses up front. More»

Surge in jobseekers, homeless, and crime stresses out library staff

(NEWSER) - Libraries that once worried about staying relevant are finding themselves on the front line of the recession, the New York Times reports. Attendance has surged as the newly unemployed—some of whom can't read or write or navigate the Internet—use facilities to write resumés and search for jobs, often with the assistance of staff. But theft and violence are up as well, and many librarians are feeling overwhelmed by the job's new demands. More»

Acquaintances can be road to success in tough times

(NEWSER) - In the professional world, it’s all about who you sort of know, especially when times are hard, Gregory Rodriguez writes in the Los Angeles Times. Job losses may make people withdraw from their friends, but during a recession, acquaintances are the ones who count, often helping pave the way to a paycheck. Just look at LinkedIn and Facebook, which have surged while the economy tanks. More»