While searching for a job, it's crucial to safeguard your personal information from potential scams and fraudulent employers, and even more important to know what steps to take if your information has been compromised. 

If you've accidentally given personal information to a fraudulent contact or suspect your personal information has been compromised, it's important to act quickly. 

Here are the steps you should take right away:

1. Contact your bank or credit card company. If you've shared any financial details or sent money to a fraudulent employer. They can help protect your accounts and dispute any unauthorized transactions.
2. Secure your accounts. Change passwords on any accounts that may have been compromised and double-check that any account settings or payment details look as expected. 
3. File a report with the FTC (Federal Trade Commission). The FTC handles complaints about scams and identity theft. Once reported, the information is sent to the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network and shared with law enforcement agencies for further investigation. Go to the following link to report: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov
4. Report to your local police. If you believe you've been targeted by a scam. Law enforcement handles fraud cases, even if the scammer is located elsewhere.
5. Flag the employer (if they are on Handshake), or contact Support if they aren't. Flagging the employer automatically alerts our Trust & Safety team so they can investigate and take appropriate action. If the employer isn't on Handshake, you can still report what happened and our team will followup. For more information, refer to Safety: Flagging an Employer on Handshake.  
6. Report it to your school. if you're currently enrolled — your Career Services Center may be able to provide additional support or resources to assist you.