Background checks on new hires are now more popular than ever. According to the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), more than 96 percent of U.S. employers currently perform background checks to validate the identity and background of jobseekers and uncover any criminal history.

However, for employers to run a thorough and professional background check – which should include Social Security Number (SSN) verification, Resume and Employment verification, Criminal Record checks, and a Sexual Offenders Database check among other searches – it takes written consent from the individual jobseeker in question. Without this permission, companies can only gain information through public records, so the most critical information from jobseekers should remain private and safe from identity theft.

Or so you would think.

With unemployment reaching record highs, scam artists looking to commit identity theft have turned to phony “online recruitment” websites as an easy way to get their hands on personal data from jobseekers. These identity theft scams are becoming very popular and most jobseekers checking the Internet for employment opportunities don't realize they can compromise their personal information simply by responding to a want ad.

Here's how it works. Jobseekers receive an email from a “company” that promises an “immediate” job opening and urges them to log on to their “website” and apply for the position. Once on the website, jobseekers are told that it is company policy to do a background check and that they will need to disclose the following information to start the process: a date of birth, Social Security Number, Drivers License Number, and even Bank Account Numbers. In other words, everything that a scam artist needs to commit identity theft.

While it is disturbing that certain people can prey on the desperation of others, the fact remains that jobseekers need to be more vigilant about protecting themselves from identity theft. One way to accomplish this is to perform a personal background check on yourself, so you will have information ready to give to any on-the-level employer while protecting yourself from identity theft.

MyBackgroundCheck.com – a member of the Pre-employ.com Family of Companies – is a leading, full-service provider of consumer-requested background checks and was one of the first personal background check services available for individuals. With a MyBackgroundCheck.com account, jobseekers can view and manage personal information, check credit scores, and prevent criminal identity theft. For more information about our services, please visit www.MyBackgroundCheck.com, email info@mybackgroundcheck.com, or call 1-800-503-2364.