Identify Theft Rampant on Facebook – Beware of Fake Jobs
Fake job scams lead to identity theft and billions in losses to Americans.
You have probably seen the job listings on Facebook recently. “Driver needed. 35 hrs per week. $100,000”. “Anyone willing to work a night shift 8pm – 12am. $52hr. We have transportation”.
In reality, there are no “late shift” or “drivers needed” jobs. These are just the latest in “Imposter Scams” tracked by the Federal Trade Commission. In just the first and second quarters of 2022, Americans have lost over $1.3 billion dollars to scammers.
According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), in 2020, Texas reported 1,720 victims with a reported $4.5 million in losses. There were 69 victims in El Paso totaling $721,600 in losses. In El Paso, there were eight victims reporting $31,928 in losses. Midland/Odessa reported 10 incidents in 2020 totaling $71,500. The average reported loss was nearly $3,000 per victim, in addition to the damage to the victims’ credit scores.
The examples given above outline simply the entry point of this gigantic fraud scheme that can get quite intricate and encompassing.
A link is provided to a victim either through Facebook, Linked In, email, or Instant Messenger to a very legitimate-looking Job board, employer, or recruiter website. Occasionally, they are even (very sophisticated) spoofed versions of websites such as Indeed.com.
How they get you there is really not important, what’s important is that once you are there you will need to fill out the employment application … just as in every job you have ever applied for. Once you start typing your information you are already headed into the abyss.
In no time they will have just about everything they need to steal your identity. Name, address, phone number, email address. Work history…. Those are easy and most people will give that information away freely.
If you clicked on a link from Facebook they already have your social media account and will instantly start downloading your profile pictures or anything else they might need to create a “fake” account with your name on it. With that, they will spoof your friends. But YOU will be blocked so that you can’t see what they are doing.
When it comes to that “Driver” job … well for that you will, of course, have to enter your driver’s license number … “For insurance purposes” you are told. And of course, you will have to fill out the W4 form (giving them your social security number) in order to have the proper taxes deducted from your check, of course.
Once you are on the hook no matter what happens from here on out you are already a victim … you just don’t know it yet.
In some cases, they might just ghost you from this point forward. Walking away with your information and setting you up for identity theft and stealing every dime from you. Days later you are left wondering what ever happened to that job. When you try to contact them your inquiries go unanswered.
A few of them go even further.
They tell you that you will need to pay a small processing fee for the application. Or perhaps it is a referral fee to the recruiter. It might be a fee as low as $4.99 or as high as $24.99… or more. At this point, they may have already run your credit (and stored that information for later use) and figured out how much they think they can scam you. Once you agree to pay, now they also have at least one credit card.
From here they have full reign to do just about anything they want with your identity. But the latest scam, as reported in propublica.org is one that you might not even be aware of… Unemployment Insurance Fraud.
In February 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor issued an Alert that stated that they had identified upwards of $5.4 billion in potentially fraudulent Unemployment Insurance benefits.
“A Bronx man allegedly received $1.5 million in just ten months. A California real estate broker raked in more than $500,000 within half a year. A Nigerian government official is accused of pocketing over $350,000 in less than six weeks.
What they all had in common, according to federal prosecutors, was participation in what may turn out to be the biggest fraud wave in U.S. history: filing bogus claims for unemployment insurance benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.” writes, Cezary Podkul with Propublica.
By the time the jobless claims ended in September 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor’s inspector general estimates that at least $87 billion in fraudulent and improper payments will have been paid.
The Federal Trade Commission has stated that in 2021, “Government documents or benefits fraud” was the most prevalent type of identity theft case — more than 395,000 people reported that someone submitted a fraudulent government document under their name. This number represents a 70% spike over 2020 numbers.
So when you witness those seemingly benign Facebook posts about a “Driver needed” or “Late shift workers” be sure to not only report the post as Spam or Fraud but also block them.
The FBI recommends the following tips to protect yourself:
- Conduct a web search of the hiring company using the company name only. Results that return multiple websites for the same company (abccompany.com and abccompanyllc.com) may indicate fraudulent job listings.
- Legitimate companies will ask for PII and bank account information for payroll purposes AFTER hiring employees. This information is safer to give in-person. If in-person contact is not possible, a video call with the potential employer can confirm identity, especially if the company has a directory against which to compare employee photos.
- Never send money to someone you meet online, especially by wire transfer.
- Never provide credit card information to an employer.
- Never provide bank account information to employers without verifying their identity.
- Do not accept any job offers that ask you to use your own bank account to transfer their money. A legitimate company will not ask you to do this.
- Never share your Social Security number or other PII that can be used to access your accounts with someone who does not need to know this information.
- Before entering PII online, make sure the website is secure by looking at the address bar. The address should begin with “https://”, not “http://”.
- However: criminals can also use “https://” to give victims a false sense of security. A decision to proceed should not be based solely upon the use of “https://”.
Tel Aviv – Officials have confirmed the release of 20 hostages from Gaza on Monday under the ongoing ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement. The Israeli government verified the names late this evening, following coordination with the International Red Cross.
The newly freed hostages include a mix of civilians, soldiers, and festival-goers who were taken captive during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks—the deadliest single day in Israel’s modern history. Many had been held for more than two years. Families and supporters gathered outside hospitals across the country as buses carrying the released Israelis arrived for medical checks and reunions.
According to information confirmed by multiple outlets, including Reuters and Israeli government sources, the following hostages have been released:
- Matan Angrest, 22 – IDF soldier kidnapped from a tank near Nahal Oz.
- Gali Berman, 27 – Kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza with twin brother.
- Ziv Berman, 27 – Kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza with twin brother.
- Elkana Bohbot, 35 – Taken from the Nova music festival in Re’im.
- Rom Braslavski, 22 – Security guard at the Nova festival.
- Nimrod Cohen, 21 – IDF soldier abducted near the Gaza border.
- David Cunio, 35 – Kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz; wife and daughters were released in an earlier exchange.
- Ariel Cunio, 28 – Kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz alongside his brother.
- Evyatar David, 24 – Abducted from the Nova festival.
- Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 23 – Kidnapped from the Nova festival.
- Maxim Herkin, 35 – Ukrainian immigrant, taken from the Nova festival.
- Eitan Horn, 38 – Visiting his brother in Kibbutz Nir Oz when abducted.
- Segev Kalfon, 27 – Taken from the Nova festival grounds.
- Bar Abraham Kupershtein, 22 – Security guard at the Nova festival.
- Omri Miran, 47 – Kidnapped from his home in Kibbutz Nahal Oz.
- Eitan Abraham Mor, 23 – Security guard at the Nova festival.
- Yosef-Chaim Ohana, 25 – Kidnapped from the Nova festival after helping the wounded.
- Alon Ohel, 24 – Abducted from the Nova festival; sustained an eye injury.
- Avinatan Or, 32 – Kidnapped from the Nova festival; his partner was rescued earlier.
- Matan Zangauker, 25 – Taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz; his girlfriend was released earlier.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that all 20 individuals were transferred to Israeli custody and transported to hospitals for evaluation. Most are reported to be in stable physical condition, though several are being treated for malnutrition and trauma.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the release “a moment of light amid great darkness,” while reiterating that efforts continue to bring home the remaining captives. According to Israeli officials, the bodies of more than 28 hostages are still believed to be held in Gaza, including several soldiers and foreign nationals.
Many of the newly freed hostages had become familiar names to the Israeli public through posters, rallies, and social media campaigns that kept their stories alive during their long captivity. Families of the Nova festival victims—where over 378 civilians were massacred—said the release provides hope but not closure.
“We’re grateful to have them back,” said one relative of a released hostage, “but we can’t forget those who are still there.”
Negotiations for the exchange were mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, and come as part of a phased truce agreement aimed at reducing hostilities while addressing humanitarian conditions inside Gaza. The arrangement required Israel to release Palestinian prisoners in return.
Security analysts caution that the deal may only provide temporary relief, noting that Hamas has previously leveraged hostage releases for political advantage. Meanwhile, families of the deceased continue to pressure the Israeli government to keep negotiations alive until every last hostage is home.
As of Monday night, crowds gathered in Tel Aviv’s “Hostage Square” lit candles and held Israeli flags in silent tribute. The mood was one of gratitude, tempered by grief—and a collective resolve that the fight for the missing must continue.
Source attribution: Hostage names confirmed via Israeli government statement and Reuters report, October 13, 2025.
South Korea – A groundbreaking study from South Korea has dropped a bombshell on the world of public health, exposing a potential link between COVID-19 vaccinations and sharp increases in several major cancers. Drawing from an enormous dataset of over 8 million people, the research—published this week in Biomarker Research (Springer Nature)—shows vaccinated individuals facing risks up to 69% higher for prostate cancer, with significant elevations across thyroid, gastric, colorectal, lung, and breast cancers in the year following vaccination. This isn’t fringe speculation; it’s hard data from a national health database, urging a hard look at vaccine safety in vulnerable populations.
The study, led by Hong Jin Kim from Seoul National University Bundang Hospital’s Department of Orthopedic Surgery, analyzed records from the Korean National Health Insurance Service for 8,407,849 Seoul residents vaccinated between 2021 and 2023. Using rigorous propensity score matching, researchers balanced 595,007 vaccinated participants against 2,380,028 unvaccinated controls, minimizing biases in age, sex, and health status. The results? Crystal-clear hazard ratios (HRs) signaling elevated dangers:
- Thyroid cancer: HR 1.35 (95% CI 1.21–1.51) – a 35% increased risk.
- Gastric cancer: HR 1.34 (95% CI 1.13–1.58) – 34% higher.
- Colorectal cancer: HR 1.28 (95% CI 1.12–1.47) – 28% bump.
- Lung cancer: HR 1.53 (95% CI 1.25–1.87) – a staggering 53% rise.
- Breast cancer: HR 1.20 (95% CI 1.07–1.34) – 20% elevated.
- Prostate cancer: HR 1.69 (95% CI 1.35–2.11) – nearly 70% surge.
These aren’t abstract stats; they translate to thousands of potential excess cases. For instance, the analysis flagged 1,000+ additional cancer diagnoses among the vaccinated cohort, with risks amplified by specifics like vaccine type. Viral vector vaccines (e.g., AstraZeneca) correlated with spikes in thyroid, gastric, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers. mRNA formulations (Pfizer and Moderna) showed ties to thyroid, colorectal, lung, and breast. Even heterologous (mixed) regimens hinted at thyroid and breast elevations. Boosters? They pushed gastric and pancreatic risks even higher, with HRs climbing to 1.40+ in some subgroups.
Demographics painted a targeted picture: Men saw outsized gastric and lung threats, women thyroid and colorectal. Under-65s faced amplified thyroid and breast risks, while those over 75 grappled with steeper prostate dangers. The study’s multivariate adjustments for confounders—like smoking, BMI, and comorbidities—held firm, suggesting these patterns aren’t easily dismissed.
Kim and team hypothesize biological pathways: Vaccine-induced inflammation, or the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein’s potential oncogenic effects, could be fueling tumor growth. “COVID-19 vaccination could be associated with an increased risk of six specific cancer types,” they conclude, calling for optimized strategies—perhaps pausing boosters for at-risk groups—and molecular investigations to confirm causality.
| Cancer Type | Hazard Ratio (HR) | 95% Confidence Interval | Key Subgroup Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thyroid | 1.35 | 1.21–1.51 | Higher in women under 65; mRNA & viral vector links |
| Gastric | 1.34 | 1.13–1.58 | Men at greater risk; boosters amplify |
| Colorectal | 1.28 | 1.12–1.47 | Women elevated; viral vector strong tie |
| Lung | 1.53 | 1.25–1.87 | Men dominant; both vaccine types implicated |
| Breast | 1.20 | 1.07–1.34 | Under-65s hit hardest; mRNA association |
| Prostate | 1.69 | 1.35–2.11 | Over-75s vulnerable; viral vector peak |
As expected, voices long aligned with Big Pharma interests have rushed to downplay the findings, citing “healthy user bias” from increased screenings among the vaccinated. But with the study’s robust matching and short-term follow-up capturing rapid-onset signals, these critiques feel like familiar deflection. The data demands action, not dismissal—real-world evidence from a top-tier database can’t be waved away.
Cancer doesn’t wait for consensus. Stay vigilant … if you have received a COVID-19 vaccine, get screened.
In the intricate web of modern economies, one thread stands out for its sheer indispensability: oil. Not just the lifeblood of transportation, oil’s influence permeates every facet of consumer life, from the mundane to the sophisticated. Yet, under the Harris-Biden administration, what appears as a war on oil could well be the unseen hand inflating prices across the board, touching every product we use or consume.
Consider your morning routine. That cup of coffee from Starbucks? Oil isn’t just in the fuel that transports the beans; it’s in the cup itself, lined with petroleum-based plastics. The makeup you applied before going to work… those are petrochemicals. Petrochemicals are integral to cosmetics. And let’s not forget your smartphone or laptop, where oil derivatives are crucial in manufacturing components like plastics, synthetic rubbers, and even the tiny amounts in circuits.
The agricultural sector, the backbone of food production, is deeply oil-dependent. From the fuel for tractors to the fertilizers made from natural gas, a byproduct of oil extraction, to the plastic packaging of your groceries, oil’s footprint is undeniable. Water purification? It relies on energy-intensive processes, often powered by fossil fuels. But water additives, filters, piping … every component is a product of oil; synthesized from petroleum derivatives.
Your clothes, your shoes, your eye glasses or contacts. Your hair products (or hair dryer), shampoo bottles (and even the shampoo) are all petroleum based. And let’s not forget that everything you purchase was shipped to that store … or your door. Shipping is a huge oil based industry. It’s not just the fuel, it’s the cardboard box, the tape, the sticky print labels and even the ink on those labels. It’s even the road… the additives in the asphalt. The paint of the lines on the road. The traffic lights or reflective road signage.
Even the most eco-conscious choices, like electric vehicles, aren’t free from oil’s influence. The manufacturing of EVs, from batteries to tires, involves oil at every step and in every part. The plastic dash, the leather seats, the electronics. The last thing in the line is the electricity to charge them. While renewable sources are growing, a significant portion still comes from oil or natural gas. Even if the source of the energy comes from a renewable source, the wires that bring it to your house are copper & rubber, which is made from petroleum. Oil.
Every single thing in your home is made with, by or shipped using petroleum … oil. Everything.
This pervasive reliance on oil sets the stage for understanding the economic repercussions of the Harris-Biden administration’s energy policies. By imposing restrictions on new oil and gas leasing on federal lands, as seen in early 2021, and signaling a shift away from fossil fuels, these policies have inadvertently tightened the oil supply, pushing prices up. This isn’t just about filling up your car; it’s about the cost of everything.
Inflation, therefore, isn’t merely a monetary policy issue but a direct consequence of energy policy. When oil prices surge, not due to market demand but policy-induced scarcity, every sector feels the pinch. Manufacturers face higher production costs, which inevitably get passed on to consumers. The ripple effect is clear: higher oil prices lead to higher costs in transportation, manufacturing, agriculture, and beyond, culminating in the inflation we’re witnessing.
The administration’s approach, while aimed at combating climate change, overlooks the immediate economic realities. By not fully supporting domestic oil production or infrastructure like the Keystone XL Pipeline, they’ve contributed to a scenario where oil prices could have been moderated, thus potentially alleviating some inflationary pressures.
In essence, oil isn’t just a component of our economy; it’s the lifeblood. The policies that inadvertently restrict its flow are akin to tightening the economic arteries, leading to a systemic increase in costs across all goods and services. As we navigate this complex landscape, understanding oil’s role beyond just fuel for our vehicles might just be the key to untangling the inflation conundrum we face today. The Harris-Biden administration’s energy strategy, while well-intentioned for the environment, might be the unseen force inflating our everyday expenses, reminding us that in economics, as in life, everything is interconnected.
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