1. A recruiter, then an HR person, then the “CEO” interview you. Last step: run a coding assignment on your work laptop. Risk?
Answer: The code can take over your computer. In 2026 a Binance engineer ran a fake company’s assignment. Binance says it led to a theft of about USD 6.3B.
2. How did the fake recruiter first reach the Binance engineer?
Answer: Through a legitimate job-hunting platform. Real platforms give fake recruiters credibility. The HR person even shared personal photos to build trust (Binance, Nov 2026).
3. A security company hired a remote engineer who passed interviews, background checks and references. Who was it?
Answer: A North Korean operative with a stolen identity. KnowBe4 disclosed in 2024 that the hire used a stolen US identity and an AI-edited stock photo.
4. A job offer: high pay for rating products online, no interview. What usually comes next?
Answer: You’re asked to pay to unlock your earnings. Task scams pay small amounts first, then demand deposits. Seven people in Hertfordshire lost over £200k (police alert, 2025).
5. A job that asks you to receive money into your own account and forward it on is:
Answer: Money-mule recruitment. Europol’s EMMA operations found mules recruited through fake job ads. Mules can face criminal charges.
6. An HR email asks you to confirm your salary details via a sign-in link. What did Storm-2657 do with these?
Answer: Diverted university salaries to its own accounts. Microsoft tracked “payroll pirates” stealing MFA codes, then changing direct-deposit details in Workday (2025).
7. A candidate refuses to turn on the camera, or the face looks slightly off. A real risk?
Answer: Yes — deepfake or stolen-identity candidates exist. Avoiding live checks is a known signal of synthetic or stolen-identity candidates.
8. Interview tasks should be done:
Answer: On a separate, non-work device or sandbox. Keeping test code away from work systems protects your employer’s keys, wallets and data.
9. A recruiter moves the chat from LinkedIn to a messaging app for the final round. That’s:
Answer: A signal worth noticing. Moving channels takes you away from the platform’s protections. In the Binance case the final interview moved to a chat app.
10. Best check on a recruiter you don’t know:
Answer: Confirm them through the company’s official site or HR. Profiles and photos can be faked or stolen. Contact the company through a channel you found yourself.