Statement on Employment and Investment Fraud Scams

Please be aware of job recruitment and investment fraud scams being perpetrated through the internet and social media, with a current uptick in Nigeria. The scam preys upon job seekers, using false and fraudulent offers of interviews or employment with IFF to steal. In other instances, the scammers register websites to operate “investment portals” and then advertise lucrative investment schemes, pretending to be IFF executives, who convince the victims to create investment accounts on the websites.

The criminals have misappropriated IFF’s logo, photos and videos to appear legitimate and ask victims to send money as part of the hiring process or on the investment portal. No applicant with IFF is ever required to pay as part of our hiring process, and we do not operate an “investment portal” website or app.

How to Protect Yourself

Never send money to someone you meet online, especially by wire transfer.

Never provide credit card information to an employer or to someone setting up an “investment portal”.

Never provide bank account information to employers without verifying their identity.

Do not accept job offers that ask you to use your bank account to transfer money.

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.

If you are a victim of an investment scam, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) recommends taking the following actions:

Report the activity to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov

Contact your financial institution immediately upon discovering any fraudulent or suspicious activity and direct them to stop or reverse the transactions.

Ask your financial institution to contact the institution where the fraudulent or suspicious transfer was sent.

If you believe you, or someone you know, is a victim of an investment scam, please get in touch with the FBI or visit the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.