There's a new warning about scams targeting people looking for jobs.

I'm David Brancatcho in New York.

You may have gotten the unsolicited texts, LinkedIn messages or other offers from phony recruiters.

It's hard to blow those off if you were in fact waiting to hear about a job.

The scams are getting more sophisticated, as Marketplace's Nancy Marshall Genser reports.

The scammers pose as recruiters. as offer via email. You have an interview but virtually not in person. Then the recruiter starts

asking for personal information like your Social Security number or driver's license. They say it's

to fill out employment paperwork, but actually they're stealing your identity.

They may even ask you for money.

They say you have to pay up front for equipment like a computer or training.

They promise to reimburse you you but never do.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, the number of business and job

opportunities scams almost tripled from 2019 to 2023.

The FTC says there are some red flags to watch out for.

Recruiters may reach out to you from a personal email, not a company account.

You can protect yourself by contacting the company on its official website to

verify the job offer.

I'm Nancy Marshall Genser for Marketplace.

Now you might like Somme 23, Somme with a P, but economists are closely watching the Somme rules spelled

SAHM, named after a former Fed economist Claudia Somme.

It uses increases in the unemployment rate to flag a recession

and it has a terrific track record. Let's turn to economist Julia Coronado at macro policy

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