Identity Theft and the Online Job Search.....

In February 2007, Javelin Strategy and Research released its 2007 Identity Fraud Survey Report. The report is issued as a longitudinal update to previous Javelin Identity Fraud Survey reports and the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) 2003 Identity Theft Survey Report.
Survey findings indicated that the number of US adults who were victims of identity fraud was 8.4 million in 2007.

So how does searching for a job online lead to identity theft, well here are a few horror stories for you:

"Jim" responded to an email request from an individual identifying himself as a human resource specialist with a leading company in his field. He did some cursory research, and it appeared to be legitimate, so he went ahead and responded with additional information, such as a more complete copy of his resume, including references and reference contact information, his date of birth and social security number, supposedly provided in order to complete a background check. A week later he called the telephone number listed, and it had been disconnected. He called the company direct and found that no one by the name he provided ever worked there, and that they company never requests personal information until they are made an offer.
"Candace" was contacted by three different "companies" requesting additional information to be used to complete the application process as well as to perform a background check. In doubt, she contacted her BBB, and found out that these companies and techniques were well known and common fraud information gathering techniques.
Even movie star Will Smith and former NBA player Steve Smith have been victims of identity theft, by the same thief.
How can your resume help identity thieves? Access to your resume is like hitting the lottery jackpot for identity theft. In many cases it provides your name, address, telephone number, date of birth, schools attending and when, as well as references information. In some cases all that is missing is a Social Security number, and that can be found out through a variety of methods.
(sourced from http://www.identitytheftsecrets.com/what-you-can-get-besides-a-job-by-posting-your-res.html)

What can you do to protect yourself, well Wall Street Journal reporter Dana Mattioli cites a few recommendations for job hunters to avoid becoming identity theft victims while seeking employment online:

1. When you post a résumé, clear it of personal information.
2. Take advantage of posting options to keep your personal information anonymous. You can often check a box to “hide” contact information from employers.
3. Since scam artists have been known to post fake job ads, also remove personal information from résumés you submit to potential employers.
4. Think twice before revealing personal information by email or phone.