kokalosmobile.org

[US] SCAM ALERT: joinhandshake.com "SOFTACT" & "KOKALOS MOBILE" - Junior Software Engineer Bait-and-Switch **Image:** Message from scammer utilizing Handshake to carry out scams (to mods: I am **NOT** saying that Handshake is the scammer; I have several experiences with Handshake not vetting so called companies and allowing scammers on their platform (the purpose of the post). **WARNING FOR STUDENTS & GRADUATES ON HANDSHAKE** I am posting this to warn everyone about a sophisticated data-harvesting scam currently running on Handshake. They are using a "Bait-and-Switch" tactic to steal PII (Personally Identifiable Information). The Entity: "Company": SOFTACT (Internet & Software) Recruiter Name: Asmerom <redacted> The Pivot: KOKALOS MOBILE (kokalosmobile\[.\]org) The Job Posting Details: They are targeting Junior Software Engineers with a "too good to be true" but realistic-looking posting: Pay: $20–30/hr Role: Remote Junior Software Engineer Specific Hook: They explicitly mention being "Open to candidates with OPT/CPT" to target international students who may be more vulnerable to sponsorship scams. The Scam Workflow (The "Rejection" Hook) Once you apply to SOFTACT, you receive a professional-looking rejection email. This is a psychological trick to make the "alternative" they offer feel like a lucky second chance. **The email reads**: "After careful consideration, we regret to inform you that we will not be progressing with your application... Nevertheless, we were genuinely impressed... we would like to introduce you to an alternative opportunity with one of our partner companies, KOKALOS MOBILE." The Red Flags: \- **The Pivot**: Real recruiters for a specific company do not immediately redirect rejected candidates to an external application portal for a "partner" company they’ve never mentioned before. \- **Domain Issues**: The link leads to kokalosmobile.org. Tech companies almost never use .org extensions; this is a common tac

[US] SCAM ALERT: joinhandshake.com "SOFTACT" & "KOKALOS MOBILE" - Junior Software Engineer Bait-and-Switch **WARNING FOR STUDENTS & GRADUATES ON HANDSHAKE:** I am posting this to warn everyone about a sophisticated data-harvesting scam currently running on Handshake. They are using a "Bait-and-Switch" tactic to steal PII (Personally Identifiable Information). ### The Entity * **"Company":** SOFTACT (Internet & Software) * **Recruiter Name:** Asmerom Ghebru * **The Pivot:** KOKALOS MOBILE (kokalosmobile[.]org) ### The Job Posting Details They are targeting Junior Software Engineers with a "too good to be true" but realistic-looking posting: * **Pay:** $20–30/hr * **Role:** Remote Junior Software Engineer * **Specific Hook:** They explicitly mention being "Open to candidates with OPT/CPT" to target international students who may be more vulnerable to sponsorship scams. ### The Scam Workflow (The "Rejection" Hook) Once you apply to SOFTACT, you receive a professional-looking rejection email. This is a psychological trick to make the "alternative" they offer feel like a lucky second chance. **The email reads:** > "After careful consideration, we regret to inform you that we will not be progressing with your application... Nevertheless, we were genuinely impressed... we would like to introduce you to an alternative opportunity with one of our partner companies, KOKALOS MOBILE." ### The Red Flags 1. **The Pivot:** Real recruiters for a specific company do not immediately redirect rejected candidates to an external application portal for a "partner" company they’ve never mentioned before. 2. **Domain Issues:** The link leads to `kokalosmobile.org`. Tech companies almost never use .org extensions; this is a common tactic for scammers to avoid .com filters. This domain was **registered on March 25, 2026** just weeks before these "hiring" messages started. A "growing" mobile company would not have a website that is only a few days old. 3. **Data Harvesting:** The "appl