While scrolling through LinkedIn on July 10, 2025, I came across a post from the NICE Program Office that instantly caught my attention.
They were requesting public comments for proposed updates to two key areas:
- IN-WRL-001 – Cybercrime Investigation Work Role
- NF-COM-002 – Artificial Intelligence (AI) Security Competency Area
As I read it, my phone buzzed.
Another scam email had just come through a fake recruiter, a shady “opportunity,” and yet another reminder that job seekers like me are being targeted constantly. That moment was more than a coincidence. It was confirmation. Because just a month earlier, in June 2025, I had already created and submitted a proposal to address this exact issue.
It’s called Project TRUSThire, and it’s my call for a national cybersecurity framework to bring integrity and layered defense to the online hiring process. I first introduced the concept in this earlier article, where I shared how it started and why it matters now more than ever.
Connecting the Dots: From Personal Experience to Policy Action
As the founder of AQ’s Corner, a cybersecurity analyst, and an educator, I’ve seen how job scams exploit more than just data they hijack trust, identity, and emotional security.
I created TRUSThire to apply Zero Trust principles to the hiring ecosystem, just like we use them to secure networks, cloud platforms, and sensitive systems. Because if we can defend data centers with rigorous verification, we can and should defend job seekers from fraudulent offers.
What I Submitted to NICE
The NICE Program was looking for feedback to refine how we define roles and competencies in cybersecurity. That’s where I knew my voice could help shape the conversation.
I submitted public comments under both categories:
- 🔍 Cybercrime Investigation (IN-WRL-001) – I proposed a new task (CC-T005) focused on investigating and responding to employment-based digital fraud, like fake recruiters, phishing offers, and hiring platform scams.
- 🤖 AI Security (NF-COM-002) – I recommended a new Knowledge Statement (AI-S008) that addresses AI-driven behavioral analytics used to detect scam activity in hiring environments.
I also included my full proposal:
“Project TRUSThire – SP 800-TRUST Framework”, a blueprint for applying Zero Trust to hiring platforms and domain registrars. Bonus: A copy of the framework had already been shared with NIST’s ZTA Team on June 16, 2025, by the CRSC Inquiry Team further validating the need for this work.
My Submission Package Included:
- 📄 Cybercrime-Investigation-Public-Comment-AQsCorner-July 12, 2025.xlsx
(TKS Updates tab – New Task ID: CC-T005) - 📄 AI-Security-Public-Comment-AQsCorner-July 12, 2025.xlsx
(K&S Statements List tab – New Statement ID: AI-S008) - 📘 AQS_Corner_NIST SP-800-TRUST Framework 8.17.23 AM_Jun122025.pdf
Why This Matters (and Why I’m Speaking Up)
Scammers are evolving fast. They’re spoofing real companies, faking recruiter identities, redirecting people to WhatsApp and Telegram, and collecting sensitive data under false pretenses.
This isn’t just a phishing attempt. It’s cyber warfare against our workforce.
Whether you’re a recent graduate, a laid-off professional, or someone re-entering the job market, you’re a target. And it’s time the systems designed to protect us, especially our cybersecurity frameworks, recognize that.
What I’m Asking
- To NICE and NIST: Let’s lead the way by including workforce protection in cybercrime investigations and AI threat detection. This is national security — with a human face.
- To Job Seekers: Stay sharp. Document your experiences. Share them. You’re not alone.
- To Platforms and Policymakers: Add layers of accountability and transparency. Security isn’t complete without trust.
Because hiring shouldn’t feel like a gamble.
And trust shouldn’t be optional.
Aqueelah Emanuel
Founder & CEO, AQ’s Corner, LLC
Cybersecurity Analyst | Digital Safety Educator
🌐 www.aqscorner.com
AQ'S Corner 
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