Unemployed duped by fake job vacancies
Callous fraudsters have sunk to new lows by preying on the unemployed. Recent scams have been uncovered where a number of fake job advertisements for well paid roles have been placed in newspapers and on websites in the hope of attracting applicants and persuading them to part with money.
The jobs are placed to attract large numbers of applicants. When people apply they are told that the vacancy has been filled or that it has been temporarily filled. Applicants are then encouraged to train for the new role or to work from home for a one off £25 training fee. Those applicants that sent off the money received a list of instructions on how to place fake advertisements just like the ones they replied to and charge their own training fees of £25 per time.
Other fake job adverts encourage a telephone response. These then have applicants dialling high cost premium 0844 telephone numbers and hanging on hold for ages whilst their enquiry is dealt with, or talking with staff trained to gather information and keep them on the line as long as possible.
Some of the fraudulent job advertisers had applied for and received, "approved employer" status through the governments Jobcentre Plus offices. Since the latest revelations have come to light, Jobcentre Plus have tightened up their procedures and banned those under investigation from advertising in their offices.
The increase in fake job advertisements comes at a time when general crime rates are thought to be on the increase as a result of the recession. With more and more people increasingly desperate to find work of any kind, it is fertile ground for scammers. The set up costs are low and lax checks by advertisers mean that it is easy to dupe people into parting with money. The key is that the amounts involved are relatively low so a lot of fraud does not get reported.
Spotting a fraudulent job advert is not too difficult if you know what to look for.
Agencies and companies rarely use mobile, 0844 or other premium rate numbers as a contact point. Look for land line contact details. If applying through an agency, check that they exist by researching them on the internet. Beware numbers that start with +4470 as these are for overseas purchasers and can be acquired on the internet at low cost.
Never part with money as a part of a recruitment process. No bone fide recruitment company will ask for any cash from you. Even if the job has been filled, it will not cost you any money to have your details kept on record.
Look for bad grammar in the advert. Reputable employers will not make elementary spelling or grammatical mistakes whereas someone from overseas and with English as a second language may.
Check sense in language. Over politeness or inconsistent terminology may indicate that there is a problem. For example, someone may advertise that they are from a part of a city or town that doesn't usually get referred to in that way.
Scan all the advertisements – if there are many for different roles but with the same contact details it may be a scam.
Most people are not regular job seekers and, therefore, such scams will continue to be successful as new generations of people come to the market. Therefore, make sure that your friends and colleagues are aware of such scams and report any that you identify or suspect to the police. Prevalent ones that have been identified include for EcoLife, Swiss Ecolife, Swiss Invest and Southwell.
One of the most popular scams involves getting applicants to part with money for home based business opportunities. The opportunities vary but may include fake tan products, since these are the most topical following the recent sun bed scare. Candidates are encouraged to apply for a limited number of positions in return for training, marketing material and stocks of product. Others are for vacancies as au pair's or nannies.
There are some websites that can assist with tracking down fraudulent job advertisements. Check out www.fraudwatchers.org or www.scamomatic.com for some of the latest news and best advice on avoiding fraud. Whilst these are international sites, most scams originate from outside the UK so keeping a weather eye on the global scene can be as important as looking for home grown advice.
No matter how desperate you may be to find a job, never part with cash or be duped into using an expensive premium rate telephone line. Look for jobs advertised through reputable agencies and always be wary of those placed in local newspapers or on internet sites that you are not familiar with.