What does employment fraud offer?
You are told that you have been successfully recruited
into a job overseas; or that an agency can help you land
your dream job.
How does employment fraud work?
- You place your CV or personal details on internet job
sites so that potential employers can see them and,
hopefully, offer you a job.
- You are contacted by an employer or an employer’s
agent to say they are considering you for a position. You
are asked to fill in a questionnaire and may be interviewed over
the phone. You may also be referred to the employer’s web site for
further information.
- Eventually, you are told that you have been
successful and the job is yours.
- There is no job.
- Once you have received the job offer, the fraudsters will
contact you about arranging travel, accommodation and visas. You
will be referred to an agency that, again, may have a website to
give it credibility. The agency is supposed to help you with all
your arrangements - for a fee.
- When you pay one fee - for example: a visa administration
fee - the agency will tell you about another
fee that has to be paid. For example: a deposit on
accommodation. In reality, the fraudulent agency makes none of
these arrangements.
- What’s more, the fraudsters may also ask for your bank
account details to set up salary payments. They will use
these details to steal money from your account.
How can I recognise employment fraud?
- Check any documents for poor spelling and
grammar
- Ask the embassy representing the country where
you believe you will be working how to obtain a visa and how much
it costs. If the embassy and the employer give you different
answers, beware
- Check the official records to confirm that the
organisation offering you the job actually exists. If it does,
contact the organisation directly through officially listed contact
details to confirm the job offer is genuine
- Tell the employer that you will make your own travel
and accommodation arrangements. Beware if they try hard to
dissuade you or tell you that you have to use the agency they refer
you to.
- Be aware, too, if the employer or agent
provides a webmail email address such as
@Yahoo or @Hotmail as a point of
contact.
What should I do if I suspect employment fraud?
- Break off any contact with the fraudsters immediately
- If you have given the fraudsters your bank account details,
alert your bank immediately
- Warn the operators of the web site where you placed your CV
that their site is being used by fraudsters.