SUNEMPLOYMENT

Beat the fraudsters by looking out for these top five employment scams targeting jobseekers…

SEEN a job ad offering a £50k salary, needing no qualifications and where you apply entirely online?

 It sounds too good to be true. And it probably is.

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With vacancies topping one million and many applications made online, it is easy for fraudsters to target those seeking work

Yet a report has found 98 per cent of jobseekers would still carry on with such as application.

This type of fake job ad online is part of a surge in scams targeting people for personal information or even cash.

With vacancies topping one million and many applications made online, it is easy for fraudsters to target those seeking work.

But a new campaign now aims to educate jobseekers on the dangers. 

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Here are the top five jobs scams to look out for . . . 

  1. Paying for training: Beware of bogus online courses, fake colleges and dodgy qualifications. Many jobseekers are trying to upskill or land their first position. Scammers prey on them by charging thousands for non-existent help.
  2. Working from home: Scams take many forms, from selling and reselling items on eBay and other platforms to money laundering, where recruiits are asked to transfer money between supposed business accounts. People have been duped into selling items that don’t exist. 
  3. Fake job: The position does not exist and the “employer” is only after personal info, money for equipment, visas or employment checks. Hopefuls expect to hand over personal data during the job application process and want to impress employers. They will often stretch to paying for sensible- sounding services such as uniforms, equipment and checks upfront. 
  4. Premium-rate phone scam: Been asked to call a telephone number for an interview? Watch out. This might be a con that leaves jobseekers with large bills after paying for fake interviews. To avoid being caught out, suggest a video call or ask them to call you.
  5. Modern slavery: There has been a rise in criminal gangs using social media platforms to post job ads that include onsite living. This might include hospitality or warehouse work, which leads unsuspecting people into a position where the accommodation costs more than the salary. This immediately puts them in a “debt bondage” position they cannot leave.
Keith Rosser, chairman of JobsAware is behind a campaign to make jobseekers aware of scams
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