UK joins calls against Internet-based job scams

The United Kingdom government has joined calls warning job seekers against fraudulent employment offers in the UK, especially those coursed through the Internet. In an advisory on its website (www.britishembassy.gov.uk), the UK Embassy in Manila said such scams have proliferated and can exploit “unwitting and often desperate applicants." “Often, the starting point of this type of operation is the receipt of an unsolicited email offering work in the UK. Other offers are sent direct to job seekers who post their resumés on job sites," it said. Citing information based on past experiences of victims, the embassy said some indications of this type of solicitation include: * The use of a free email address, such as Yahoo, Hotmail, and MSN; * Use of a company name that may look genuine, but on careful checking of spelling or font is not what it appears; * A search for the recruiting company on the Internet fails to locate a company with matching contact details or, if there is a match, it is usually in a jobsite. Usually, it said the initial email congratulates the jobseeker for meeting the standard requirements of the company and offers a high paying job. The applicant is asked to reply to the email if interested. When the applicant replies to the email and expresses interest in the job offer, a reply provides details of the job on offer and the requirements for processing the application. “This is then usually followed by a request for an advance fee in order for the application to proceed and a time frame within which the applicant should respond. The applicant is also instructed to send an amount of money, which can range from £250 to over £1,000, via wire service, to an account under a different name. Communication invariably ends once the money has been sent," the UK embassy said. The embassy said job seekers can protect themselves by “thinking twice" before replying to an email offering overseas employment that sounds “too good to be true." It also advised them to contact a reputable employment agency if they are serious about finding good jobs abroad. Also, it said applicants must “never pay money up front for any reason" as legitimate companies will not require potential employees to pay a fee in order to process a job application. “Research the company, ask for references. Do not deal with a company which does not provide full and verifiable contact details. Avoid companies that operate solely via telephone or email," it added. “Remember that any reputable company will almost certainly need to meet and interview you before they will hire you. Does the company have a local agent? If not, why not?" it said. -GMANews.TV