Dosh dilemma – Alice’s costly fake job offer

Alice thought she’d struck gold. She received an email about a remote admin job, with great pay, flexible hours and a friendly team.

The ‘interview’ took place online and the next day, she was told she’d got the job.

To get started, they told her she needed to buy a laptop and some ‘company-approved’ software, costing around £550. “Keep the receipts,” they said, “and you’ll be reimbursed straight away”.

Eager to begin, Alice paid up.

But then the emails stopped. The phone number she’d been given just rang out. That’s when she realised that there was no job.

Now Alice wants to know, what should she do?

We’re sorry to hear about your experience, Alice. Here’s what you should do:

What to do if you’ve been scammed

• Cut contact with the scammers, but keep a record of all their details, including email addresses, phone numbers, names and any correspondence.
• Report the scam to Action Fraud either online or by calling 0300 123 2040.

• Report it to JobsAware, an organisation working with the government to protect jobseekers. You can report suspicious ads, companies or recruiters via their website. They also offer free advice and support if you've been targeted.

• Contact your bank or credit card provider immediately. If you paid by credit card, you may be able to reclaim the money under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Your bank may also be able to recover the funds.
• Inform the site where you saw the ad or posted your CV, as scammers often use legitimate platforms to target jobseekers.

How to stay safe from recruitment scams

Even if a job offer seems genuine, always take steps to protect yourself:

• Check the company actually exists by searching for it on Companies House. If it claims to be based abroad, search for its name on the overseas registries.

• Do an online check, as a real business should have a website, LinkedIn presence and employee reviews.

Watch for warning signs, such as:

• • poor spelling or grammar in job ads or emails
  • generic or unprofessional email addresses (e.g. Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo)
  • offers that seem too good to be true, such as high pay, low hours or instant hires
  • Requests for money as legitimate employers will never ask you to pay for equipment or training

• Protect your personal information. Don’t include sensitive details (like bank info or passport numbers) on your CV.

• Never hand over original documents such as passports or ID to anyone during the recruitment process.

We hope this helps, Alice and that you're able to recover the money. Remember if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.