A brand-new year often comes with a resolution to find a fresh start with a new role. “January is a peak time for people to start looking for a new job,” says the bank’s Strategic Fraud Analyst Andrew May. Equally, global employment network Indeed asserts that “companies tend to hire most in January and February”.

While recruitment scams aren’t new, the fallout from the pandemic has seen a huge increase in remote working, says Andrew and, as ever, this is being exploited. A Fraudster impersonates either a known recruitment company or sets up their own fake recruitment business. They then post online or contact individuals with fake job opportunities in order to steal jobseekers’ personal details and money. 

“People will often post their status, saying that they’re looking for a new opportunity, for example,” points out Andrew. “Fraudsters might then approach job hunters by saying they’re acting on behalf of a certain client.”

Most of the scams are financially motivated so criminals will ask for registration fees or, at the point where they tell them they’ve got the job, there’s likely to be an agency fee.

“That’s a red flag,” Andrew warns, “because genuine recruitment companies will usually get that fee from the hiring company, not from the candidates. I’d be concerned if I was being asked for money.”

Those applying for jobs abroad should be particularly cautious as victims may be asked to pay for additional expenses such as visas and accommodation. If in doubt, contact that country’s embassy to see if the information matches up.

Another warning sign is the length of time spent on the registration process. You could be asked for a long list of personal details, and to set up your username and passwords – because that’s information they can potentially use for other scams or to sell on.

“Many of us use the same passwords across multiple platforms. So if the registration process involves setting up a password then the fraudster could use this to access a victim’s email address etc,” explains Andrew.

The individual targeted might think they’re taking those next steps to secure that potential role, but in reality they’re being taken through a registration process for opening a bank account. “The fraudster will then open an account in that individual’s name and apply for credit cards, loans or whatever it might be,” he says.

“At the end of last year the bank saw a noticeable rise in criminals trying to set up accounts in people’s names. The bank has acted fast to make sure these attempts are picked up and blocked. Customers should also be cautious when asked to provide ID documentation as part of any application process.”

• Contact Companies House in order to confirm a recruiter’s contact details, including a web address. A reputable recruitment company will often belong to a trade association such as the REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation) or TEAM.
• Visit genuine app stores and look at the company reviews. A large recruitment agency will have hundreds or thousands of reviews.
• If you think you’re a victim, contact Action Fraud, and if you’ve made a payment, get in touch with the bank as soon as possible.

Watch our webinars for further advice and top tips on how to avoid falling victim to fraud.