Employment Scams are designed to recruit unsuspecting individuals to launder money for criminal organisations. These scams are typified by job advertisements posted online, or emails sent to random addresses, promising quick commissions in return for work completed from the comfort of your own home. Eventually the ‘job’ will turn into receiving and transferring money or goods elsewhere.
These criminals often use online chat rooms, social networking sites, hoax websites and fake profiles to furnish the scam to convince the recruit. New recruits are usually found using resumes published by hopeful job-seekers to job websites. The recruitment process is usually quick, with little to no training required. Most ‘jobs’ offered are work-from-home situations and relatively easy, but promise high-return commissions. Often it is not until the victim is alerted by their bank or money transfer service that they will leave the scam. This scam will also typically gain access to victims’ passports, driver licence and tax information under the ruse that they are applying for a legitimate job.
If you believe you may be involved in an employment scam, keep track of the following warning signs:
If you believe you have been a victim of an employment scam, there are a few steps you can take to limit the damage:
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