Cambridge CAB writes:
We are warning that as people in Cambridgeshire struggle to make ends meet, they are being sized up by devious con artists. Many scams appear to be perfectly respectable at first sight. Here’s an example of a local man who came into Cambridge CAB for advice about what to do when he realised he’d become the victim of a ‘job scam’:
A 31 year-old local jobseeker responded to an advertisement for IT Support that appeared on the website of a reputable employment agency. He attended an interview with the company offering the position in London and realised that multiple applicants were being offered zero hour contracts on condition that they passed five Microsoft certification exams within two months, cost £99 per exam. No mention had been made in the advertisement of this requirement. The client subsequently realised that it is impossible to pass five exams in two months and withdrew his application. Nevertheless, £200 was deducted from his bank account three days later. He was promised that the cost of the exams would be paid back once he got into the job.
Fraud offences in England and Wales rose by 25% in 2013, compared to the previous year, with 207,252 cases reported to Action Fraud. But nationally Citizens Advice has calculated up to four million people could be scammed each year as many scams go unreported.
We’re distributing lots of information to community locations all across Cambridgeshire as well as on this blog, and next week (starting 12th May) we’ll be in the foyer of Central Library Cambridge with lots of information on scams to watch out for, how to deal with them and what to do if you’ve been scammed.
Rachel Talbot, CEO of Cambridge CAB, said: “Scams come in all shapes and sizes and can leave people hundreds or thousands of pounds worse off. Fake flats, phoney offers of work or training and bogus websites are ripping people off.
“Throughout May we will be helping local people spot and report scams. We are advising people to speak to family and friends to make sure they are aware of some of the warning signs of a scam to stop them being duped. Remember, if something appears too good to be true, it probably is.”
__________________________________________