Fraudulent recruiters have been using social media platforms to dupe potential job seekers into divulging personal and financial information. Sophisticated frauds involving grooming of targeted individuals, shows the fake recruiter asking the unsuspecting job seeker to take part in a fake job interview, either over the phone or via social media platform, WhatsApp. 

Fraudsters will conduct an interview and build rapport with the job seeker gaining their trust, with the sole aim of stealing their personal data and potentially inserting malware software on the job seeker’s devices. 

Malware is used to hack the targeted individuals’ electronic devices, which then gives the fraudster access to a subject’s personal information, passwords, and financial information.

This BBC report states that recruitment fraud is a sophisticated high volume, multistage crime that is hugely under reported. Latest figures from Action Fraud from 2022 show that 15 people reported being defrauded out of £20,040. New data shows that recruitment scams via text and WhatsApp, have jumped from £20,000 to £1 million, over the last 12 months.

Recruitment in the NHS

NHS Business Services Authority provides the NHS Jobs service as part of their NHS workforce services directorate. NHS Jobs is the official online recruitment service for the NHS in England and Wales. It is the biggest marketplace for health jobs in the UK, with 45,000 jobs posted each month covering 350 roles from clinical roles, IT and support, to surgeons, and directors.

A member of our fraud team described her recent recruitment experience into her new role within MIAA, “The NHS recruitment process was professional, managed, and thorough. I applied for my current role via NHS jobs, where I was signposted to LUHFT’s applicant tracking system “Trac jobs”. I created a new Trac account and managed the whole recruitment process including application, interview and all the necessary pre-employment checks. The Recruitment team provided all their contact details and email addresses for advice and any questions during my onboarding.

In the past I have received emails from companies and recruiters I do not know who try to engage with me to offer me positions. First, I check out their credentials to see if they are known to me, next I look for anything untoward in their communications style, or an unprofessional email.  My personal motto is ‘If it looks odd or is too good to be true it usually is!’ If I suspect a scam, I delete the email and make sure that I do not click on any links or attachments.”

In the digital age, scammers have found new avenues to exploit unsuspecting job seekers. To protect yourself from falling victim to these frauds, it’s crucial to identify how to recognise a fraud.

1. Too good to be true: If the job offer seems too good to be true, it is. Scammers often lure you in with promises of high salaries, minimal work, excellent benefits.
2. Unsolicited job offers: Legitimate employers do not reach out on WhatsApp, without any prior communication from you. If you receive a job offer from someone you have not previously had any contact with or from an unknown number, be cautious and report any concerns to Action Fraud. Tel 0300 123 2040
3. Fake Information: Look out for any information that cannot be verified, legitimate employers should share information that you can validate.
4. Be Vigilant: Do not give out personal information such as your financial information, bank accounts, passwords, or personal ID information such as passports or driving licences. 
5. Grammar: Typical red flag warnings in any communications are frequent grammatical errors, poor use of the English language, unprofessional communication styles, and generic emails like Yahoo, Hotmail or Gmail.
6. Urgency: Scammers use tactics like urgency to pressure you into making quick decisions. This is Social Engineering.
7. Fake websites: If in doubt check it out! Verify the website’s authenticity by checking for an office address and contact details that can be verified. Companies house is a useful source to check out information you have been given. 
8. Request for money: You should never have to send any monies to secure a job offer. 
9. No face-to-face Interaction: If the entire hiring process is completed online through messaging without any face-to-face contact, you should remain suspicious.
10. Do not get tricked: Do not click on innocuous links or attachments in emails whether from known or unknown sources. If you are suspicious of a link, whether on website or email, report your concerns and delete the email. 
11. Trust your Instincts: If something appears odd, too good to be true or you feel uncomfortable then stop, think, and report your concerns to Action Fraud, and let your Anti-Fraud Specialist know. WhatsApp also have advice on how to protect yourself from suspicious messages and scams.