Job hunters warned about putting personal information online

Sep 29 2011 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

JOB-hunters in South Lanarkshire are being urged to be wary about putting personal information online.

The advice comes after a 19-year-old student found himself the target of crooks when he put information – including his date of birth, qualifications and work experience – on a popular buying and selling website, saying he was looking for casual work.

He was later contacted by a company offering him a job as a secret shopper. This was followed up by a number of emails, with instructions of where to shop, what to buy and when.

His payment was to be made by money transfer through Western Union and had to be collected in person.

A total of £95 was transferred, with £75 of it to be forwarded on to another mystery shopper. However, this shopper later reported that the funds had gone missing.

Helen O'Neill, divisional trading standards officer at South Lanarkshire Council, believes that the 'mystery shopping' could simply be an elaborate form of money laundering.

She added: “For many, the idea of being a 'mystery shopper' is an appealing one. You go to a named store, make a purchase, report on what you found and get paid for it. For students, in particular, it may seek like the ideal way to make some quick cash.

“However, this one seems to have a bit of sting in the tail as it involves the moving of additional funds from unknown companies to unknown individuals.

“That immediately sets alarm bells ringing and we will be looking into exactly what the need for such transactions through third parties is.

“Whilst the individual is not out of pocket, and may in fact have earned some expenses and payment for his task, the additional complications of the money transfer may simply not be worth the hassle, and may even unwittingly become embroiled in criminal activity.

“I would certainly urge individuals to think twice about signing up for any such 'easy money' work. Like most things, if it seems too good to be true, it usually is.

“And, on a more general point, putting personal information out across the internet is only more likely to make you a target for scammers of all kinds, including those who would seek to carry out identity fraud.”