Recruitment Scam - Smarter Energy, Madeem Recruit, 556Clothing, Bulk Energy etc

KJJM

Several people have recently been caught out by recruitment scams and in a job seekers world they’re defiantly making a profit.

You may be contacted by a variation of the same company : Smarter Energy, Madeem Recruit, 556Clothing, Bulk Energy etc. They probably have a new name by the time you read this.

But the scam is still the same : You get a 10minute phone interview consisting of around 3or4 questions, followed by email confirmation a few days later saying you’ve got the job but need to complete a DBS Single/Specific Offence Check via the site onlineukdisclosures.com or similar ASAP. The check usually costs around £95 and you may not be able to pay by card, and the site will not be a registered DBS checker with Gov.UK.

Please don’t fall for this and lose your money. When applying for a job always make sure you find where their office is (don’t just rely on an address!), and if ever in doubt report it to safer-jobs.com and email newsdesk@watchdogmagazine.com

Flyonthewall

Any company that contacts you (usually offering stupidly high pay and/or home working), never meets you and offers you the job are scamming. Those that then say you need to pay for the DBS check, especially one that charges so much (the gov site gives prices, standard £26, enhanced £44) are without a doubt a scam.

There's almost always other signs too. Bad English, strange looking web links, really badly designed website etc.

There's numerous sites and forum threads and there have been programmes on it (watchdog).

It's sad people still keep falling for them

Podge52

Flyonthewall wrote: »

Any company that contacts you (usually offering stupidly high pay and/or home working), never meets you and offers you the job are scamming. Those that then say you need to pay for the DBS check, especially one that charges so much (the gov site gives prices, standard £26, enhanced £44) are without a doubt a scam.

There's almost always other signs too. Bad English, strange looking web links, really badly designed website etc.

There's numerous sites and forum threads and there have been programmes on it (watchdog).

It's sad people still keep falling for them

People are desperate for work, if there was work available these scammers wouldn't last five minutes.

Flyonthewall

Podge52 wrote: »

People are desperate for work, if there was work available these scammers wouldn't last five minutes.

I know, but it's no secret these scams exist and how they work.

No matter how desperate you are for work all it takes is a few seconds of thought before applying for any job, especially ones emailed to you. Applying for jobs isn't something you should rush anyway - quality over quantity.

andygb

Flyonthewall wrote: »

I know, but it's no secret these scams exist and how they work.

No matter how desperate you are for work all it takes is a few seconds of thought before applying for any job, especially ones emailed to you. Applying for jobs isn't something you should rush anyway - quality over quantity.

Try telling that to the Jokecentre and they will probably sanction you.
I have appled for a job, as a result of going to a Jobfair organised by the Jokecentre. I have been offered the job and have to pay them £57 to have a basic DBS check done.
The job is genuine - I have been assured by the Jokecentre, so I will have to keep my fingers crossed that it all pans out OK.
I have already pointed out to the DWP jobs which I believe do not exist and possible scams, but I don't think they really care.:(

andygb

Podge52 wrote: »

People are desperate for work, if there was work available these scammers wouldn't last five minutes.

Exactly right.
If it was up to me I would bring back the "stocks" and let them stay in there for a couple of weeks, on display so that the public can throw stuff at them.:mad:

Flyonthewall

andygb wrote: »

Try telling that to the Jokecentre and they will probably sanction you.
I have appled for a job, as a result of going to a Jobfair organised by the Jokecentre. I have been offered the job and have to pay them £57 to have a basic DBS check done.
The job is genuine - I have been assured by the Jokecentre, so I will have to keep my fingers crossed that it all pans out OK.
I have already pointed out to the DWP jobs which I believe do not exist and possible scams, but I don't think they really care.:(

I know exactly how it is with the JC, I was with them a long time. Never had an issue with them forcing me to apply for a stupid number of jobs. I know some people are forced to apply for stupid amounts of jobs though.

It only takes a couple of seconds to think about how legit a job is though and there are legit jobs out there to apply for instead.

Neither JC nor WP care if jobs are legit. WP advisor wanted me to apply for a really dodgy job once. I told them no and explained why. Wasn't sanctioned for it and if I had been I would have appealed and given proof, but I'm guessing someone ended up being offered the job still. For the most part, I'd say you just have to be firm, stay polite and explain/provide proof. Or find another reason why it's not suitable that they will accept (claim it's too far away - they often repost the same job in all locations - or something as you only have to travel so far and they're not likely to ever look it up and check it out, although if they did they'd quickly find it was a scam anyway lol).

Other option is apply, but just say you weren't successful as, again, they probably won't look it up.

I hope it works out for you.

andygb wrote: »

Exactly right.
If it was up to me I would bring back the "stocks" and let them stay in there for a couple of weeks, on display so that the public can throw stuff at them.:mad:

I like that idea!

BuzzyBee77

Also report it online to Action Fraud, especially if you have lost money.
There is also a thread on youtube highlighting the Clothes&Dresses/Madeem video as a scam

Anthurium

As I fell for that fraud too, I registered on this website to warn other people. Beware of the 'company' called Smarter Energy/Business Energy Brokers Ltd and their fellow scammers onlineukdisclosures! The Single Offence Check offered by the latter is a fake and you will never get a refund. When Smarter Energy starts giving you a false hope for a job opportunity, you should report them to ActionFraud straight away. Don't give them another chance to rip decent people off their money!

FireWyrm

1) Any company who wants to employ me pays for their own DBS check
2) Any reputable company will pay for their own DBS check
3) If you are forced by the jobcentre, then pay with a credit card. You are covered under the guarantee and can simply claim it back.

andygb

FireWyrm wrote: »

1) Any company who wants to employ me pays for their own DBS check
2) Any reputable company will pay for their own DBS check
3) If you are forced by the jobcentre, then pay with a credit card. You are covered under the guarantee and can simply claim it back.

Whilst I wish that were true, it simply isn't nowadays.
I have a job which is due to start in a couple of weeks time, and I had to pay for my DBS check (£57), which I was unhappy about. However, the Jobcentre didn't bat an eyelid at this, and I need the work and the money, so I have accepted it.:(