I Fell Victim

yoki_2

I recently applied for a data entry position, within two days I got an email saying I had gotten the job. Turns out I was scammed. The company does not exist. I feel so down. I left my house this morning for my "induction" with high hopes only to find out that the company did not exist when I got to they address on their website. I also tried their line, but it did not go through. I sent emails and never heard from them. They supposedly have an office at White City Place, but when I got there and enquired around it turn out the only two buildings there was the BBC and The MediaWork PR company. Thats when I realised I had been had.

Here are some of the emails I received prior to today,


Hi [insert name]

After considering your CV and online interview I would like to offer you a data entry position with us in our London location. For a full job description please see this page - Description . We have recently won 2 very large contracts and London will be handling much of the new business. Therefore we do need staff quite urgently. The earliest possible start date for this position will be the 25th June 2017.

If you would like to accept the position please reply with your acceptance and earliest available date you can start. Here (Password is DATAELON) is a basic contract copy for your reference of this position with the location. We will have a full paper contract with your name on it for you to sign on your induction day. Myself and Anna are arranging inductions days for all new employees as we speak and I will update you on a date for that soon. Anna will email you some instructions on what we need from you before you attend an induction with us.
Regards,
Michelle Carroll
Careers Manager
educategateway.com

following this I received an email from "Anna May"

Hi [inset name],

Michelle has asked me to send you over what we need from you so we can organise your induction day. Please see instructions below:

--

IMPORTANT – START THE BELOW STEPS BY THE 22/06/17 IN ORDER FOR US TO CONFIRM YOUR INDUCTION WITH US NEXT WEEK.

1. Please read through the contract copy. You will have a full version to sign on your induction day.

2. Please prepare the name and address of a referee for us to verify you and email me with it.

3. In order for you to attend the induction day we do need you to produce a background check. This is mandatory for you to be able to work with for us. If you have a current background check dated within the last 30 days then please forward to me. If you do not then you can contact this company for a new one uk-dbs[dot]com. You will need to apply for a Basic Disclosure. When you make request please quote "EDUGDBSZ" and they will only charge you the cost of the disclosure. The admin fee they bill to us.

4. Enter your National Insurance number using this link so we can setup PAYE with human resources - Ni Upload

--

Myself and Michelle are working on induction days as we speak and will update you shortly. You will be advised your start date during your induction day, we expect your induction to be around the 23rd or 24th June. If you have any notice period to give your current employer please give notice after your induction day, as this is when we will have a confirmed start date for you.
Regards,
Anna May
Careers Associate
educategateway.com

I had to borrow money from friends just to get my hair done. I had to borrow money from someone to buy the "DBS" which was £23.

From the research, I've been doing it turns out they've been doing this for quite some time. Their alias are Smarter Energy, Madeem Recruit, 556Clothing, Bulk Energy, Local Media Advertising and etc. Please, people, don't fall for this scam like I did.

jobbingmusician

OK, so they now have all they need to steal your identity, as well. I don't know what to advise you about this - maybe contact your local police station and ask their advice about it? (Sorry for the additional bad news)

dawyldthing

If it was me Id be contacting the dbs place as there falsely asking for checks. Id also check your noodle account as I'm guessing you paid the £23 by card so you need to check your bank account and also on noodle it will show any recent checks on your credit file in case there getting credit in your name. Also contact the police as the one above said.

Sorry it has happened though. There's some awful folk about

Geoff1963

Is there a way to "block" one's credit file, so any request is automatically rejected ?
Not a problem for many of us on the forum . . .

DevilsMoJo

Well the Jobcentre and some of the people on here would have you sanctioned

Savvy_Sue

Geoff1963 wrote: »

Is there a way to "block" one's credit file, so any request is automatically rejected ?
Not a problem for many of us on the forum . . .

There is something you can do so any credit applications get more checks. Would be worth doing a search of the main site as I'm sure it would come up there but I can't think of the technical wording for it.

Savvy_Sue

Found what I was looking for: Identity Theft Protection article. Down towards the bottom of the page it mentions registration with CIFAS.

maninthestreet

contact actionfraud as well:

http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud

maninthestreet

check the whois entry for educategateway.com:

https://www.whois.com/whois/educategateway.com

yoki_2

Hi, everyone! thank you all for your kind messages. the shock is slowly starting to wear off. I alerted the police today and they told me there was not much they could do in the station. I was told to go on Action Fraud to make a complaint. The policeman I spoke to seemed very nice and told me he had a similar experience before. I guess it can happen to just about anyone. It's just such a shame.

yoki_2

maninthestreet wrote: »

check the whois entry for educategateway.com:

[DOT]com/whois/educategateway.com

Thank you I was looking for this site earlier. I just could not remember the name.