Job scam? Advice please

kate_woodelle

So I was looking for a part time job and was looking on the job centre site findajob.dwp.gov.uk and this job is on there  (Advert below) I thought it sounded really good and perfect and I uploaded my CV, the lady running it got in touch but then told me I’d have to list items on my account which is where I got suspicious and also that I would have to pay listing fees, which is when serious alarm bells started ringing. I thought I’d sign the contract and just give it a go anyway and if I feel uncomfortable with anything I list I’ll just back out so I signed it and sent it back.
Now, the next day I had a complete change of heart and emailed the lady to day I didn’t feel comfortable doing this job and I’m sorry to let her down but I’m going to ask if I can break the contract. This is where she got really angry and has now told me she is going to sue me!!! Now I know technically I’ve broken a contract but the fact I think it’s a scam should be reason enough to break a contract. I guess my question is, does everyone else agree it’s a scam and what do you think the likely hood is of me actually being sued.

Feel free to all laugh at me for fooling for this! But I did google the company and it was registered! 

Summary

I am searching for an individual to join a start up company as an internet sales Lister dealing with general internet sales and the listing of new goods.

The position is work from home and hours are flexible.

The items being listed are jewellery.

A friendly attitude to dealing with customers is essential to maintaining the company’s reputation and feedback.

The candidate should be someone who has determination and is enthusiastic about furthering their knowledge of the industry.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The ability to create an accurate and detailed ebay listing.
Passing on sales to the director.
Answering customer questions

Personal Requirements:
Self-motivated – a competitive nature with a desire to learn more about the products and the market we sell in.
Well rounded interpersonal skills for dealing with both customers and colleagues
Professional customer facing written communication(email)
Keen attention to detail.
Very well organised
Must have expierence in listing on Ebay and access to portals.
Essential Skills & Experience Requirements
Knowledge of ebay/Amazon and how to use the selling platforms
.Experience within eCommerce platforms and sales. This is mandatory.

Details

Salary: £12.50 per hour.

Payment Frequency: Monthly

Working Hours: Flexible

Location: From Home

Reporting To: Company Director

Experience Required: To have worked with or have knowledge of Ebay

Job Type: part-time

Salary: £13.50 per hour

Experience:

Must have proof of working online doing listings on Ebay
Language:

English (Required)

General_Grant

Wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.  You have given notice that you are not going ahead.  

Perhaps you should report this to DWP.

kate_woodelle

Yeeh I’ve left them a message about it because If it’s a scam then they need to remove it and if it’s not then she can’t go around threatening to sue people, especially not in this current climate. 

[Deleted User]

Sounds odd that you would have to use your own eBay account. 

They should be operating a business account. 

kate_woodelle

And she said I had to transfer money first before she would dispatch to the customer, which would leave me in a very vulnerable position if she didn’t send the item.

kate_woodelle

AND, if customers asked any questions to tell her and she’ll write a response that I upload and she’d take pictures and send them to me to upload and write descriptions...so really what wouldn’t I even be doing apart from letting her use my eBay account 

CocoM2020

Are the DWP not meant to approve and check jobs that they post on their website? It screams dodgy - report it. 

Dakta

"Feel free to all laugh at me for fooling for this! But I did google the company and it was registered!"
Not at all - it isn't funny. In fact it could for some people end up being seriously nasty.
The ad is full of things that give me concern, I've found the ad in question and it creates a lot of questions. who is this company, why can't I find any kind of web presence? on their filing history it doesn't seem they do a right lot. Furthermore anyone can register a ltd company and use it as cover for a less than legit operation.

Then there's the job itself, why does it have two different salaries, any reasonable ebay company would have a company account that staff would use. Why are they running it that way, is it so that if they don't send the goods you are liable?

It's also a bit worrying that despite these worries you decided to give it a go. What exactly have you signed into now?
IMO I wouldn't be particularly concerned about being sued over the contract, simply because I don't think this is a legit outfit at all and I don't think they themselves would fancy any level of scrutiny.

My gut feeling (and this is just my gut) is they are looking for an idiot to sell some stuff they don't intend to ship, and once the middle man cottons on they'l abandon ship and find another

kate_woodelle

I know, I shouldn’t have signed it; I guess it was just wishful thinking i could make some extra money quite easily (which I guess is the dream for everyone), I’d also just had a bad day at work and thought if this could help bring in some money then I could quit my crappy job...so I guess it was desperation that I signed it 😩
The contract says I must work a month with them but I told her I wouldn’t and so she continued to threaten to sue...which I’m not worries will lead to a further scam from them which is why I’ve reported it to DWP.

kate_woodelle

Also as it’s on DWP and not something like gumtree, you assume it might be legit, but at least now I know 

Dakta

Yeah, I can totally understand - I've worked multiple jobs most of my adult life and theres nothing wrong with working for a bit extra, but on the other hand people will try and take advantage. I'm surprised they've used that job directory as a platform for such a dodgy enterprise.

Maybe this department is not that good.

I'm not particularly concerned about legal challenges to you not fulfilling the contract, though I'd definitely have a read through it so you can scope out any potential nasty points - and also I'd have a good think of what you've given them in terms of information about yourself too, hopefully nothing too heavy.