Scams that were once letters have moved online

Unsolicited emails announcing a lottery win or phishing correspondance asking for banking details have become commonplace in the internet community. Now a new batch of scams have been targeting unemployed people since the economic downturn, by sending emails offering the chance of lucrative employment.

These scams have many variations, with one of the most widespread being the mystery shopper, where appliers are conned into paying a sign up fee in order to land the position. Once the net user has signed up, the fraudsters pocket the cash and disappear.

Another scam, which involves applying for a job via a legitimate-looking recruitment website, which is actually fake, draws users into a money mule operation. This involves receiving criminal transfers into bank accounts under their control, and sets victims up to lose more than just their money. Andy Auld, head of intelligence for the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca), says ‘it doesn’t matter if you don’t realise you are committing an offence. In certain aggravating circumstances you will actually face criminal prosecution and potential imprisonment for acting as a mule.’
Auld also added that personal details given to the fraudsters such as bank account details, date of birth and email addresses are invaluable pieces of information, and unwittingly sending them is tantamount to being recruited as a money launderer. It also hugely increases the risk of identity theft. Caroline Coats, from scam advice website Cyberfraud.org.uk was victim of a money mule scam herself, which resulted in her losing £14,500 and being arrested. All charges were dropped once it became apparent she was the victim of a scam, but she warns that ‘somebody in the world could have a passport in your name, opened a bank account in your name, and they can also register an address.’