Scams see over £43k stolen from 15 Hertfordshire victims

Since the beginning of November, fifteen people in the county have fallen victim to the fraudulent schemes, with £43,015 taken in total.

The fraudsters target job seekers by posting fake job opportunities on social media sites or, in some cases, messaging them directly via text or Whatsapp.

Once the victim interacts with the fraudster, they are asked to make a payment to take the job application forward.

They may also ask for bank account details to set up salary payments, which they can then use to access the victim’s bank account.

People from Potters Bar, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Stevenage, and Borehamwood have been affected, with one Watford resident being scammed out of £10,000.

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Hertfordshire Constabulary fraud triage manager, Julian Griffiths: "If you receive an exciting job opportunity sent directly to you via social media you should proceed with caution, especially if you haven’t been actively looking for a job.

"It’s unusual for employment agencies to ask prospective candidates to pay fees, so if this happens make sure you thoroughly research the agency or employer.”

Further information regarding scams can be found at www.actionfraud.police.uk and www.herts.police.uk/protectyourmoney.