North Sea oil workers are being targeted in an “appalling” online scam aimed at conning job seekers out of hundreds of pounds. Paragon Offshore, Total, Maersk Oil and Asco are all warning those on the hunt for work that scammers are offering fake jobs for a cash sum.
It is believed they demand applicants hand over their passport details and a payment to cover processing fees, visas and work permits before offering them non-existent posts.
Last night, RMT trade union organiser Jake Molloy described those behind the scheme as “despicable” for targeting those made redundant since the global decline in oil price while recruitment specialists urged people to be vigilant of the ever-more sophisticated tactics being used. More than 65,000 workers lost their jobs last year as a result of reduced activity.
Both the logos and names of respected firms are being used to seek money from victims.
Mr Molloy said: “It’s an appalling abuse and an appalling attempt by the people behind it. To exploit people who are already suffering, these are despicable individuals who are exploiting an opportunity to target vulnerable workers desperate to get back into the industry.
“I would say to workers it doesn’t cost you to get a job anywhere. Nobody should be charging you to attract you into employment – it will be done on merit.
“I’ve spoken to a few guys it has happened to, they’re in desperation to get a job.”
Dean Hunter, founder of Hunter Adams, admitted the challenging North Sea job market had made workers more vulnerable to such scams.
He said: “The fact is that in the north-east, and in particular in the oil and gas sector, this sort of targeted recruitment scamming has been highly prevalent.
“People are becoming more desperate to find work and they’re more inclined to offer up personal details like passport information – which would be a breach of data protection – in the search for a job.
“They’re offering jobs they would not offer anyone else. People need to consider, it’s no different to giving up details and being scammed in the same way as if you gave your bank details to someone.”
Last night a senior recruitment specialist from Paragon Offshore urged people be on the lookout for the “pretty hard to spot scam” job offers and warned they were getting “more sophisticated.”
Oilfield services company Asco also issued a fresh warning after being alerted to fake job offers being issued in their name.
A spokeswoman said:” Fraudulent recruitment activity using the ASCO name and identity is taking place. ASCO will never issue an employment offer without conducting at least one face to face interview, or issue any correspondence from a free web-based email or personal account.
“Asco will never issue an employment offer without conducting at least one face to face interview, or issue correspondence from a free web-based e-mail or personal account.
“If you receive an e-mail that instructs you to send replies to an account other than one ending: @ascoworld.com, please treat it as fraudulent.”
French energy firm Total confirmed a number of recent incidents had been identified, and added: “The scammers’ goal is to extort money from jobseekers by asking for payment upfront for fake costs such as visa fees or to obtain personal and financial information.
“Total never requests payment nor does it ask for financial information during the recruitment process.”
A recruitment specialist from Maersk Oil has also reported a number of people being reported.
She said: “Maersk Oil does not make unsolicited offers of employment, and will never require potential candidates to make an advance payment as part of the hiring process.”
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