Job scams ‘a growing area’ says SAFERjobs chair
21 January 2014
The chair of SAFERjobs, the recruitment industry body tasked with combatting employment fraud, tells Recruiter that things are likely to get worse, as fraudsters move into this growing area of criminality.
Tue, 21 Jan 2014 | By Colin CottellThe chair of SAFERjobs, the recruitment industry body tasked with combatting employment fraud, tells Recruiter that things are likely to get worse, as fraudsters move into this growing area of criminality.
New figures released by accountancy and professional services firm KPMG, in its bi-annual Fraud Barometer report, show that total losses from High Court fraud cases of £100k or more in the UK has continued its overall downward trend.
It found that in 2013, total fraud loss amounted to £829m compared with £3.55bn in 2011, and £1.1bn in 2008.
However, the authors of the KPMG report highlight the growth of virtual fraud, and mention the Harrods/Gumtree case as an example.
A KPMG spokesperson tells Recruiter: “Virtual fraud is becoming more common. We are seeing a stepping up of that.”
Keith Rosser, chair of SAFERjobs, tells Recruiter: “It is good to see a general reduction in fraud [in cases involving fraud of £100k or more], but it goes against the current of what we are seeing, which is a rise in the type and variety of job scams.”
Rosser says that employment scams “is a growing area”, adding that “there is a recognition that things are likely to get worse”.
“Fraudsters are seeing a rise in the number of job scams and are moving into it as a new areas that they see as potentially more lucrative,” says Rosser.
“We have a lot of work to do if we are to fall in line with the overall trend [for cases of £100k or more].”
Rosser says that SAFERjobs sees educating students about to enter the jobs market about the dangers of job scams as a key way of countering fraud.
In November, Rosser outlined to recruiter.co.uk how SAFERjobs working with the recruitment industry plans to tackle this growing problem.
New figures released by accountancy and professional services firm KPMG, in its bi-annual Fraud Barometer report, show that total losses from High Court fraud cases of £100k or more in the UK has continued its overall downward trend.
It found that in 2013, total fraud loss amounted to £829m compared with £3.55bn in 2011, and £1.1bn in 2008.
However, the authors of the KPMG report highlight the growth of virtual fraud, and mention the Harrods/Gumtree case as an example.
A KPMG spokesperson tells Recruiter: “Virtual fraud is becoming more common. We are seeing a stepping up of that.”
Keith Rosser, chair of SAFERjobs, tells Recruiter: “It is good to see a general reduction in fraud [in cases involving fraud of £100k or more], but it goes against the current of what we are seeing, which is a rise in the type and variety of job scams.”
Rosser says that employment scams “is a growing area”, adding that “there is a recognition that things are likely to get worse”.
“Fraudsters are seeing a rise in the number of job scams and are moving into it as a new areas that they see as potentially more lucrative,” says Rosser.
“We have a lot of work to do if we are to fall in line with the overall trend [for cases of £100k or more].”
Rosser says that SAFERjobs sees educating students about to enter the jobs market about the dangers of job scams as a key way of countering fraud.
In November, Rosser outlined to recruiter.co.uk how SAFERjobs working with the recruitment industry plans to tackle this growing problem.
• Want to comment on this story? The Comment box is at the bottom of the page. Sorry for the glitch but just scroll right down and share your opinions!
