Beware of Recruitment Scams: Keeping Yourself Safe

Last year, Meridian Business Support published information on how individuals can keep themselves safe from recruitment scams, which are on the rise. 

Unfortunately, we have recently been made aware that scammers are now impersonating our company via text and WhatsApp. These fraudulent messages often contain misleading information about available work and, in some instances, encourage recipients to click links that are likely part of a phishing attempt designed to steal personal data. 

We want to make it clear that these messages are not from us, nor are scammers obtaining your contact details from our company.  Protecting the privacy and trust of our applicants is our top priority and we are actively reporting and monitoring these scams to help keep our community safe. 

What do these scam messages look like? 

Typically, these fake messages:

• Come from an unknown mobile number or suspicious email address. 
• Are unexpected.
• Use informal or unusual grammar. 
• Ask you to click a link to apply for a job. 
• Refer to companies using a different name other than those listed on their official website.
• May offer unrealistic job opportunities. 
• Request personal information upfront. 

How Meridian contacts job seekers

Each recruitment consultant may work slightly differently. However, we have highlighted below what a genuine communication from our team would look like: 

• We refer to our company as Meridian Business Support or Meridian, not Meridian Business Support Recruitment Group. 
• We use an official Meridian email address ending in @meridianbs.co.uk 
• We do not ask for bank details, passport information or personal documents over WhatsApp or text message. If we do request this information - typically later in the recruitment process after we have spoken with you about the role - we request it using our TIFO compliance system. 
• We never pressure candidates to click links or make payments for job opportunities. 
• We clearly identify ourselves, including the name of the consultant, office location and job role being discussed. We will also highlight where we came across your CV. Typically, this will be from Indeed, CV Library, TotalJobs, Reed or LinkedIn. 

Not sure if a message is genuine? Here's what to do

If you receive a suspicious message from any recruitment company, here's what you should do:

1. Pause and review: Take a moment to check for poor grammar and spelling errors, email addresses that don't align with what is on the company website, and overly generic job offers. Additionally, consider if you have recently applied for a job or placed a CV on a job board, which normally gives genuine recruitment consultants access to your contact information. 
2. Do not click links or share information: Avoid clicking any links or attachments and never share your personal details without verifying the sender. 
3. If you're unsure, check directly with the company: Most recruitment companies will list a phone number or email address you can contact. At Meridian, it's enquiries@meridianbs.co.uk You can use these details to verify if a message you have received is legitimate. Try to include information such as the name of the person who contacted you, their phone number or email address, and any information about the possible job opportunity. 
4. Report it: If you suspect a scam, report it to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk
5. Block the number or email address: Once reported, block the sender to avoid future attempts. 

Unfortunately, scammers often target people when they are most vulnerable, like when they are looking for work. We urge all job seekers to stay vigilant and, if in doubt, it's always better to check.