Police report online employment scams rampant in Edmonton area

Edmonton Police are asking the public to be cautious when they look for work online after a busy first half of the year saw scammers make off with nearly a quarter-million dollars of Edmontonians’ money.

EPS received 93 reports of online employment scams that have resulted in $240,925 being stolen.

“Anyone can fall victim to these scams. Scammers do this for a living and have many people helping them build their elaborate scams. They take legitimate company and employee details and incorporate them into their scheme,” said EPS spokeswoman Landis Reichle in a news release Wednesday.

Scammers will use legitimate employment websites, such as Linkedin or Kijiji, and build job postings and employment websites to send a request for an interview through email, video chat or text message. After the interview a job will be offered, usually for a work-from-home job such as a babysitter, data clerk or assistant.

Once the targeted person starts their new job they will be asked to use their personal bank account until they are no longer in training to make transactions with a fake client. They will be given a fraudulent money transfer and then be asked to send money to the client through bitcoin, itunes cards or etransfer.

“This will continue until your bank picks up on the fraudulent deposits and transactions or until you determine this job does not feel quite right,” said Reichle.

“If you suspect a job posting or offer is fraud, but have not been a victim of the scam, please report it to the hosting website and to the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre.”