There has been a reported increase in advertisements appearing both on and off line for posts such as marketing managers or freelance representatives for foreign companies or charities.

A typical advertisement might offer a promise of a salary in the region of £1000 to £2000 a week for just a few hours work a day. This often consists of a commission of 10% on the funds forwarded. But do not be fooled by such offers, which probably emanate from East European or West African phishing fraudsters.

What they are trying to do is recruit what the police know as “ money mules” whose bank accounts are used to siphon off the money scammed by the phishers. If they can fool people into giving away their bank account details these fraudsters can milk a persons account dry but because of current banking regulations they then run into a problem.

Because of the restrictions on the movement of money overseas they need legitimate UK based bank accounts to store and then transfer the funds. This is where the so-called “marketing Manager” or “representative” comes in. They are required to receive money into their bank accounts and then forward it on overseas to the companies or charities “head office”.

The police have reported that there has been a marked increase in the number of recruitment advertisements in recent months. The way some of those advertisements are worded could make them very appealing to people who are seeking an extra income.

But beware because you are putting yourself at risk on two levels. Having given the phishers your bank details there is nothing to stop them cleaning your account out if they wish. And of course other people who have been scammed are certain in time to complain to their banks and the police.

These days it is fairly simple for the police to follow an audit trail which will lead them straight back to your bank account were they will almost certainly find that all the money that was in your account has long been shipped overseas and become totally untraceable.

Now you do not have to be an Einstein to work out were the buck is going to stop.
I don’t know whether the police will believe that you were an unwitting accomplice
but it is a position that it is best avoided. You have been warned.