Employment scams con cash from job seekers
(CNS): The RCIPS Financial Crimes Unit is warning of more employment scams targeting overseas job seekers. It appears that the fraudsters are using Cayman’s dependence on overseas recruitment to create a lucrative con. Police said they were aware of two new job scams that are circulating via email falsely claiming to be recruiting staff for two hotels on Grand Cayman. The con men, or women, are citing the Westin Casuarina Hotel and another unnamed “luxury” hotel here, but police said the Westin has confirmed this is not a genuine recruitment programme as it is not currently hiring.
One of the email scam asks potential applicants to send money via Western Union to pay towards the airfare to Grand Cayman and FedEx cost for the plane ticket and their work permit.
The emails refer job seekers to a man named Marilou M. Cariazo, who the scammers claim is an immigration lawyer and the man to whom applicants should send their cash. They are told to address applications to C. Velasquez, who they emails say is the CEO of the Westin Hotel. Police said that the there is no immigration lawyer in the Cayman Islands or person affiliated with the Westin Hotel by either name.
The second advertisement, which has less detail and is more generic, has circulated before on social media, causing concern among local job seekers who believed it was genuine and was cutting out potential local recruits. But police described the advert as “highly suspicious” and warned job seekers not to respond to it.
The FCU told job seekers that legitimate employers in the Cayman Islands do not seek work permit costs upfront and that funds should never be wired in response to any job adverts because they said they are very likely to be cons.
See scams below:
Omg. What would they do with your information. The told me about the practical nursing and i gave them all my information what would they did to me?
Omg. What would they do with your personal information?
The same number is now being used to lure medical professionals in. I saw it on a poster advertising vacancies for practical nurses and caregivers. I called and the guy was unable to talk… during regular work hrs. He said cal back after 4. That caused me to be suspicious and I was right. Smh.
I got scammed by this same number
Really? There are people that fall for this crap?
A gmail email adress for a big hotel….
Very creative. This con man has skills and is very talented. Please catch him and have him reformed so that he can teach our people clean skills and a trade to fill all blue collar positions in our island.
I emailed the address on the ad and received several emails and whatsapp conversations. Did the telephone interview and all but the sending money to western union was a red flag. Below are the whatsapp some whatsapp replies:
Plane fare payments:
Please note that applicants has the option of sending the funds to our local representative in Jamaica to avoid the expense to the Cayman Island or they may chose to absorb the cost in sending it to the cayman island.
Please choose.
DEPOSIT OF PLANE FARE
Please note that a decision has been taken by management to have all funds send to it’s immigration lawyer responsible for the processing of our employee’s documents.
Funds send to the hotel’s account will attract a high bank fee once it’s coming from a different country.
MARILOU M. CARIAZO
address: Birch Avenue , Prospect,
Grand cayman Island
Phone (1345-924-1208 ) please use my telephone number on the Western Union form for me to be informed after the funds is sent.
Your plane ticket will be purchased with immediately after payments are confirmed.
Grammatical errors in both adverts.
It’s rather obvious with the grammatical mistakes that these ads could not have been generated by a reputable hotel.
Some people will fall for anything….jeez…clearly they should be sending all their money to me!! Friday night, Gin and tonics all round!!
Shouldn’t the phone numbers be enough to catch them?
Spelling of ‘5 years contract’ is the first obvious give-away. Work in ‘Cayman Island ‘ is the next hint . Restaurant ‘ Manger ‘ ?