Jobseekers swindled out of £100

Detectives confirmed yesterday they had arrested a man thought to be involved in the cruel Yorkshire-based scheme after receiving complaints from all over the country.

It is understood that victims were taken in by an advert placed by a Sheffield firm on the JobCentre Plus website which offered full-time chauffeur's jobs in several cities.

Applicants were called for interview, told they were successful and then asked to deposit 100 in a bank account as a "retainer" for keys to a prestige car they would be driving.

They were told that once the deposit had been made, contracts of employment would be sent out and official start dates given, but no further paperwork was ever received.

One victim contacted the Yorkshire Post after he was told he had been given a 15-an-hour job covering the Liverpool area after attending an interview in Manchester.

The man, who asked not to be named, said: "How can a job that is advertised on an official Government website be allowed to be a scam? It is disgraceful that there is no vetting procedure for people wishing to advertise positions.

"The Government says it wants to get people into work, yet who can be trusted to be genuine?"

In the official JobCentre Plus advertisement, applicants are told they will work for a company called Nationwide Chauffeur Services, based at premises in Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.

The job information says: "Responsibilities: Safekeeping of petrol account cards and keys in your care (lost keys will be replaced from a 100 retainer deposited at the start of employment).

"The chauffeur may or may not be required to attend or wait in attendance at functions as allocated by the company, and ensure immaculate grooming and presentation at all times."

Details of a website for the firm are given and a telephone number. The website was not working yesterday and calls made to the telephone number went unanswered.

The victim said: "I accepted the job in writing and deposited the money into an account as instructed. As time went on and I had no details of where to report for work, I made enquiries.

"Eventually I was given the number of a DC Juliet Faram at South Yorkshire Police. She told me it was a nationwide scam involving hundreds of people."

Other victims have written about their experiences on an internet forum and DC Faram has put a message on the website herself.

It says: "To all those affected by this, can you please contact DS John Wheaton or DC Juliet Faram at South Yorkshire Police on 0114 220 2020, direct dial 0114 296 3504 or email juliet.faram@south-

yorks.pnn.police.uk"

The Department of Work and Pensions, which is responsible for the operation of the website where the advert was placed and high street branches of JobCentre Plus, said an investigation was under way.

A spokesman said: "This activity is not tolerated. We do everything we can to root out bogus offers of employment; if we become aware that someone is abusing the system, we withdraw the vacancy and investigate fully.

"Our advice to an applicant has always been that they should never pay fees up front to a potential employer."

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said they could not comment in detail on an onging case but added that officers investigating allegations of fraud had arrested a 43-year-old man from Sheffield who had been released on police bail pending further enquiries.