Man jailed for recruitment scam after swindling jobseekers across the UK
Scam preyed on vulnerable job seekers, charging for fake DBS checks
A 37-year-old man has been sentenced at York Crown Court for running a fraudulent recruitment scheme that deceived job seekers across the UK into paying for bogus DBS checks.
Ashton Kevin Fredrick Saunders, previously of Chesham, pleaded guilty to money laundering after moving nearly £18,000 of victims’ money through his bank accounts between November 2014 and February 2016.
After failing to attend court on 1st February 2017 in relation to this offence and fleeing to Thailand, a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Dozens of victims across the UK were deceived by Saunders into paying between £70 and £100 each.
They were directed to websites and overpaid for these checks, but these sites were fake and operated by associates involved in the wider scam.
To reel in his victims, Saunders operated a bogus recruitment company called NJP Recruitment Ltd, which posted adverts for non-existent jobs.
While some victims received DBS certificates, many did not.
The operation took advantage of people who were often out of work.
One man who had been unemployed for months genuinely thought he had finally found work, only to discover the role was fake.
The National Trading Standards eCrime Team – hosted by North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council – analysed multiple bank accounts, seized evidence from an associate’s home and traced victim payments through a network of accounts designed to disguise the proceeds.
Lord Michael Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, said:
“This was a cruel and calculated scam that preyed on unsuspecting job seekers.
Many of the victims were simply trying to find honest work so they could support themselves and their families, yet they were met with lies, false promises and financial loss.
We are pleased that justice has been served, and we hope this sentencing sends a clear message that exploiting people’s trust in this way will not be tolerated.”
Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member at City of York Council, said:
“Looking for a new job is a stressful time for many – especially those who are unemployed.
Thanks to our investigative team’s tenacity, this case shows that we will not let ecriminals exploit people at a vulnerable time.”
Those who suspect they or someone they know may have been scammed should report it to the Citizens Advice consumer service helpline on 0808 223 1133.