Job hunters £5k out of pocket after falling prey to social media scam
Victims typically lose £1,420, with some out of pocket by over £5,000, and young job seekers aged 18 to 34 are disproportionately targeted.
These scams often originate on social media, luring victims with fake remote work offers like liking TikTok videos, then demanding upfront payments for purported necessities such as processing or training.
More sophisticated schemes involve fake interviews, contracts, and impersonating genuine recruitment agencies, sometimes manipulating victims into unwitting money laundering.
Lloyds advises job seekers to be wary of any requests for payment to apply for a job and to independently research the role and company being presented.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
2 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
When is the best time to go to the supermarket in the UK?
It could be that you're gearing up for a BBQ, doing the weekly shop or already preparing for the back-to-school return. However, for those of us who prefer a less crowded supermarket trip, then the summer chaos can be off-putting. Richard Price, supermarket shopping expert at Britsuperstore, has analysed in-store patterns and shared the best (and worst) times to shop during the summer break. The retail expert has also looked at which days and times are best to shop and what to avoid, including the "danger zones" like bank holidays and sunny Friday afternoons. What is the best time for shopping? Mr Price says that Tuesdays to Thursdays, 7–9am, are the quietest windows, and contrary to popular belief, Sundays aren't always the worst. In fact, late Sunday afternoons can be 'surprisingly calm', especially during hot weekends when families head outdoors. He explained: 'During the school holidays, the usual rhythm of supermarket shopping changes significantly. "Without the structure of school drop-offs and work routines, footfall becomes more unpredictable and often increases in volume. 'Families are more likely to shop together, which can slow down the overall pace in-store, while better weather and spontaneous days out mean more last-minute purchases.' Below, Britsuperstore details the best time to go the supermarket for low crowds during the school holidays: Monday 7-9am Tuesday 7-9am or 7-9pm Wednesday 7-9am or 7-9pm Thursday 7-9am or 7-9pm Friday - avoid after 3pm, early morning if needed Saturday - avoid - busy most of the day Sunday - late afternoon (3-5pm), but limited stock UK Supermarket Rankings 2025 Worst time to go to the supermarket in the UK On the other end of the spectrum is the crowded periods, where families may be stocking up for a weekend getaway or garden party. High-risk times to avoid during the school holidays, according to retail experts: Midday to early afternoon (11 am–2 pm) This is prime time for families heading out to shop after a slow summer morning. Expect queues, buggies, and kids in tow, especially in supermarkets near parks, leisure centres, or popular day-out spots. Late afternoons (3–6 pm) With no school run, this time becomes a key window for after-nap or post-activity shopping. Parents often pop in for dinner bits, and teens on summer break head out for snacks and drinks. Friday evenings and weekends Still peak times for big shops and BBQ/pre-weekend stock-ups. In summer, warm weather adds to the rush as people prep for garden gatherings and last-minute staycations. Recommended Reading: Summer bank holidays (like late August) Expect reduced opening hours, packed aisles, and more people shopping ahead of family events or mini-breaks. The Saturday and Sunday before a bank holiday Monday are especially busy. Mr Price added: 'Planning your food shop around these shifting patterns, rather than sticking to your usual schedule, can help avoid queues, reduce stress, and even lead to fresher stock and better availability.'
The Independent
2 minutes ago
- The Independent
High risk for EU consumers of finding illegal products on Temu, EC reports
Temu is not doing enough to assess the risks of illegal products being sold online and could be in breach of a new digital services law, the European Commission said. The commission said on Monday that there was a 'high risk' of consumers in the EU encountering illegal products on the e-commerce giant's platform. Specifically, analysis of a mystery shopping exercise conducted by the commission found that consumers shopping on Temu were very likely to find non-compliant products, including baby toys and small electronics. The statement is part of an investigation into the e-commerce giant under the commission's Digital Services Act (DSA), a new piece of legislation governing online content in the European Union. It forces companies that run online platforms such as e-commerce websites to assess how likely consumers are to be exposed to dangerous or illegal products, and work to lessen the risk. The commission said according to its analysis, a risk assessment carried out by Temu, which is owned by PDD Holdings, in October 2024 was 'inaccurate' and 'relying on general industry information rather than on specific details about its own marketplace'. Henna Virkkunen, executive vice-president for 'tech sovereignty, security and democracy', said: 'We shop online because we trust that products sold in our Single Market are safe and comply with our rules. 'In our preliminary view, Temu is far from assessing risks for its users at the standards required by the Digital Services Act. 'Consumers' safety online is not negotiable in the EU – our laws, including the Digital Services Act, are the foundation for a better protection online and a safer and fairer digital Single Market for all Europeans.' The company could face a fine of up to 6% of its annual worldwide turnover if the commission ultimately decides its risk assessment does not meet the companies' obligations under the DSA. The commission said officials would also continue investigating the company over other suspected breaches of the DSA such as using addictive design features and a lack of transparency on its algorithms. The EU is trying to counter what it sees as a glut of cheap and potentially unsafe products from China flooding the single market. Officials also sent a formal warning to Shein in May, saying the company's sales tactics fell foul of EU consumer protection law.
The Independent
2 minutes ago
- The Independent
US woman accused of murder plot claims she flew to UK for birthday celebrations
An American woman alleged to have been involved in a failed assassination attempt in the UK has told a jury she flew into the country to celebrate her birthday and attend a boat party. Aimee Betro, 45, is alleged to have flown from Wisconsin as part of a plot orchestrated by co-conspirators Mohammed Aslam, 56, and Mohammed Nabil Nazir, 31, of Elms Avenue in Derby, to attack a rival family on September 7, 2019. A trial has heard allegations that Betro disguised her appearance with a niqab when she tried to shoot Sikander Ali at point blank range outside his home in Measham Grove, Birmingham, but the gun jammed, allowing Mr Ali to flee. Giving evidence in her defence on Monday, Betro, from Wisconsin, told Birmingham Crown Court she had slept with Nazir at an Airbnb during a visit to the UK spanning December 2018 and January 2019. Betro, who denies conspiracy to murder, possessing a self-loading pistol and a charge of fraudulently evading the prohibition on importing ammunition, said she did not meet Nazir – who she 'had feelings for' – during a second visit to the UK in May 2019. In her evidence, Betro said the first two visits had seen her doing 'touristy' things such as attending music events, viewing street art in east London, visiting a friend in Birmingham and taking care of a dog 'at someone's house in the middle of England'. Asked why she had paid a third visit to the UK, arriving at Manchester Airport from Atlanta around two weeks before the shooting, Betro told jurors: 'To celebrate my birthday and I won tickets for another boat party in London. 'And there was another little festival that was at Crystal Palace that I wanted to go to.' Betro's barrister, Paul Lewis KC, asked her what she thought of Nazir after meeting him on a dating app, communicating with him via Snapchat and meeting him in London. Betro answered: 'He was charming and I did like him. He was sweet and I did have feelings for him.' She told the court 'I would guess so' when asked if she thought Nazir had feelings for her, but added that she was not trying to build a relationship with him because they lived in different countries. Standing up in the witness box, Betro, wearing a casual round-necked navy blue top and square-rimmed glasses, began her evidence by giving personal details, including her height as being 5ft 5ins. During her evidence, Betro was asked about messages between her and Nazir which referred to a gun broker website and a silencer. She said she did not remember the message referring to a broker, but told the court she had posted 'gaming things' relating to an an old gaming system. She also told the court she had lived at an address in West Allis, Winsconsin, from 2013 to 2019 and had 'a couple of different degrees' in early childhood education and graphic design. The Crown alleges that Betro returned to the scene hours after the shooting and fired three shots into Mr Ali's house, which was empty at the time, before leaving the UK and flying back to the US the next day. The court heard father and son Aslam and Nazir, who were jailed last year for their part in the bungled assassination plot, were involved in a feud with Mr Ali's father, Aslat Mahumad. Nazir and Aslam had been injured during disorder at Mr Mahumad's clothing boutique in Birmingham in July 2018, jurors have been told, leading them to conspire to have someone kill him or a member of his family. The trial continues.
