Fraudulent Recruitment - Important, Please Read!

A couple of days ago I received a notification from a Monster France Group Member. I have copied it here in full, and I suggest that you read it very carefully despite its length - not least because the Group Member in question applied for a job that he saw advertised on LinkedIn, which he felt sure was a trustworthy source:

+++ CAUTION +++
FRAUDULENT RECRUITMENT METHODS.
About 20 days ago I noticed an announcement, SIGNED TOTAL U.K., on LINKEDIN.informing they were looking for profiles for a new project in England.I sent my application and one week later,they requested to fill up the attached " TOTAL forms."requesting to detail my profesionnal experiences.They asked me to phone to "TOTAL U.K."as soon as I shall send the documents.I dialed the number which was indicated and the person advised they will revert very soon.Then,I received a mail confirming my recruitment.They attached the job description which, of course, corresponded with my experience, with the terms of my contracts etc.They advised me that before starting my new job I shall have to go to U.S.A. for a training.They asked to contact their travel agency, located in England,for an interview scheduled in their office.I had the travel agency name, its phone number and the name of the person in charge. I acted accordingly and got a reply asking some documents to issue my travel formalities such as my passport copy, a copy of the mail I received "from TOTAL UK".Then, they requested me to send them 489 pounds for the travel expenses.Being very much surprised,I decided to check on internet if this travel agency really existed. I got the confirmation but noticed the phone number was different. I dialed in vain this new number but had no reply.Then,I went to GOOGLE and had the good surprise to find this person who really works for TOTAL.Being confident,I deducted the travel agency number certainly changed.Decided to phone to "TOTAL U.K." I got the same person who advised that this was the normal TOTAL policy and that in any case I shall be refund on monday.They requested to be paid through "WESTERN UNION".The beneficiary of the money was the travel agency name and address mentioned on the " TOTAL U.K." mail.So,sent the money to England.They acknowledged the receipt of the money and reverted with the reference number to communicate to British Airways to get my flight details.I contacted the Marseille B.A. desk which advised me I was scheduled to leave from Paris airport.Thinking they made a mistake as I live at about 40/50 kms from Marseille airport only, I phoned them to amend my ticket.The day after they sent a very long mail advising they relayed "the news safety rules established by English Authorities.This mail explained that due to recent problems they met with terrorism, every time somebody will want to come to England, they will investigate to check this person does not belong to a terrorism group and for this investigation, the person will have to pay GBP 2.990 which will be refund on the coming date, subject the person is not a terrorist !I phoned them and they said there was no other way to proceed.Refusing to pay, the person promised to quickly revert with his " boss's decision".Half an hour later he called me back to give me a good news : " I shall only have to pay 40 per cent of the requested money!"As I maintained my position the person told me he will contact TOTAL to try to find a solution and promised to revert on the evening.From my side, I phone to the Sheraton Hotel in London and they confirmed they had a reservation for me !Then I decided to contact again "TOTAL".I tried several times but nobody replied.Then I decided to try my chance through another TOTAL U.K. office number and they advised they did not know the man who signed the "TOTAL U.K." mails.I finally decided to call TOTAL Paris office which advised recruitments are only made from Paris and confirmed I have not been recruited.They finally informed me that several times a year, there are victims of such procedures, with TOTAL, with SHELL and with other groups.Suggest you to relay to as much people as possible this information to avoid such things and maybe arrest this person who takes advantages from people who are maybe already in a critical situation.
Kind regards/Jean-Pierre Zunino

You will see that M. Zunino asked that I relay his information to as many people as possible - and I am doing my best to do so. In the meantime, I am asking you to do likewise.

Sadly, a lot of unscrupulous people are using social and business networks - including Twitter - for their own ends. Be careful.

Geoff - http://www.metlissbarfield.com/