Cyprus-Forum.com

[Helen & David]

Have posted this on Cyprus Living but thought members here should read!

I am looking for work in Paphos for my fiance and I and I followed a thread on www.expatexchange.com to a person who said they would help with job opportunities: [email protected]

I told him of our experience and was asked to send our CVs which I did. Then I was told that a post with an airline would suit my fiance David. I was told there was also a part-time post which might suit me. Keen to pursue David's employment as he is the main wage earner, I asked a few questions including "why is the salary in dollars, presumably an American airline" and "is the pay scale correct as it is much higher than most salaries in Cyprus".
I received a very curt reply saying he was insulted by my mistrust but that David is a strong contender for the post. He also mentioned there would be a 'finder's fee' of 10% which given the salary offered this was reasonable, although in the UK the employer pays the fee, not the applicant
Not knowing if this was usual practice with agencies in Cyprus (is it?) I then expressed David's interest in the post and explained that I was just being cautious as the circumstances were a little unusual.

The latest e-mail says:-
QUOTE
Good day helen, i glad to write to you today because it is my pleasure to inform you that david has been shortlisted for the supervisory role, though management will commence intense delibration on his cv. Helen please be informed that once his letter of interview and PIC code is out the agency will at that stage require your payment of its service charge. I also wish to inform you that short listing for management trainee will commence by tuesday and i've ensure that you cv be placed under trainees that will work in paphos.
UNQUOTE

Please tell me if you know this person who I don't want to offend BUT ........ is it just me or is this a scam?
"PAY A FEE" before attending an interview....... have I got mug stamped across my forehead!

Sorry for the lengthy post, comments please!

[Southerner]

Have posted this on Cyprus Living but thought members here should read!

I am looking for work in Paphos for my fiance and I and I followed a thread on www.expatexchange.com to a person who said they would help with job opportunities: [email protected]

I told him of our experience and was asked to send our CVs which I did. Then I was told that a post with an airline would suit my fiance David. I was told there was also a part-time post which might suit me. Keen to pursue David's employment as he is the main wage earner, I asked a few questions including "why is the salary in dollars, presumably an American airline" and "is the pay scale correct as it is much higher than most salaries in Cyprus".
I received a very curt reply saying he was insulted by my mistrust but that David is a strong contender for the post. He also mentioned there would be a 'finder's fee' of 10% which given the salary offered this was reasonable, although in the UK the employer pays the fee, not the applicant
Not knowing if this was usual practice with agencies in Cyprus (is it?) I then expressed David's interest in the post and explained that I was just being cautious as the circumstances were a little unusual.

The latest e-mail says:-
QUOTE
Good day helen, i glad to write to you today because it is my pleasure to inform you that david has been shortlisted for the supervisory role, though management will commence intense delibration on his cv. Helen please be informed that once his letter of interview and PIC code is out the agency will at that stage require your payment of its service charge. I also wish to inform you that short listing for management trainee will commence by tuesday and i've ensure that you cv be placed under trainees that will work in paphos.
UNQUOTE

Please tell me if you know this person who I don't want to offend BUT ........ is it just me or is this a scam?
"PAY A FEE" before attending an interview....... have I got mug stamped across my forehead!

Sorry for the lengthy post, comments please!

Seems similar to a response I got after advertising a very collectable 1962 Bass Guitar in an international Guitar magazine.
Typical was the poor English in their letter, and no doubt the fee would sent via Western Union.

[Helen & David]

Enuf said!

[Michael Coumas]

Helen & David
Do not send any money to anyone, stop, take a step back & ask yourself if this is how you would conduct business. How in heavens name can anyone shortlist an individual for a position on the basis of a CV. Some things can be corroborated such as degrees, some qualifications etc. much of the rest can only be asessed at interview.
In the first instance the English is not what one would expect from an employer or agency & if they are, by a great stretch of the imagination, genuine then I would certainly not want them working for me.
Do not allow your desire to find work at any cost cloud your common sense or judgement.
I certainly wish you both the very best of luck in your quest, it will not be easy but there again most things in life worth having do not come easy.

[Helen & David]

Absolutely..... I may have been briefly taken in by the promise of a well paid job for David, but I have enough experience to know a scam when I see it. There is no way we will part with hard earned cash on a 'promise' and I hope others reading this will not be taken in!

I agree with you that nothing in life comes easily and our move to Cyprus next month is a well researched and informed decision.

I hope you don't think me to cheeky but if anyone can point us in the direction of a reliable agency or prospective employer we would be grateful for the contacts!

[Pubdog2]

Just checked that persons profile on ExpatExchange:
Surprise, surprise

Profile
User Name:cj2000ng
Location:Lagos, Lago Nigeria
Citizen Of: Nigeria

[Helen & David]

Yep........... been there, done that, which is exactly what started the alarm bells ringing!!!!!

[Southerner]

I was asked to accept a cheque for £7000 from a client of his in the UK, when it had cleared I was to deduct the £2000 for my Bass guitar and foreward via Western Union the balance of £5000; he would then send a carrier to pick up the Bass guitar.
What I didn't realise was that he could re-call the £7000 from my bank account for up to 10 days after the cheque had cleared, in the mean time I would have sent him £5000 plus my Bass guitar.
Luckily for me I had the sense to contact the police fraud departement who explained to me how it worked, also the Western Union is an instant transaction.

[Helen & David]

I was asked to accept a cheque for £7000 from a client of his in the UK, when it had cleared I was to deduct the £2000 for my Bass guitar and foreward via Western Union the balance of £5000; he would then send a carrier to pick up the Bass guitar.
What I didn't realise was that he could re-call the £7000 from my bank account for up to 10 days after the cheque had cleared, in the mean time I would have sent him £5000 plus my Bass guitar.
Luckily for me I had the sense to contact the police fraud departement who explained to me how it worked, also the Western Union is an instant transaction.

I have sold loads of my fiance's WWII collection on eBay and all have been genuinely paid through Paypal but I accepted a cheque on one of the uniforms for £250 and waited for the cheque to clear before posting the item.

However, 10 days later the payment was re-called and there was no trace of the bidder on eBay. Before that I was under the impression that a cleared cheque meant the money was in my account to stay!! A lot of people don't know this can be done but it can. Beware any receivers of cheques, this is an easy scam and the banks are aware of it but do nothing to protect customers like myself!

[Michael Coumas]

Helen & David
Anything remotely connected with Nigeria or Lagos should be given a wide berth. You have to 'dash' officials to get into the country, 'dash' them to get out (that's bribe them in our language). There may be a more corrupt nation on earth but I have yet to come accross it. If as much effort was put into completing an honest days work as is put into attempts to embezzle the rest of the world it would be a wealthy place. As it is the country has vast oil wealth but it never reaches its people. Corruption rules.