Richmond RCMP is warning the public that job advertisement posters around the city targeting the Chinese community might be scams.
The posters are written in simplified Chinese and have been posted on light posts throughout the city, advertising jobs such as a vacation home housesitter, caregiver for the elderly and tea-leaf packager.
The posters provide a brief description of the job and a contact phone number.
Police have reason to believe these posters may be used to solicit personal information, which may in turn be used to identify potential scam targets.
In one case, a victim who responded to a job poster reported being convinced to make an investment, which later turned out to be fraudulent.
“We want to remind everyone to exercise caution when responding to anonymous or unverified job postings,” said Cpl. Melissa Lui, Richmond RCMP media relations officer.
It is illegal to put signs or posters on any city property or public property without permission. Penalties can range from $450 per incident and possibly the cost of cleanup. If the case goes to provincial court, the maximum fine is $50,000, explained city spokesperson Clay Adams.
"Like the RCMP, we also remind people to never give personal and/or financial information of any kind to an unknown third-party either online, in person or in writing,” Adams said.
How to protect yourself from scams
- Do not share personal information without taking steps to verify the legitimacy of a job advertisement or employer
- Exercise diligence when applying for employment
- Beware of upfront fees or counterfeit cheques. Legitimate employers will not request money from you upfront or ask you to deposit cheques into your personal account and pay them back on a later date.
If you suspect you are a victim of fraud, report it immediately to your local police or to the Canadian Anit-Fraud Centre.
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