, "32":"Recruitment scam In this feature l online crime l vulnerable people l prosecution Keeping jobseekers safe Internet fraud crosses national boundaries and targets the vulnerable. However, this successful prosecution shows that hard work can put a stop to sophisticated online scams. Stephen Forster explains W hen a person is keen to get a job, they will do everything in their power to be the successful candidate. That need is never greater than during a recession. So it will come as no surprise that fraudsters, who prey on the vulnerability of people desperate to secure a job, thrive in austere times. But one such criminal who defrauded online jobseekers has been convicted, thanks to the efforts of the National Trading Standards eCrime Team (NTSeCT). The swindle first discovered following complaints to Citizens Advice and Action Fraud involved Alexandru Hincu, 27, of North London, who posed as a legitimate recruitment consultant by placing ads on Gumtree, the popular classified website. Hetargeted vulnerable jobseekers, for whom English was their second language, and who were living in, or wanted to work in, the UK. Hincu persuaded them to pay between 50 and 60 for bogus Criminal Record Bureau checks. He convinced them thesewere needed before he could give them details of a job induction day that henever arranged. After an investigation by the NTSeCT, based at the City Cases like this of York Council and North demonstrate that Yorkshire County Council, we will catch and he pleaded guilty to various prosecute online criminals who fraud offences contrary to attempt to use the internet to sections 1 and 2 of the Fraud deceive vulnerable people Act in September. He was then Lord Toby Harris referred to Leeds Crown Court, where he was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid community work. He was also ordered to pay a total of 2,466 in compensation to his victims, which included 150 per victim, and 5,048.48 in prosecution costs. Sentencing Hincu, Recorder Michael Wheeler said: All the victims would have been emotionally upset by their experience. This scam had a great deal of sophistication and planning. Lord Toby Harris, chairman of the National Trading Standards Board, which oversees the work of the NTSeCT, said: Preying on vulnerable people desperate for work will not be tolerated, and Im delighted that the National Trading Standards eCrime team has played such a significant part in beating this fraud. Cases like this demonstrate, once again, that we will catch and prosecute online criminals who attempt to use the internet to deceive vulnerable people in this way. Councillor Chris Metcalfe of North Yorkshire County Council said: This was a man who preyed on vulnerable people in a heartless scam and he has rightly been prosecuted. Trading standards officers in our eCrime team have once again demonstrated their success in bringing to task criminals who commit online consumer fraud. Credits Published Stephen Forster national communications 25 November, 2014 To share this page, click on in the toolbar officer for the National Trading Standards eCrime Team Images: Eugenio Marongiu / shutterstock TS TODAY "