With the downturn in Alberta’s economy, workers in the oil patch are feeling the hit, and also falling victim to scammers, Service Alberta says.
Officials say that there are certain websites, for example dalgoagency.com, representing a fictitious company named Daglo Oil & Gas Co., is targeting oil patch workers with attractive employment promises.
Unfortunately, there are no jobs, and the fees paid by the optimistic workers for work visas, travel expenses, and pre-screening, is used to line the pockets of the scammers behind the websites.
Usually, once the money is paid, the job-seeker soon finds out the truth that the company is fake and there is no job to be had.
Service Alberta officials say that in order to protect yourself from this type of scam you should:
- Make contact with the employer and discuss details and the recruitment process before proceeding
- Be on the lookout for any signs of urgency in the ads; you should be allowed to take your time to consider the offer instead of being rushed through
- Protect your personal information and property; employers won’t require cash, credit card details, or other vital data before anything is delivered on their part
- Be wary when companies offer employment without the need of an interview; reputable companies will always need to interview candidates first
- Reputable employment agencies, which are all licenced by the province, will never charge recruitment fees
- Be cautious about websites who say they are associated with the government and use phony government e-mail extensions like @immgov.com
Service Alberta has more information on how to protect yourself from scams during your job search here.
If you come across a website that you believe could be a scam, contact your local police and Service Alberta offices at 1-877-427-4088.
