Fraud

Scam Alert

Recruitment scammers are using the Severn House name and branding to scam job seekers and freelancers.

Professional scammers are impersonating Severn House employees and are targeting people seeking employment and freelance work via online portals such as 99freelas, freelancer.com and through direct messages.

Often these scammers will ask for money or personal information as part of the “recruitment”.

    Severn House will never ask for any kind of payment as part of a recruitment process.

    We never recruit via apps such as Telegram or by direct message on social media.

    Tips for Avoiding Fraud

      • Be cautious of any unsolicited email or direct message from anyone purporting to work for Severn House. If you are contacted by someone claiming to work for Severn House via social media or by phone, ask them to send you an email from their Severn House email address. Be sceptical if they give an excuse for not doing so.

      • Pay close attention to the email domain, as scammers often spoof legitimate email addresses. All legitimate Severn House correspondence will come from the domains @severnhouse.com or @canongate.co.uk.

      • Keep in mind fraudulent emails and agreements may include Severn House’s name, logo and/or the purported name/signatures of actual employees to seem legitimate.

      • All legitimate full- or part-time employment opportunities will be listed on our website at severnhouse.com/jobs and/or canongate.co.uk/jobs.

      What Can You Do?

        • Spread the word with friends and amongst your community to protect yourself and others from recruitment scams.

        • Trust your instincts. Never make suspicious payments to anyone purporting to be recruiting for a job or freelance opportunity. Treat any unsolicited correspondence with scepticism.

        • If you spot a suspicious posting on a recruitment or freelancing website, contact the website to report the post. They’ll be able to investigate its legitimacy.

        • Screenshot any suspicious postings or messages.

        • If you’ve been a victim of a scam, we encourage you to contact your bank, local law enforcement, or local fraud hotline immediately.

        Useful Websites for Reporting Fraud

          United Kingdom
          https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/reportscam

          United States
          https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/

          Canada
          https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/

          Australia
          https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam

          New Zealand
          https://report.netsafe.org.nz/

          European Union
          https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu/olaf-and-you/report-fraud

          There are many other non-profits and government offices that deal with fraud.

          Let Us Know

          If you spot a scam using the Severn House name or brand, please email info@severnhouse.com with the subject line Fraud Alert.

          Please include where you saw the post (which website or app), and attach any relevant screenshots.