Shell warns candidates of fake recruiters

Shell is warning candidates to look out for fake recruiters trying to lure money from them, as recruitment fraud is on the rise.

The warning comes after Alan Winks was targeted by a fake recruiter. The oil industry worker told the Mirror that he was thrilled when he received an email from what seemed to be Shell in Nigeria. The email was signed by a man who called himself Charles Gbandi. He claimed to be the Head of Human Resources of Shell in Nigeria.

Gbandi said he was offering Winks a job paying a monthly salary of over £10,000. Gbandi proceeded to ask Winks to cover fictional cost for things such as immigration and insurance expanses. He also wrote to him on Shell letter head and had a LinkedIn page seemingly confirming his position. However, there was no dream job waiting for Winks.

“The letters are very convincing,” Winks told the Mirror. “But fortunately I have a contact in Nigeria who warned me that the email address and phone number were fake, as was the official-looking stamp at the bottom of the letter.