Scam artists prey on job seekers

Scam artists prey on job seekers
China warns of scam artists preying on job seekers

BEIJING - CHINA warned desperate job seekers against scam artists on Thursday, after more than 600 people, mostly recent college graduates, were allegedly swindled in a fake recruitment scheme in Beijing.

The scam, reported in a notice on the Ministry of Public Security's website, illustrates how serious the unemployment situation is becoming and why authorities are concerned a rise in joblessness could undermine social stability.

The suspect produced fake training agreements for a number of airline companies, charging trainees at least 13,000 yuan (S$2,900) in return for promises of employment, the ministry cited the Beijing Public Security Bureau as saying.

The unnamed suspect later fled with the cash, it said, without saying whether the person had been apprehended.

'Under the impact of the financial crisis, the domestic employment situation is very severe; many companies are laying off workers; and millions of university graduates cannot find work,' the ministry said.

'We remind job-seeking graduates to be cautious about this kind of employment agency and to prevent themselves from being cheated because of their anxiousness to find a job.'

With slowing economic growth leading to layoffs among tens of millions of migrant workers and dimming prospects for millions of university graduates, the government has targeted those two groups in its efforts to combat unemployment.

Concerned about a potential rise in discontent as joblessness increases, the State Council, or cabinet, earlier this week said it would make job creation an even bigger priority in setting economic policy, while creating further hurdles to major layoffs by firms. -- REUTERS

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_337598.html