(CMR) The logo for Workforce Opportunities & Residency Cayman (WORC) and a Cayman address are used on several documents in an employment scam in Jamaica. This has reportedly deceived many into believing the program is legitimate.
Since CMR highlighted the scam last week, several people have reached out to say they have been victims of this elaborate scheme, which has been using WORc's logo to convince people.
The sham company Cayman Workforce Group advertises several positions up for employment in the Cayman Islands. According to communications seen by CMR, Cayman WorkForce Group said it partners with companies in the Caymans who are craving workers, promising that with its contract with stakeholders and the Cayman Embassy, employment approval is completely guaranteed.
After making the initial payment, applicants are told the next step is for the company to complete their WORC Application. An invoice with WORC's logo is provided for this.
When people apply, they are told their WORC Application will be completed within the next 24 hours and that they are given a fee to pay. One victim was told she would have to pay a fee of JMD 121,800.
“This fee will cover all expenses, including your plane ticket, securing your vacancy, and your first month's deposit for rent. Your first payment will be $28,800 (processing fee + police record fee),” they are told.
They are then given three options to make payments: Bank of America, NCB, and MoneyGram.
While receiving a Jamaica Police Record requires people to appear in person to be fingerprinted, the scammers tell applicants they have agents at the Head Office Police Department in Downtown Kingston that will process the report for each candidate, making it easy for everyone applying to work in the Cayman Islands under the program.
One person who lost over US$600 said she was in contact with the company via WhatsApp until payment was made. After paying the money, efforts to contact the person she had been speaking to failed.
The person replied to her by text, stating that they were “on the phone with my agent at the embassy.”
The person does not return any calls, and then a message is sent to say that they have to discontinue using that number on WhatsApp due to a large number of communications.
Persons paying via Moneygram are usually asked to send the money to someone in May Pen, Clarendon, and are asked to state that the money is being sent to a coworker and that the money is for payment of service. The occupation of the person receiving the money is listed as accountant.
One victim said she knows she will not get her money back despite having receipts to show she sent money to the scammers. However, she hopes the culprits will be caught and punished.
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