Bracknell banking scam targets jobseekers

A scam which tries to lure Berkshire jobseekers into sending thousands of pounds overseas is being investigated by trading standards.

Bracknell Forest Council received three complaints about an advertisement in a local newspaper for mystery shoppers.

Respondents were paid by cheque before being asked to test a Western Union money transfer service by repaying the money into an account in Malaysia.

No one fell for the deception but the advertiser has not been traced.

Head of trading standards Robert Sexton said: "This is basically a bank scam.

"The cheque you receive will never clear and you will have paid money to an account in Malaysia which you won't ever see again or be able to trace."

The advert claimed respondents would be "paid to shop and dine out".

Trading standards officers said the scammers issued cheques for 2,645 euros (about £2,200) before asking the recipients to transfer the money, less 264 euros (£220), to an address in Malaysia.