Received an email from Niel Leonard – [email protected] – stating that they had received my application through “Teleportmyjob.com” - a resume writing and job search organization I had been using. Attached to the email was an “assessment form” I was to fill out and return by October 1. After filling out and returning the assessment, I received a confirmation email stating that if I were accepted for the job, I would be contacted by October 3rd.
On October 3rd, I received email stating that I was being offered a position as a commercial diver. I was sent an employment contract to sign and return.
I was then referred to Mr, Gerard Butler, gerard. [email protected]
Telephone: 442035145838 an “immigration specialist” who would assist me with the application for a UK work permit. I sent the requested documents, and was told that it takes 1 to 2 weeks for a work permit to be granted.
Mr Butler informed me that travelers insurance was required for a UK work permit. The policy needed to cover:
A, Repatriation or Emergency Medical Evacuation
B, Medical Treatment.
C, Death or Permanent Disability
D, Baggage Loss and Baggage Delay
He suggested I contact email at [email protected] to obtain this policy.
A Mr. Christopher Bale of Cambridge Assurance sent me bank transfer information to which I was to send 960 Pounds Sterling ($1550.00):
Account Name…. Cambridge Assurance,
Account No…. 83714845,
Sort Code…. 206651,
Swift Code…BARCGB22,
Bank Name…Barclays Bank
When I attepted to wire the funds, the deposit was rejected because the name on the account did not match the account owner. Even so, I received a message from Mr. Harry Adams stating that my payment had been received. The next day, I was informed that my payment had in fact not gone through. I contacted Mr. Butler to inform him of the delay. Mr. Butler informed me that Mr. Adams was willing to issue my certificate in order to expidite processing of my Work Permit application.
I contacted Mr Bale about the failed wire transfer, and he suggested that I send the money through Western Union. I was given the following information for the recipient:
Receiver or of funds here in UK - Mr Christopher Bale,
Address of receiver - 1 West Ferry Circus, London, E144HA, UK,
With the Western Union exchange rate, $1550.00 was short of the 960 pounds requested, so I sent an additional $90.00 by PayPal to: [email protected]
I then received a receipt and an “insurance certificate”. Soon afterwards (15 October), I received a message from Gerald Butler stating my application for a work permit had been submitted to the home office.
On 25 October, I received an email from Richard Bale, claiming to be with te UK Home Office stating that my education and training had to be certified. He directed me to refer back to Mr. Butler for further details.
Mr. Butler informed me that this process would cost £520 ($891.00), which would cover the cost of application, verification and embossing seal fees. I sent Mr. Butler copies of my college transcripts, my diving certificate, and my South African Commercial Diving Permit. I was instructed to send payment for the education verrification to:
Name of receiver………. Mr Gerard Butler.
Address…………….. 90 Church Street, Liverpool, L13HD, United Kingdom.
Telephone number………… 442035145838
It wasn't until November 5th that I began to suspect I had been scammed. I went back to check email addresses. None of them were. Uk addresses.in fact, the email from Richard Bale was [email protected]
I contacted Bibby Offshore UK, and their Human Resources department informed me that I had not received a legitimate job offer, and that they always conduct interviews face to face, not via email.
Doing a search on “Cambridge Assurance Scam”, I found a report of a situation similar to mine.
Total monitary loss: $2605.90
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