brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider

Employment Scams

brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider brand divider

What is an employment scam?

An employment or job scam is where someone encourages you to apply for a job that doesn’t exist. Criminals may create these scams for many reasons, for example to steal money from people (which they may say is to cover recruitment costs) or to obtain personal information and documentation which may allow them to commit fraud. 

There may be many different forms of employment scam. For example, a person might pretend to represent Woolworths Group and advertise an enticing job opportunity - like on job notice boards, social media or by contacting you directly. If you apply, they may put you through an interview process, and then ask for your driver’s licence, passport and other details as part of the onboarding process after offering you the job. You may receive a letter saying you have been successful, and asking you for money to pay for your flight / recruitment fees.

 

Warning signs it may be an employment scam

If you have been approached for a job at Woolworths Group, watch out for these signs that it could be a fake job scam:

  • If you are asked to pay money - Woolworths Group (or external recruiters representing us) will never ask you for any form of payment to apply for a job. If you have been asked to pay money to access a job, flights, training or recruitment fees or commissions, it is likely a scam. Immediately stop contact with the person and contact us to get more information.

  • If you are required to provide personal information or ID documents very early in your application - Some personal information and ID documents may be required to confirm your right to work and Visa requirements, however these are generally only requested if you have already been offered the job. It may be a scam if early in the process someone is asking you for things like:

    • Passport

    • Drivers' License/other ID cards

    • Medicare

    • Visa documentation

    • Date of Birth

    • Home address

  • The job is based in another country - For jobs in our stores (including Woolworths Supermarkets, Woolworths New Zealand, BIG W or Metro), we will typically advertise these roles in a way that attracts applicants who live near the store. If you live outside Australia or New Zealand and are contacted about a job at one of our stores, it is likely to be a scam.

To help protect yourself from employment related scams, be suspicious of:

  • Any unsolicited ‘work from home’ or other employment opportunities, particularly if they contact you via social media.

  • Direct contact via message platforms (e.g. WhatsApp) about exciting opportunities, and promises of high income.

  • An opportunity with no requirement for any interview or discussion about your skills at all. 

  • On-the-spot job offers.

  • Requests to pay any fees (e.g. for travel, training, or start-up materials).

  • Any request to transfer money on behalf of someone else, or receive a commission.

Further steps you can take to protect yourself from employment related scams:

  • Confirm the job exists. You can do this by researching Woolworths and checking that the job exists on our WOWcareers site, which you can access here. You can also contact us directly at groupcompliance@woolworths.com.au to confirm the job is real.

  • If the offer is from an employer or company you have never heard of before, ask for references from other people who have worked there and make the effort to contact these people. Doing an internet search for reviews on the company can also help.

  • Genuine employers will not ask for any upfront payments, avoid any employment opportunities that demand this.

 

Woolworths Group will never ask you for payment for access to a job. 

If you think you may be the victim of an employment scam involving Woolworths Group, you can contact us via our Speak Up Service.

You can also report scams to scamwatch https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam

For more resources, and tips on what to look out for, visit the ACCC website