The Area Three police are currently investigating a possible job scam in Manchester in which more than 300 persons were conned out of varying sums of money they paid to get jobs overseas.

The police confirmed that they have arrested a woman who is to face the court today on charges of obtaining money by false pretence and fraudulent conversion. The number of counts are being determined because the police are still taking statements from complainants. However, THE STAR understands that the sums ranged from between $10,000 and $40,000 and that there are 360 possible complainants in the matter.

Marie, a victim who was swindled of $35,000, said she went to an agency last November in response to an advertisement in the paper. She said when she went there, she was told that the applicants would be given jobs overseas at hotels and restaurants.

Process the application

Marie said she was told to pay $500 to register and in addition, she was told to take additional documentation to process the application. After this was done, Marie said she and other applicants were told that the first set of workers would leave the island in December and the second set in February.

"She told us that we would make US$450 (J$39,150) as a housekeeper at the hotel and those who worked at the restaurant would make US$350 (J$30,450) per week," she said.

However, to date, no one has left and many of the complainants have still been unable to get back their money. "Since this happen, most time we cannot get her (when we call), and when you do get her, she tell you another thing," she said.

Marie said she even got over 30 people to register with the programme and only some of them have been able to get back their money.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Labour is encouraging persons to call the ministry to verify the legitimacy of any agency offering overseas employment. Ann-Marie Dobson, public relations manager, said while the ministry mainly administers overseas employment programmes, there are some agencies, which have its permission to operate their own programme. She said agencies that are allowed to do so must register with the ministry and persons can verify this with a telephone call.