Hertfordshire residents have lost over £40,000 in three months to fake job scams.

Hertfordshire Police said that 15 victims across the county had lost a total of £43,015 since November 2023, including £10,000 from one Watford resident.

Further victims from Watford lost £5,550, £4,590 and £743 to the scam.

Other significant losses include one Potters Bar resident who was conned out of £9,000, while another from Hemel Hempstead lost £6,500.

The force said the fraudsters target job-seekers with fake job opportunities on social media or via WhatsApp and text.

They ask for a payment to continue the fake application or for bank details to set up salary payments, which are then used to access the victim’s account.

Police urged potential job applicants to be wary of messages with poor spelling and grammar, and of any messages from personal email addresses. 

If in any doubt, they should check official records to confirm the organisation exists and contact it directly to confirm the offer is genuine.

Fraud triage manager, Julian Griffiths, said: “If you receive an exciting job opportunity sent directly to you via social media you should proceed with caution, especially if you haven’t been actively looking for a job.”