At CEL Solicitors, we support victims of job scams, job fraud and work from home scams. Our expert team helps people recover lost money and take action against fraudsters.
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A look at the impact of our work, set against the growing reality of romance fraud today.
£150M+ recovered and back in the hands of those who were exploited by fraud.
9,000+ people across the UK have turned to us for support after falling for fraudulent scams.
66% of authorised push payment scam cases in the first half of 2025 began online.
Job scams are fraudulent offers where criminals pose as employers or recruitment agencies to trick people into handing over money or personal information. These scams can come through job boards, social media, emails, or messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram.
Scammers often promise high pay for simple work, such as remote roles or completing easy tasks. They might ask for upfront payments for training, equipment, or background checks. Sometimes, they trick victims into sharing bank details, ID documents, or other personal data as part of the application process.
Once the scammer has what they want — money or information — they usually disappear and cut off contact. Sometimes, victims are targeted again with more fake job offers, or their details are passed on to other fraudsters.
This type of scam is especially harmful because it preys on people actively looking for work, often leaving them out of pocket and emotionally drained.
Be wary of being offered a job without going through a proper interview process. Legitimate employers typically want to speak with you before offering a position.
Spelling mistakes, strange email addresses, or overly casual language can all be signs that a job offer isn’t genuine.
If you’re asked to pay for training, equipment, or admin fees before you’ve even started, it’s a strong warning sign. Real employers don’t charge you to work for them.
Scammers often create a sense of urgency. If you're told to act fast to avoid missing out, take a moment to step back and reassess.
A legitimate job advert will clearly explain what’s involved. If it’s unclear or sounds too easy for the pay being offered, it may not be real.
Never hand over bank details, passport copies, or National Insurance numbers early in the application process — especially if you haven’t confirmed the legitimacy of the employer.
Fraudsters use legitimate job platforms like Indeed, LinkedIn, Reed, or Total Jobs to post fake job listings or impersonate real companies. Their goal is to trick you into sharing personal or financial information, or to pay for training or equipment upfront. Always verify any requests for payments or sensitive details.
These scams promise flexible remote work but often require upfront payments for equipment or training. Others exploit victims with pointless tasks or “missions” that never lead to payment. Part-time job seekers and those supplementing their income are common targets.
Fake job offers are shared via messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram. Scammers pose as recruiters from legitimate companies, promising high pay for simple work, but first ask for personal data or advance fees. Be wary of unsolicited job offers on these platforms.
Victims receive an offer for a genuine-looking job but are asked to buy specialist equipment or training before starting. Sometimes they’re given fake cheques to cover costs, leaving them out of pocket when these bounce.
Scammers offer jobs involving receiving packages and sending them elsewhere. Often, these packages are paid for with stolen credit cards or contain illegal goods. Victims never get paid and may unknowingly assist criminal activity.
Also called “mission scams,” these involve promises of good money for reviewing products or completing surveys. Initially, victims may withdraw some earnings to build trust, but after a significant deposit, the scam platform closes, and the money disappears.
These schemes ask victims to recruit others to earn money, often selling products like health supplements or courses. The “job” is really a pyramid scheme that benefits only those at the top, leaving most people with losses when it collapses.
Job scammers use a range of tactics to find their targets, often focusing on people actively looking for work. They post fake adverts on popular job boards, use social media to promote vacancies, or reach out directly via email and messaging apps. In many cases, they target people who have recently uploaded a CV or expressed interest in remote or flexible roles.
Some scammers use personal data leaked in previous breaches to tailor their messages, making them sound more believable. Others impersonate real companies, cloning their branding and even using fake job offers that seem genuine at first glance.
Once they’ve made contact, scammers often move the conversation to encrypted or unregulated platforms like WhatsApp or Telegram. This helps them avoid detection and makes it harder for victims to trace them later on.
If you’ve been caught in a job scam, report it right away to your bank and the police. CEL Solicitors specialise in recovering money lost to job scams. If your bank refuses to assist, we will fight for your rights.
Thousands across the UK have trusted us to help reclaim money lost to job fraud — we’ll support you with care, expertise, and determination. Just Tell CEL.
Speak to our friendly team today. You are not alone, and you may have a case.
No honest firm can promise that. What we can do is look at what happened and tell you whether we think you have a claim. Our fraud team looks at every payment you made to the scam. If your bank could have done more to protect you, we’ll make a formal complaint to them for you. If they say no, we can take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service, a free, independent service that settles complaints between customers and financial businesses. You have nothing to lose by enquiring, because we can only take on cases we believe have a good chance of success – and we will always be honest about this.
Yes. You can complain to your bank yourself. If you’re unhappy with their answer, you can take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Both are free. Our free DIY guide shows you how, step by step. If you’d rather not do it alone, our fraud team can handle it all for you, on a no-win, no-fee basis.
When you’re dealing with a legal issue, whether it’s a scam, a housing dispute, or a case of professional negligence, it’s important to know you’re in safe hands.
We understand that many of our clients come to us after being misled, mistreated, or let down. It’s only natural to feel cautious when choosing a law firm to support you.
CEL Solicitors is a fully regulated law firm. We don’t ask for any upfront payments, and we work on a no-win, no-fee basis wherever possible, meaning you won’t pay us a penny unless your claim is successful.
You can confirm that CEL Solicitors is genuine by checking our credentials:
We are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Our SRA number is 633955.
CEL Solicitors is a trading name of Cheshire Estate and Legal Limited (company number: 10370954).
You’ll find us listed on the SRA’s official Solicitors Register – just click the SRA badge at the bottom of this page or visit the SRA website.
We’re also listed on the Law Society’s ‘Find a Solicitor’ tool. This is a free and trusted way to check legal professionals.
If you’re ever unsure, just tell CEL. We’ll help you verify everything for yourself.
“No-win, no-fee” means you won’t pay us anything unless we win your case.
There are no upfront costs and no hidden charges. If your claim is unsuccessful, you won’t owe us a penny. If we win, our fees will be taken from the compensation we recover for you — and we’ll explain all of this clearly before you sign anything.
It’s a simple promise: if you don’t win, you don’t pay.
At CEL Solicitors, we help clients recover money lost to a wide range of Authorised Push Payment (APP) frauds. These scams trick you into authorising payments to fraudsters, often through highly convincing stories or pressure tactics. Common types include:
Investment scams: Promises of high returns through trading, cryptocurrency, or other ‘opportunities’ that turn out to be fake.
Impersonation scams: Fraudsters posing as trusted organisations like banks, the police, HMRC, or utility companies to get you to send money.
Romance scams: Scammers build trust by pretending to be a romantic partner, often overseas, before asking for financial help.
Crypto scams: Fake cryptocurrency investments or exchanges designed to steal your funds.
Advanced fee fraud: Requests for upfront fees to release non-existent loans, prizes, or inheritances.
Purchase scams: Payment for goods or services that never arrive, such as vehicles or electronics.
Invoice scams: Fake or altered invoices sent to businesses or individuals to divert payments.
Job scams: Fraudulent job offers requiring you to pay fees or provide money upfront.
If you’ve been targeted by any of these scams or similar ones, you’re not alone — and we’re here to help you take back control and recover what you’ve lost.
Get in touch now to see how we can help you recover from fraud.