The Financial Markets Authority has become aware that an organisation falsely claiming to be associated with a New Zealand Authorised Financial Adviser has been contacting members of the public via the Australian website www.seek.com.au offering employment as Payment Security Managers, a role that includes receiving funds into a personal bank account, holding them for a period and forwarding them to a third party.
We have received reports that candidates have received an offer of employment from Michael Harwood via the email address [email protected]. The offer claims that Michael Harwood is the hiring manager of Hatton Financial Services Limited and refers to a website www.hattonfs.com, currently not operational. The candidates are also asked to provide their bank account details and numerous forms of ID as part of the recruitment process.
Hatton Financial Services Limited is a New Zealand incorporated company and the trading name of Theresa Hatton an Authorised Financial Adviser. The FMA is satisfied that the offers of employment are not from Hatton Financial Services Limited and an unidentified third party is using publically available information in order to create the impression that the position is with a legitimate New Zealand company. Therefore we would like to emphasise that Ms Hatton’s conduct is not under investigation by the FMA.
The FMA is concerned that the jobs offered may be an employment scam and warns New Zealanders to exercise caution when receiving unsolicited offers of employment. Further information regarding employment scams can be found at http://www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/scams/scam-types/employment-scams.
