KINGSTON, Jamaica — Cayman authorities have warned citizens not to send money or engage with “con artists” from Jamaica as a new employment scam has surfaced in recent months targeting people in the Cayman Islands.

According to Cayman reports, the online job scam, which police believe is being run from Jamaica and targeting expat workers, has expanded its con base from the hospitality to the health sector.

The Financial Crime Unit of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service advised people to contact the police if they have fallen victim or have any information about the culprits as the scam is similar to those the unit investigated last year but the scammers are now targeting nurses as well as hospitality staff.

The FCU added that job seekers are still responding to these false advertisements on social media, which solicit resumes for the non-existent jobs, promising assistance with plane fare but asking people to send cash towards the processing cost of the work permits.

“The scammers use social network sites, such as Facebook, Tagged, Tango and Badoo, to engage people under false pretexts and ask them to use their bank account to facilitate the transaction or attend Western Union or other remittance services,” the FCU explained.

Reports further stated that the individual running the scam has used the names Odiki Mandalay as well as Carlos Chung; as a purported owner of Hotel Grand Cayman, which does not exist.

With this, the FCU asked social network users not to engage in conversations with or do “favours” for people they have never met and whose identity they cannot vouch for.