Job applicants wave goodbye to passports

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RICHMOND, B.C. – A con artist has taken off with Canadian passports belonging to people who applied for a restaurant job.

Richmond RCMP say the man posted “western restaurant” jobs online at a Chinese website.

Cpl. Jennifer Pound said the man asks applicants to meet him outside Earls Restaurant near Lansdowne Mall.

He then asks victims to wait while he gets the passports photocopied.

“The ad specifically states for applicants to bring their Canadian passports for the interview,” she said.

“The victims would wait outside the restaurant for the suspect to return and they never saw him again,” Pound said.

“Our Detachment has had two complaints filed with us. We were also told of a similar incident happening several weeks back but that was not brought to our attention by the victim so there may be several out there that just haven’t been reported,” said Pound.

The suspect is a Cantonese speaking Asian male, mid-20s, 5′10″, and has skinny build, short spiky dyed hair.

“If a business is looking to hire they will usually hold any interviews within the business itself. Ensure that you confirm the identity of who you are meeting and check with the said business to confirm the legitimacy of the job interview,” she warned.

“ Meeting an unknown person in any place for any reason is always a big risk. Ensure you do your homework about the person you’re meeting and any business they are said to be representing. Protecting your identity is important, protecting yourself is paramount.”

Canadian passports sell for as much as $10,000 overseas.

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