Scams in recession times!!

Yes its all around us and I have two recent experiences where I nearly got scammed, one out a government agency!

1. I recently found £400 charged to my local council (muncipality), something I'd never authorised so I called them to stop payment and they said if its legitimate the council will call back in 3 days, they never did! Then I thought back and here's my theory - I had put in my application for Brit citizenship at the local council with my cc details mentioned for the fees. I think a staff may have tried to use my cc details ilegally but smthg mustve happened n it got charged to the council account. Needless to say I'm taking it up with the council but its scary how fraudsters are sitting inside government agencies too.

2. I recently got a call from a middle east number from a guy with a Brit accent saying he was recruiting for KPMG Dubai and got my cv off monster asking if i'd consider a job Dubai, i said yes so asked about relocation, family etc n I said its just me n my husband, on knowing Mike is in IT said they have loads of openings in IT in Dubai too. Then said your cv does not mention your date of birth, thats when I got suspicious n said drop me an e-mail with the job specs and we'll take it from there. He said oh no, i know how this sounds but no problem, r u online, will drop a mail right now. Needless to say the mail never arrived but was shocked at how fraudsters prey on vulnerable people!

So they're all out there and especially in recession times when jobs n money is tight people try all kinds of scams and even government agencies are not safe,