It turns out that this was a legitimate request. Read this post for more details.
Here’s an email I just got, allegedly from a recruitment agency
Dear Philip Under new DTI regulations, we are now required to provide proof of identification when we propose a candidate to a client for consideration against a job vacancy. We would appreciate it therefore if you could, by return, send us either a scanned copy by email, or a photocopy of one of the following documents: Your passport or European ID Card, along with confirmation of your National Insurance Number In addition, where applicable, please include a copy of your work visa. Please send these details to: Fax: 0117 929 1444 Email: proofofid@computerpeople.co.uk <mailto:proofofid@computerpeople.co.uk> Post: Computer People, Bristol Bridge House, Redcliff Street, Bristol BS1 6QP. Thanks for your assistance. We look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely Lisa Blakemore Senior Sales Support
Sounds like a scam to me, as I’ve been put forward by Computer People (and other agencies) for other jobs before and never had to provide this kind of detail. On the other hand, their postal address and fax number appear to check out, and they started it with “Dear Philip” whilst send the email to phil@ which suggests either a human, or a more intelligent than usual bot 🙂
Anyway, I’ve decided to call them on it and have emailed asking for a reference to the DTI regulations, as well as their company privacy policy. Although, even if it’s for real, I can’t possibly imagine sending any agency these details; it’s the perfect recipe for identity fraud.
This is real actually. For a period of time, recruitment agencies in certain industries had a duty to collect this evidence, I assume to prevent illegal working.
From the 1st of January, this was expanded to include IT, if not all industries.
Part of my day job includes work for a recruitment consultancy – they all go on about it.
I’m astonished. Not least because as of yet, not one of the ten or more recruitment agencies I’ve spoken to has asked me for this information.
Presumably, even if it’s true, the company who hire are the ones who want my info, the recruitment agency just want it for their convenience; they don’t actually need it.
Addmittedly without going through an agency, I had to provide my passport as proof of eligibility when I was accepted for a job recently.
I think a company asking for this info when you actually start working for them is probably acceptable, but not some arbitrary third party.
As now pointed out at the top of the post, this was actually a legitimate request for details.