A UK jobseeker is left devastated after losing £34,000 in a fraudulent job placement scheme that promised employment in exchange for Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) papers. What began as a hopeful pursuit in November 2023 soon spiraled into an ordeal of broken promises, shifting blame, and financial ruin.
The victim explains how Philani Noble and his associates initially appeared legitimate, offering job opportunities and conducting interviews with an associate named Catherine Musunga. After the interviews, Noble demanded substantial payments, presenting them as necessary to secure COS papers for employment.
The payments were made in good faith:
- £18,000 in cash: Collected by a man named Shepherd in London, then delivered to an associate, Jeff, in Newcastle.
- £6,000 and £5,000: Transferred into Philani Noble’s personal accounts.
- The remaining balance: Paid into Noble’s business account, Maximus Care Limited.
Despite the significant amount of money paid, no COS papers were ever delivered. A year later, the victim found themselves with no job, no COS, and no resolution.
After months of waiting, the victim began to pursue answers in early 2024. Despite repeated attempts to contact Noble and his associates, there was no response. Eventually, Noble’s team provided conflicting explanations. They claimed that the money was never directly paid to Noble, and that part of it had been refunded. However, no evidence of any refund was provided, and the promised job placements never materialized.
The victim is left with no job offers, no refund, and a significant financial loss, having placed their trust in what appeared to be a legitimate scheme.