Vet surgeons are being warned not to fall victim to a scam involving fake internerships.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has issued a warning for surgeons to be on their guard, after discovering a fraudster is charging a £150 “non-refundable application fee” for an RCVS “internship” that does not exist.
The RCVS, the regulatory body for the veterinary profession in the UK, does not offer internships.
Information about the fake internship has been sent to individuals registered with German website www.vetcontact.com and includes details about the Royal Veterinary College and the RCVS.
It refers to a fictional “RCVS Hospital” in the “Flint Hills of London”.
“So far, only a handful of veterinary surgeons — all based overseas — have contacted us regarding the internship and queried the request for a non-refundable ‘application’ fee, although we are concerned that others may have been caught out,” said the RCVS’s Gordon Hockey.
“We would advise any veterinary surgeon to think twice before paying for a third party to facilitate an application for any placement or internship, and reiterate that the RCVS does not offer any such programmes.”
Anyone who is concerned should tel: 020 7202 0728.
