- The JIB says fraudulent CSCS-scheme and ECS cards are offered on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and WhatsApp, and that most are advance-fee scams.
- The ECS Check page asks for the name on the card, the card number and the expiry date; with the holder's authorisation code it shows an image of the card.
- Report a suspected scam to scams@ecscard.org.uk.
- In 2018 a card maker was sentenced to 3 years 8 months for making counterfeit construction cards, including ECS cards.
Two ways the scam works
The JIB, which runs the ECS, describes most of this as an advance-fee or payment-in-advance fraud: you pay up front for a card that never turns up, and the seller has your name, contact details and often a photo. The other version is a card that does arrive but is a counterfeit. The JIB's point is that either kind fails the electronic checks, because a fraudulent card does not appear in ECS Check or CSCS Smart Check at all.
Checking a card
| Method | What you enter | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| ECS Check on the ECS website | Name on card, card number, expiry date | Confirms the details you typed are correct |
| ECS Check with the holder's authorisation code | The three details plus the code the holder gives you | A full image of the card and its details |
| CSCS Smart Check | QR code, contactless or manual entry | Status of the card, including cards from partner schemes |
| MyECS virtual card | Holder shows a QR code in the app | Scannable in Smart Check |
The ECS Check page calls itself a restricted service, with separate information for main contractors, facilities managers and clients. CSCS Smart Check launched as an app in April 2022, and an ECS news item from June 2022 says it could verify over two million cards, with 35 of the 38 CSCS-logo schemes compatible at that date. Those numbers date from 2022, so use them as background, not as today's coverage.
What a real card looks like on the register
ECS issues many types. Its card types page lists, among others, a pre-apprentice card valid for 12 months and not renewable, Experienced Worker cards valid for 18 months and not renewable, and Industry Placement cards valid for three years. A person holding an Experienced Worker card after the 18 months have passed, or an apprentice card with no apprenticeship, is worth a second look.
If you are offered a card
- Stop and keep the advert, the profile name and any messages. Do not send money or ID photos.
- Report the account to the platform and email scams@ecscard.org.uk with what you have.
- If you already paid, contact your bank at once and follow how to report a scam.
- For a real card, apply through the ECS route for your occupation and keep the application evidence.
Why employers keep catching it
An ECS item from May 2017 describes a case in which someone altered their card to misstate status and expiry. A 2018 prosecution followed an investigation by Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards into a man selling fake documents through a website. He was convicted under section 9 of the Fraud Act 2006 and sentenced to 3 years and 8 months, and ordered to pay £6,000 damages for copyright infringement to CSCS. Fake electricians are the safety risk; see fake CSCS cards for the wider scam.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check an ECS card?
Use ECS Check on the ECS website with the name on the card, the card number and the expiry date. If the holder gives you an authorisation code you also see an image of the card. CSCS Smart Check can look up ECS cards by QR code.
Where are fake ECS cards sold?
The JIB says fraudulent cards are offered on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter, and the ECS fraud notice also lists WhatsApp. Many sellers take money for a card that never arrives, which the JIB describes as an advance-fee scam.
Who do I report a fake ECS card to?
Email scams@ecscard.org.uk for a suspected scam, or feedback@ecscard.org.uk for other information. Also report the social media account to the platform, and use GOV.UK's scams page if you lost money.
Is a fake ECS card a crime?
Making and selling them can be. In 2018 a card maker was convicted under section 9 of the Fraud Act 2006 and sentenced to 3 years and 8 months. We do not describe sentences for buyers because we have not read a source that sets them out.
Do ECS cards show in CSCS Smart Check?
ECS cards can be looked up through Smart Check, which accepts cards from CSCS partner schemes. An ECS item from June 2022 said 35 of the 38 scheme types were compatible then, so very new or unusual card types may need the ECS route.