WARNING: Bogus vet in your area?

UPDATE (Thursday 24 April 2003)

The RCVS has received reports that a bogus vet may currently be applying for veterinary positions at practices in the UK. The individual concerned appears to be responding to job advertisements placed in the veterinary press and forwarding a covering letter and single-page CV.

Further investigations are currently underway, but in the mean time, veterinary employers are reminded that they should always check the status of an individual applying for veterinary work.

This may be done easily by contacting the Membership Department (020 7202 0706) or by checking the RCVS Register.

Anyone who receives a job application they consider to be bogus should please inform the Professional Conduct Department (020 7202 0789) as soon as possible.

Update - Thursday 24 April 2003

Since the above information was passed to the College last week, further investigation has revealed that the applications in question were distributed for the purposes of a research topic and the individual portrayed was actually fictitious.

The RCVS would, however, like to use this opportunity to remind members to contact the College if they are in any doubt as to the registered status of a veterinary applicant. It would appear that bogus veterinary surgeons may also be applying for jobs via veterinary recruitment agencies as well as through advertisements in the veterinary press.