Asking for references before even being told job description

[SGgirl]

Met with a recruiter from an agency today at a coffee shop (he insisted). He walked up to me, shook my hand brusequely and asked me to fill in forms including one for 5 years worth of references even before telling me what the role I enquired about was about and who it was for. I asked fot more detail about the job and when he declined - I told him I refused to give him any of my references. He then took off saying it is company policy and he could not continue with the conversation. I only know the job is in Canary Wharf for a property company. But he did not share anything beyond that. Anything similar has happened to you? First time for me? What would you have done?

I used to be a recruitment consultant, it's a ghost job. The role possibly doesn't exist, and he was looking for your reference details to get contacts in your company and prior company to offer his services to them. Very common unfortunately.

I am a recruiter and this is something that the less professional of our industry do. They get the names from you so that they can cold call your referees. Your CV is your property and you have every right to know where it is being sent. If they won't tell you the client name then don't give your consent and certainly don't give referees until you at least have details of the role, job description and company name and ideally later into the process. The REC (a body that very many recruitment companies belong to) has a code of conduct which requires that a candidate's permission is sought and details of the role/company shared at the outset). Check if the recruitment agency belongs to that organisation.

Thank you very much for your professional advice. It has validated that my gut feelings were right. Just really miffed he wasted my time!