The Threat Of Scams Targeting Job Seekers

As the unemployment rate rises, so does the threat of scams targeting job seekers. Better Business Bureau warns job hunters to be extremely cautious in their search for work because scammers are out to take advantage of them and make a fast buck.

The national unemployment rate is creeping closer to 10 percent—worse than the Federal Reserve predicted back in April.  Already 13 states are experiencing unemployment rates in the double-digits. As more people find themselves out of work, they are also becoming targets of scammers looking to take advantage of those who are already facing a tough financial situation.

“More families are becoming increasingly susceptible to suspect offers for employment as they try to find work in an extremely competitive job market,” said Steve Cox, BBB spokesperson. “Scammers have set their sights on the unemployed because the number of potential victims is growing by the hundreds of thousands every month.”

BBB advises job hunters to beware of:

Job offers that require an upfront fee
Earlier this year, job ads cropped up in Florida from a company claiming it was looking to hire 2,500 employees for their new headquarters. Applicants had to submit $24 to pay for a background check. Law enforcement later found out that the money only went to the pockets of the company’s owner. Sadly, similar schemes crop up across the country every year. While the amount of money lost by any one victim may be small, the total amount taken in by the schemer can be significant.

BBB advice: Job hunters should never have to pay money up front to be considered for a job. If a potential employer asks for the job hunter to pay the company to cover the costs of testing, training or background checks, it should be considered a red flag.

Job placement assistance that makes big promises but can’t deliver
Job placement companies, or headhunter firms, often do not charge the job seekers for help finding a job, but are instead paid by companies that need help filling positions. Some job placement companies, however, have been taking money from job hunters and not fulfilling their promises of quick employment.

The BBB of Greater Maryland recently warned job hunters about one such placement firm that was advertising on Craigslist. The company charged as much as $195 and guaranteed it could find job hunters work.  Unfortunately, job hunters didn’t receive call backs or refunds and had no real way to contact the company.

BBB Advice: Always research a job placement company first with BBB before signing any contracts or paying any money.  Be extremely cautious about paying up front fees and know the deal on how to get a refund.

Phishing attempts by ID thieves pretending to be real businesses
Identity thieves employ many different methods for getting personal financial information from job hunters.  Spam e-mail might offer a great opportunity and direct the job hunter to a Web site that is designed to install malware on his or her computer or solicit bank account or Social Security numbers. In other cases, the job hunter might even be asked to submit a resume, find out they’ve been hired and then immediately be asked for bank account or Social Security numbers.

BBB Advice: Be extremely cautious when responding to unsolicited e-mails from supposed employers—even if the company name is well-known—and do not click on any links in the e-mail until having vetted the company fully and can confirm that the e-mail came from a legitimate source. Legitimate employers will need Social Security numbers for tax purposes and may need a bank account number to deposit paychecks for new employees, but job hunters should be wary of any requests for such information from companies and job offers that they have not vetted fully.

For more advice on avoiding scams and fraud visit www.bbb.org

Scam Promises You Can Make Money Off Twitter

By Carrie Davis Anchor Published: July 15, 2009 Candy Thompson says when she got her bank statements last month she couldn’t believe her eyes.

She says, “It was $1.96 was what I thought was the only amount I had to pay.”  Looking to make some extra cash she ordered a free CD that would help her with online business.  All she had to pay was the shipping.

Candy says, “When I got my bank statement I had three different amounts that were taken out that I didn’t know where they were from.”  The cost for her was more than $150 dollars.

Kathy Barrett with the Better Business Bureau says this is nothing new. Barrett says, “We know from experience that these are new sites.  They’ll be up for just a short period of time.

They will take advantage of a lot of people we will get a lot of complaints and then they’ll go away and start again somewhere else.”  She says they try to capitalize on the latest craze…right now she’s seeing them crop up offering advice on making money through Twitter.

She says, “Anything new on the market especially something people are a little bit confused about.” They’ve done it offering help making money on Google, Twitter and even Acai Berries.

She says they get you by making the terms and conditions hard to understand.  They also tell you you have a grace period to cancel.  According to Barrett, “Your seven day free trial starts when you sign up not when you get it.”  They make that difficult to read as well, so you may think you know what’s going to happen but in reality you’ve signed up for something else.

Barrett says,  “By the time you finally get your free CD your free 7 day trial and cancellation period is over.”  Then they charge you.

Candy says in her case, ” $76 for Treasure Chest that was for access to the website.  $38.84 for identity protection I didn’t order it.” As for Candy Thompson she says it’s a scam she won’t fall for again.

The Better Business Bureau says on these websites you’ll even see the same testimonials from the same people over and over again.  Do not believe them.

So how can you avoid being scammed?  Look into the company. Call the state where they’re located to verify they are a company.  Be wary if the business is out of the country.

You have no recourse if something goes wrong and always read the fine print.  These companies will make the terms and conditions 8-10 pages in some cases so you won’t read it, but by filling out their application online you are entering into a contract agreeing to those terms.

For more information on the latest Twitter scam click on this link.

Safe Web Act Nets $3.7M in Fines to Spammers

NEW YORK — In the first case to use the U.S. Safe Web Act, a federal judge has ordered key players in an international spam operation to repay the $3.7 million earned from promoting two health mainstream products.

The four-year-old act, which targets international perpetrators of Internet fraud as well as spam and spyware distribution, allows for easier exchange of information among the FTC and its foreign counterparts.

The FTC said the spammers promised that an extract of the hoodia gordonii plant would result in weight loss, and that a human-growth hormone pill would reverse aging. The claims were unsubstantiated, the FTC said, and violated both the FTC law and the CAN-SPAM Act.

Regulators said the operation used spam emails to drive unknowing consumers to sites selling the products, violating federal laws on false advertising. They say the emails had fake return addresses and used deceptive subject lines.

The FTC also claimed that operators also failed to provide an opt-out link or a physical address in the email.

Email scams

Hi

Have you received an email like this.

Greetings to you,On behalf of the Obama’s Foundation, we wish to notify you as abeneficiary of $500,000,00 USD in compensation of scam victims.Do contact HSBC INTERNATIONAL BANK, United Kingdom Branch for verificationand release of your $500,000,00  that we have depositedwith the HSBC BANK,UK.The account log on will be presented to you by the bank in order to accessthe funds before releasing into your nominated bank account. You willtransfer the funds into your nominated account on-line as the HSBCBANK,UK will provide the necessary information to you. We have taken careof the cost of transfer (C.O.T) and the VAT.Please if you are willing toaccept the funds, do contact the Managing Director of the HSBCBANK,UK with the following details:You are to fill the appropriate form and submit to the bank.[1] Full Names:________________[2] Contact address______________________________[3] Direct Telephone No: ___________________|4| Occupation : ____________________________Managing Director of the HSBC BANK,UKName: Mrs. Joan ColePrivate Email: mrs.joancole112@hotmail.comYours Faithfully,Dr.Caravan MarvisCoordinator.OBAMA’S FOUNDATION

If you ever get anything like this in your email just delete it. It is a scam just to get your details.

Just remember you don’t get something for nothing.

Swine Flu Scam

Hi

It absolutely astounds me that these scammers will jump on to any product or topic that they think will make them money, regardless whether it endangers life or not.

The latest topic to hit the news is Swine Flu, as I am quite sure you are aware of unless you have been in hiding as it has been relentlessly on the TV, in papers,  magazines, on the Internet and every where you turn.

Spammers started sending out e-mails telling readers “Madonna caught swine flu” and “Swine flu in Hollywood” to lure people to pharmacy Web sites, according to McAfee Avert Labs, an online security company.

Three tips to avoid being scammed:

• Avoid opening e-mail from an unknown source, and don’t click on any links in the body of the e-mail.

• Don’t believe online offers for vaccines against swine flu.

• Make sure your anti-virus software is up to date to avoid your computer catching a deadly virus.

The scammers are offering you vaccines for swine flu using the scare factor. The vaccine that has worked in Mexico is called Tamiflu and is made by the Swiss company Roche.

Can I still die if I take Tamiflu – Yes according to Dr. Watkins of Cardiff University UK.

Does it have side effects - Yes, although not everyone will experience them.

Is Tamiflu a cure for swine flu – No its not a cure but it helps suffers to recover by relieving some of the symptoms.

Symptoms of swine Flu – Runny nose, sore throat and a rapidly rising temperature.

I am sure this will help

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