Does This Smack of Scam To Anyone Else?

[momof1princess]

I answered a help-wanted ad on craigslist for an administrative assistant position at a daycare in my city (name not listed). Provided my resume, with references. Got an e-mail response today saying I was the most qualified candidate and would be responsible for bank deposits, so I would need to provide a credit check, and a link to a reputable company I could use was provided. Said reputable company (Creditreport.com) is notorious, from what I can gather, for charging service fees and continuing to charge, even after customers cancel. So, someone is messing with me, right? The person who e-mailed me said the credit check was free, which it is, but only for so long. I have a very powerful, proprietary search engine that I use for my current job, and I cannot find ANY mention of the company that placed the help-wanted ad anywhere, but I DO know they're not in my area. This is a small city. Looks like I'm back to the drawing board, aren't I?

 

[vicki_c]

Normally, you would go in and have an actual interview and your offer (if they gave you one) would be contingent upon successful credit and background checks, paid for by the employer, not the candidate. Maybe I'm just out of the loop but I have not heard of requiring a candidate to provide and pay for their own credit check. Definitely sounds questionable to me.

If you still want to follow-up, I would ask them about a personal interview and when in the process that would happen. I would not be sending my personal credit info anywhere at this point.

 

[FoodLover]

Sounds very scammy to me, sorry.

Mary

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Definitely a scam. Some employers require credit checks but only for final candidates after personal interviews. Any company that tries to get you to do something over e-mail is definitely up to something. I wouldn't even send them a reply. Just move on. Good luck on your job search!

 

[momof1princess]

thanks everyone this is what i suspected.

 

[3boymthr]

Definitely scammy.

What makes me concerned is that with all the searching you've done they can't be found in the city you live in.

I recently had to provide information to have a pre-interview credit check done, but I was not required to provide the credit report - they did it and the company is HUGE with thousands of employees and is internationally known.

 

[cglaura]

There are alot of affiliate offers for creditreport.com. So say you were a member of a gpt site, you might eary $10 for joining. The owner/affiliate would make $15.

I'm guessing this person is making affiliate mone / "finders fee" for sending people to them.

Does the click thru link have any numbers or other things attached, or just straight out creditreport.com.

If it is legitimate, I agree w/ pp that the employer should be paying for this.

 

[Luvchefmic]

So many scams on Craigslist, I have gotten to the point that my attitude is ALL the jobs listed on there are scams. What I have been doing is instead of emailing my resume etc' I email my concerns as I just stated it and ask for a phone number to call.

Only once did I have someone respond to this "new way" of answering the ads. That person admitted she was recruiting for mystery shoppers not the aministrative assistant she had advertised for. I wish you luck OP

 

[momof1princess]

thanks everyone i knew deep down it wasn't legit, i just needed someone else to tell me-i was so hopeful it was for real when i applied. my current job is really wearing me down.

 

[JB2K]

I answered a help-wanted ad on craigslist...

That's all you needed to say.

IMO, CL (in general) always seems to have a connection with scams, etc.

 

[ceecee]

That's all you needed to say.

IMO, CL (in general) always seems to have a connection with scams, etc.

That's what I have found as well.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Scam aside, when I was looking for a job last summer, I was up early one morning (6 AM or so) and answered a new ad. Someone wrote back to me fairly quickly; it was a legitimate job with a local oil/gas company. I went for an interview the next day; didn't get it - I wasn't really qualified - but not every job on Craigslist is a scam. Okay, so this one job was real

 

[reagan75]

That's all you needed to say.

IMO, CL (in general) always seems to have a connection with scams, etc.

I got my current job through CL. It is the best job I have had! It is for a Christian company, they understand I am a mom and have to take off for doctor visits, I work part-time, they pay very well and it's a great environment. I also got my current sitter from CL who is a Godsend! We could not have found someone better. She is a licensed in-home daycare and her DH works for DHS. They have a chid of their own and only watch a total of 4 kids. She watches my DD part-time while I am at work, feeds her breeakfast and lunch and only charges me $50/week.

I know there are a lot of scams on CL and you have to be sensible and research. It's not always bad though!

 

[G's mommy]

Never provide personal information for a credit check or sign up for a credit check unless you have been on an actual interview and have seen the company or organization is legit. Credit checks are becoming more commonplace, especially if you are in a financial type position or are handling cash. We credit check certain positions, but only when we are ready to make an offer to a candidate and we incur the cost for the report.

 

[ohlas]

My question is why havent you called the company that is running this ad. I would want to know if someone is using my name in a possible scam.. Call human services or the person that does the hiring you might find a job with them that way....

 

[Bren's Mom]

She said the name of the company was not listed in the ad.

I agree, it seems like a scam. What would prevent a prospective employee from fudging info in the background check? Nothing. It makes no sense for the employee to do their own check...none at all. Walk away from it.

And hope you find something (legit) soon!

 

[momof1princess]

My question is why havent you called the company that is running this ad. I would want to know if someone is using my name in a possible scam.. Call human services or the person that does the hiring you might find a job with them that way....

i haven't called the company because the name of the company wasn't listed in the ad. there was a name given in the e-mail, and i looked up both the person and the company upon receipt of the e-mail and couldn't find either one ANYWHERE in the U.S. this is why i suspect i'm being scammed. since i live in a small city, if this company were operating here, i couldn't help but know it, as i've lived here all my life, and the name is unique.

 

[momof1princess]

She said the name of the company was not listed in the ad.

I agree, it seems like a scam. What would prevent a prospective employee from fudging info in the background check? Nothing. It makes no sense for the employee to do their own check...none at all. Walk away from it.

And hope you find something (legit) soon!

thank you i haven't given up hope.

 

[WheelCEO]

Scam scam scam

welcome to the world of affiliate marketing

 

[csharpwv]

If they are presenting themselves as an employer - then you need to meet with someone face to face. If they cannot provide a phone number and a physical address of their business - you should not even respond to the e-mail.
If they are an actual company - then they will have no problem with providing you their location and a job description.

Also for future reference - I highly suggest that you DO NOT send out a resume until you have an e-mail returned from them, along with a physical address that you can drive by to check and a phone number that you call to confirm. That individual now has your name, address, phone number - your employment history, and your current employer.

There are WAY too many scams out there!
Protect yourself!