Bad credit repair becomes nightmare when identity theft hammers job seekers.
Are you or someone you know looking for a job?
Are you using the Internet…Monster, CareerBuilder or any other "job board?"
If so, please pay attention.
What I’m about to share with you might just save you…and I’m not exaggerating either.
You see, job seekers are not seeing this this nightmare coming.
They jump these job boards and cross their fingers, hoping to regain employment.
They pray for the phone to ring. When the phone rings, they do everything they’re asked to do, unaware of what is happening.
These job seekers trust these "recruiters" and HR hiring managers calling them about a job.
They answer their questions.
Instead of a job, these job seekers get scammed – falling victim to Identity Theft.
As crazy as it sounds, I know how this scam goes down.
I almost got my butt handed to me by a job recruiter offering me a job I didn’t ask for. This guy’s polished offer sounded so real he almost got me.
If you ever think you’ll go through any job board or get approached for a job requiring your private information, you might want to pay attention – close attention to what I’m about to share with you.
Not long ago, I received a call from a guy Adam who claimed to be some corporate recruiter. After introducing himself, he didn’t ask – rather he told me he might have a perfect opportunity for me.
What happened in the next couple hours SHOULD raise the hair on the back of your head.
He didn’t ask me how I am employed or whether I’m employed.
He piqued my interest at the outset with an "Å"opportunity," something that grabs almost everyone’s interest today.
I let him go on about this opportunity for which he claimed I was perfect.
He said he had two clients looking a full-time Internet Social Media Marketing Director with offices in Tampa & Orlando.
The "perfect"Â candidate would have my skills and experience, Adam claimed:
- Communication skills (written and spoken)
2. Teaching experience
3. Outsourcing, i.e. Virtual Assistants, programmers, designers, etc
4. Internet Marketing (esp. social marketing skills with blogs, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, etc)
5. Setting up and running membership sites & forums
6. Merchant, gateway & shopping cart integration & management
7. HTML / web design
8. Sales
9. Newsletter creation - Video product creation
- on and on
I wouldn’t have to go in every day; I could work virtually with occasional face-to-face meetings. He described what seemed like a perfect fit for me – a Social Marketing Director; good starting salary range; flexible office time.
- He said he’d already been to a few of my websites.
2. He knew my presence on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs, etc.
3. He knew some of my work on the Internet.
The guy was good – too good it seemed.
He (appeared) to have done his homework.
"So what do you think?" he asked me.
I told him I’d like to meet in person.
"Sorry, that’s not possible,"Â he said. He was in New York, and my caller ID confirmed a New York number.
He told me he’d fax me the paperwork his client (my prospective employer) required.
"Okay,"Â I said.
I received the paperwork but no company letterhead.
Adam claimed his employer required anonymity. The paperwork on the other hand, required me to give up the farm.
He wanted everything: date of birth; social security number; address; years at address; driver’s license number. EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ding, ding, ding.
My BS detector went off.
I respectfully informed and/or reminded Adam what I’ve been through (ID Theft) and how important it is for everyone to avoid identity theft.
I could not provide this confidential information to a stranger.
I would be happy to provide this information once the prospective employer and I agree we’re a match for each other.
In fact, once we penciled in an agreement, I would drive to the office in Tampa at their convenience to provide whatever information to HR.
Adam hung up on me.
Did I offend Adam, the corporate recruiter? Did I miss mess up an opportunity?
Fortunately, I wasn’t desperate, didn’t need a job & didn’t lose my head with when he requested my most sensitive personal information.
NO, I did NOT destroy an opportunity. I was played. I am 100% certain Adam was a polished front man or an actual (ID) thief.
Absolutely. No doubt in my mind.
Here’s why: Later that day, I called the number back. No answer. No voicemail.
I kept calling a few times a day for a couple days until…until I received a familiar recording: I’m sorry, the number you are dialing is not in service any longer.
If you feel you have reached this recording in error…blah, blah, blah. Â
It was clear to me, this "Adam" wanted to DESTROY my life!
Do I even need to mention the moral of this story? Damn, I hope I was crystal clear.
7 MILLION people unemployed in last couple years. LOTS of despair and desperation. Do NOT let down your guard.
Rules To Follow:
- Beware someone asking for your personal information.
2. Don’t get too excited about an "opportunity."
3. Don’t get embarrassed about being cautious. If a REAL recruiter and/or potential employer cannot understand your caution, then SCREW THEM. They’re idiots if they can’t understand this serious precaution.
Identity Theft thieves always strike when you least expect. No doubt, these low-lifes crawl from from the woodwork, searching for easy victims who will give up the farm. They won’t know what hit them when their identities are stolen, leaving them to try to repair credit fast – for years.