Schemes, Scams, Frauds.

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Fraudulent How-to Manuals for Employment Opportunities

For over ten years one company has run ads offering employment in both the Alaskan fishing and cruise ship industries.

These ads appear in the "Help Wanted" sections of college newspapers and national publications such as Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly magazines. They are also printed on postcards that they package and mail to college bookstores for insertion into students’ book bags with their purchases and on flyers that are posted on college bulletin boards across the country.

The ads for cruise ship employment promise you that you can earn $2000, or more, each month working on cruise ships or for land tour companies that are currently hiring.

GET A CRUISE JOB! Earn up to $2000+ a month. . . . If you’re looking for work that will allow you to TRAVEL THE WORLD and earn a living at the same time GIVE US A CALL. Companies are recruiting now! Full-time or seasonal jobs available like: Waiters, Host/Hostess, Land Escorts, Tour Guides, Cruise Staff, Bartenders, Gift Shop Sales, Fitness Counselors, Youth Counselors. No exp necessary

When you call you are also told that the companies will provide free meals, housing and transportation to the various ports of call and that particular types of full-time or seasonal jobs, including but not limited to those listed are available, regardless of your level of experience or qualifications.

Sadly, they are not offering actual jobs with cruise ships and land tour companies, they do not guarantee you a job with such companies, and you are not likely to receive the earnings, benefits or types of jobs they say are available.

In fact, for your $50 you receive only a thin paperback book listing the names, addresses and a brief description, of major cruise ship lines and land tour companies and tips on working in the cruise ship industry.

It is entirely up to you to contact any company you are interested in for more information and to apply for employment and in most instances the companies listed in the book are not currently hiring or, if they have available positions, they require training, experience and at least a six to nine month long commitment. They also do not pay the represented salaries or provide the represented benefits.

Similar ads for employment in Alaska, geared to younger males seeking adventure and escape from the city, promise you that you can earn big money each month working in the Alaskan fishing industry.

ALASKA EMPLOYMENT

Fishing industry. Earn up to $3000-$6000+ per month. Room & Board! Transportation! No experience necessary! Male/Female. Age 18-70. For more information call: 971-3512 ext A72167.

The operators say you are likely to earn $3000 to $6000 per month, regardless of your level of experience or qualifications, and that many of these jobs will provide free or low-cost housing and meals, and will even reimburse your travel expenses if you complete your employment contract with the fishing company.

They are not offering actual jobs in the Alaskan fishing industry, do not guarantee you a job, and you are certainly not likely to receive the earnings, benefits or types of jobs they say are available.

In fact, for your $50 you receive only a brochure listing the names and addresses of Alaskan fishing companies, fish processing companies and canneries, along with a description of the working conditions in that industry.

It is entirely up to you to contact each company to apply for employment, and in most instances the companies listed in the book are not currently hiring or, if they have available positions, those positions pay only minimum wage salaries, involve extremely harsh working conditions and do not offer the promised benefits.

In either case do not hope to receive a refund under the conditions they impose.

Government Job Offers

GOVERNMENT JOBS

Now hiring. $16,000-$68,000.

Call 1(800)883-0829, ext. J-400

for current Federal, State, County & City lists.

You call the toll-free telephone number and are told that for $59.95 they will provide you with a list of actual positions that are currently available with government agencies in your area, along with the names of individuals to contact about such positions.

You agree to purchase the government jobs list and are asked to provide your credit card or checking account numbers, either of which is immediately charged the $59.95.

Soon you receive two publications —the first entitled "Careers 2000 Guide" and the second "Careers 2000 Listings." Neither publication includes a list of actual positions that are currently  available with government agencies in your area, along with the names of individuals to contact about such positions.

You are provided only with a list of the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of regular government agencies which are freely available in the phone book.

Resume Spamming For a Price

One company which advertised and operated a government job finding service through its website www.governmentaljobs.com has attracted several complaints from its users who send in their resume along with $400 on the assurance of employment success based on the site's glowing testimonials.

Its affiliated company which sent your resume to companies in the oil industry had been accused by these potential employers of spamming them with unsolicited and unwanted resumes.

Editor's Note 12/05:  The owner of oilcareers.com, Matt H., states that they no longer offer this incredible service and have not done so for almost a year. He wished to make this point clear so that I could avoid legal problems. They do promote a service to clients for $60 and even offer the chance for affiliates of their system to get rich. "So you can retire early and enjoy the good life"

That's 1095 sub-affiliates X 1 sale per day X your $9.75 average commission; = $10,676.25 US dollars per day!

That's over 3.89 million US dollars you'd make per year! It's true!

If Mr. H. says it's true, then who am I to dispute him?

Bring Us Your Poor, We'll Make Them Poorer

Recently there was an advertisement in one of the leading Newspapers in Mumbai (Bombay - India) from a placement agency called UniqueJobs.co.za stating that there are a lot of vacancies for fish packing in Alaska paying around $4000 a month.

When I tried searching on the Net I came across a couple of web sites like www.oilcareer.com www.specialjobusa.com www.oil-rig-jobs.com www.specialjobsexpress.com & www.uniquejobs.co.za which are offering placements in many big companies in America but I am asked to pay registration or other charges ranging from $197 to $500 for submitting my resume.

oilcareer.com has their address as:

Strategic Ecomm Inc.
Suite 424, 9768 - 170 Street
Edmonton, Alberta ,
T5T 5L4 Canada

Can you kindly let me know whether any such vacancy exists or if these people would simply run away with my registration fees!

Working 16 hours a day is not a problem but whether one could actually get paid $22 per hour, as advertised, is.

Naresh from India 04/15/02

It's Raining Resumes

Executive job outplacement (i.e. resume mailing) services such as Haldane, WSA Corporation, and others say they have the inside track on placing executives in just the right position, that they have a 98% success rate, and that their placements make 50% to 200% more than they expected.

They seem to simply provide the same guidance that you could get from any good $25 book on writing a resume, networking, and interviewing. They appear to simply buy Duns databases of corporations in the SIC industries you specify, and then mail (or email) your resume for $2.50 per letter (recommending thousands of mailings) or some other formula designed to separate you from thousands of dollars.

Of course they may place a few people, but I know there are several complaints against Haldane, but there should be more against others that pose as legitimate outplacement services (if any still exist).

Remember to always be wary of a minister who claims to be doing his business as a benevolent sideline.

Wights 10/10/02

Return to Sender

03/01 - The FTC announced five law enforcement actions against nine companies and seven individuals promising jobs with the federal or state government or the U.S. Postal Service.

Through classified ads, telephone pitches, Internet advertising and training school seminars, the companies misled consumers into paying $45 - $80 for practice exams and application forms which they indicated you were likely to score high on and ultimately receive jobs using their materials.

With these cases, the FTC has now brought a total of nine law enforcement actions against 19 companies and 26 individuals, stopping nearly $15 million in annual fraudulent sales.

The ads also described the jobs as providing generous wages and benefits and invited consumers to call a telephone number (often toll-free).

The complaints allege that the defendants misrepresented:

	their affiliation with the Postal Service;
	that permanent positions with the government were available in the geographic areas where they placed classified ads;
	that you were likely to obtain postal or other government jobs by using their materials;
	that you were likely to obtain high scores on any required exams by using their materials;
	and that they paid full refunds to all consumers who requested them.

Another complaint alleged the company deceptively advertised and operated private schools that offered purported training to consumers interested in postal or government jobs, and recently had begun marketing the schools as business opportunities.

These and other FTC actions.

	US Information Center, Inc., d/b/a U.S. Information Center, United Labor Services, Inc., d/b/a U.S. Labor Services, and Alfred Daniel Chandler, an officer of the corporations, also doing business as National Information Service.
	Vocational Guides, Inc., and its president, Timothy Scott Jackson
	American Information Labor Services, Inc., American Data Bureau, LLC, and their principals, Scott A. Horowitz and Mitchell M. Grod
	Career Network, Inc., and its principals, Walter Turulis and Kathleen Key
	Government Careers Network, Inc., Government Careers Center, Inc. (Florida corporation), Government Careers Center, Inc. (New York corporation), and their principal, Anthony Venzara.
	Federal Data Service, Inc. (FDS) and its principals Stephen Tate, Spencer Golden and Dawn Johnson
	Think Achievement Corporation, it's principal William and relief defendant Linda Tankersley

There are two things for job hunters to remember: information about government jobs is always free and guarantees of government jobs are always false.

Information about employment opportunities with the federal government are available from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management website: www.usajobs.opm.gov. The USPS is finalizing the Test Orientation Guide for Major Entrance Examinations, which will be available from the USPS web site www.usps.com   at no charge shortly.

This document provides sample exercises and other information to help interested individuals do their best on the major USPS entrance examinations. It will also provide accurate information about the USPS selection process and employment requirements, contrary to much of the materials provided by these companies.

Pin the Tale on the Donkey

From: wilson@alaskanemployment.com

Sent: Sunday, May 05, 2002

Subject: Earn $80,000.00 this Summer Pinning Up Circulars!

I Make $160,000 Every Summer Hanging Up Flyers. Partners Wanted!

Hello,

My name is C. Wilson and until 1997 I used to work in Alaskan fishing boats every summer. I earned about $100,000.00 each season! Then in 1998, I noticed how hard people were looking for jobs in the United States. I never had any trouble obtaining employment in Alaska during the summer months, so I wrote a little booklet on the subject.

It listed all the Fisheries and Fishing Boats that become eager to hire ANYBODY during the months just before summer, as well as details on how to best apply. I posted ads on billboards at colleges, supermarkets, Laundromats & on light poles near high schools and Employment Development Departments. I was not prepared for what happened next! Money started pouring in so fast I did not believe it! And by the time summer had started, I had earned about $160,000!

So I neglected to go to Alaska in favor of hanging up my flyers from then on!

This year my ex-wife was having money problems so I suggested she did what I was doing (we're still friends). She hung up circulars as suggested all around in the city of Monte Vista, CO. She's already pulled in $50,000! Then it hit me: There are thousand and thousands of cities out there and I had only been covering a small part or Los Angeles, CA! If I offered a business partnership and let my distributors earn 50%, I could cover every city and state of the United States!

If you want to make some big money and help people find jobs, join my partnership. I've been successfully selling my employment directory for 6 years now! Enlist and I'll set you up a Web Page to sell the product and you'll get 50% of each sell you make.

Hurry up! The summer is about to start and now is when the circulars pull in the real money! I'll send you your starter kit by next day air! 

___Yes C. Wilson! I'd like to help people find jobs & earn Big $$$$$! On that basis here is my __ Check or __ Money Order for $59.95. I understand that this will cover the cost for registering & building my Web Page and Express - Overnight Shipping of my Partnership material including circulars displaying my own personal Web Sight.

I understand also that if I do not earn at lest $1,500.00 DAILY from the time I start until June 21, 2002, you'll totally refund my $59.95 no questions asked!

Registration Form

Send to: C. Wilson PO Box 41503 Los Angeles, CA 90041

[____] Enclosed is my $59.95 US for Business Partnership Setup.
[____] Personal Check   [____] Cashier Check   [____] Money Order

Orders Outside of Continental USA Add $10.00 Additional Postage US Funds Only 

Would you like your Web Sight to read anything particular (easy to remember like AlaskanJobs.com)? If so, please list up to 10 choices below. If all the names you list are taken or you leave this section blank, I'll think of a pretty hot domain name for you.  All entries must end in .com. Please Print Clearly

Sent in by Janice Bell 05/06/02

I just want to advise you on how to determine which ads that promise a government or a postal job are among the very few that are legitimate..

An application for a government job is called an "examination" whether there is a test involved or not. On rare occasions the government contracts with private firms which, in turn, hire employees to work for them, yet the application process is similar to that for a government job.

First of all, there SHOULD NEVER BE A FEE FOR ANY FORM OR APPLICATION OR TEST.

Second, the QUESTIONNAIRE FOR SECURITY POSITIONS Form IS a legitimate form for a background investigation which may last months or years. Beware of who gives you this form.

At some point the applicant may be called for fingerprinting or an interview and this is where you can find out whether it is a scam or not for you usually end up doing this at Federal buildings with government agents. If you are to appear at a place not connected with a government - it's a scam!

If you are told to take a class or a test, there should never be a fee and if the test is in a training center it's legitimate! However, you will not get results at home - an agent interested in you (if he is) will make use of test results.

Be prepared to wait! Application is not a guarantee of the job, it is only to create a list of people who are eligible for openings if they occur, that's all.

Finally, if you filled out a background investigation questionnaire, someone will contact you at some point and tell you that background investigation is over. If that never happens - it's a scam.

Site Contributor 05/29/02

"Glacier Bay", another Fishing Company for Alaskan Fishing Trawlers offers you the chance to work and travel.

"Send them $35 non-refundable and you will have a job within 2 months."  In reality, you send them the money and all they send you is a packet with the names and addresses of 40 different companies that you have to contact and send resumes to or request applications from.

Sent in by Amanda Lira 03/31/03

Advance Fee Job Offer Strips Victims of Money

MIAMI - 02/04 A woman accused of helping scam dozens of people out of thousands of dollars by offering jobs driving strippers around in luxury sedans will remain jailed until at least March 3.

Tracy Silverstone, 22, pleaded not guilty to wire and communications fraud and grand theft Friday. Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy ruled that issuing $500,000 bond would have been acceptable, but sent her back to jail nonetheless because of an unrelated arrest Jan. 31.

Silverstone and her partner, Gary Janiak Jr., 34, promised in newspaper ads around the country a weekly salary of up to $5,000 in cash for driving strippers to their jobs, Miami-Dade County police said. The Miami couple got at least 43 applicants to wire deposits of $865 and up for jobs that didn't exist, police said.

Rosenthal said Friday that more counts than the original 335 levied against Janiak and Silverstone are expected. Another 34 people have come forward claiming they were defrauded by the couple, she said, and multiple counts of fraud have been filed in the case of each victim.

Janiak remains free on $500,000 bond. He will be arraigned March 3, during Silverstone's next scheduled court appearance.

Willing to Work, But Got Con Job Instead

03/04 - According to a police report, three friends about twenty years old, got a call from a Connecticut man offering them work as painters.

The alleged employer, who identified himself as Carlos Gomez, told them to wire "uniform deposits" to him in New Haven, Conn. via Western Union.

And they did just that, sending $90, $76 and $110, respectively.

The next morning, the trio told police, they waited on Dexter Street expecting to be picked up and taken to New Haven for their first day on the job.

But their ride didn’t turn up, so the three called the number Gomez had given them to ask what had gone wrong.

They were told the driver had gotten lost, according to police, and were told to go to the Bonanza Bus terminal in Providence, where the driver would be waiting.

When they arrived at the bus terminal and found the driver had not arrived, they called Gomez’ number a second time, only to discover the line had been disconnected.

Checking with Western Union revealed the money had been picked up by two men, one a man identifying himself as Carlos Gomez and a second man who gave the name Steve Melendez.

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