Scam Type
Employment Scam
Date Reported
Sep 21, 2022
Victim Postal Code
68025
Total Dollars Lost
0
Scam Description
I’ve been job searching since July 2022. I went the old school route and walked into numerous businesses asking, “Hey, do you happen to have any job openings?! Here’s my resume & a list of references.” Nine times out of ten I was told to check online or post my resume on Indeed or Career Builder. Done. I get a text on Sept 21 2022 from one Catherine McConnell who identifies herself as the Hiring Manager at Everyday Health Group for the opening positions: Billing Specialist, Customer Service Rep, Data Entry Specialist and an Administrative Assistant. Pay is $35.00 per hour for each job and NO MORE than 40 hours per week but at least 20 hours. She asks me to download the Telegram Messenger app for an interview. Seems odd but this person was very convincing about how times are changing and how the world is always advancing and how it’s important for them to stay on top of things as change is inevitable. The CHAT interview went super quick. I was required to spend at least 3 minutes on their website (which I believe now is fake). All the bells & whistles are coming along with this “job” … medical insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, accident & disability insurance, 401k, PTO, EAP (employee assistance program), education assistant. She told me then that the pay would be $33.00 per hour and I corrected her as the previous text said $35.00 per hour. I gave her my job history and answered numerous questions about my strengths & weaknesses. After I waited for her to talk to “their entire board” she welcomed me to Everyday Health Group. Here’s when it got weird, she told me I would need to purchase my own “working equipment” (home office necessities). A brand new MacBook Air Laptop, display port, expandable all-in-one chassis, SSDs, all in one printer….I could go on and on. BUT, that I wouldn’t use MY money, but print off a check they were to E-MAIL me and deposit it into my bank account. I told her I would wait until the funds cleared until I purchased the equipment from a vendor of their choosing. Luckily I have banking experience and know that checks have a magnetic ink that allows banks to read the banking information at the bottom of the check. I asked her if PayPal was an option and she said NO. I then got even more curious and asked for a picture of her business card. I asked at 4:15pm and I’m still “ON HOLD”. I am keeping the correspondence that took place on the Telegram App in case. Unfortunately, I gave this person my name, address, phone # (which they already had) and the name of the bank I bank at. I did not provide the routing # or my account #. Also did not go as far as giving them my drivers license or SS#. I’m scared they will try to steal my identity!!! DO NOT FALL FOR THIS SCAM! I’m sure they will use a different business name next time and create another fake websites. My advice, stick with the old fashioned route when applying for jobs. This has been a nightmare!
