Beware of Scammers
I received an email from someone identifying themselves as a recruiter who saw my resume on a specific job site. He asked my availability for a brief interview via Google Hangout (suspicious incident #1).
His email also identified a specific company. As any job seeker would, I googled the company - they're in Australia and are a perfectly legit company - but they have no global offices and no offices in the US.
Still not totally believing this, I agreed to the "interview". So I get a message from someone identifying himself as an HR Director. He sends me the "job brief" (description) and after I read it, I tell him I have some questions.
#1 - Why are they asking me to pay for a laptop and other office equipment to do this work-from-home job when I obviously already have a computer. #2 - Why isn't the job he's "interviewing" me for listed on their company website - in fact, why aren't any similar sounding jobs listed on there. #3 - What is his relation to Mr. _____ (I named the VP of HR listed on the company website).
The "interviewer" suddenly disappeared.
Lesson here - even though I didn't fall for it, I was wary of this being a scam. If an employer asks you for $$ to purchase equipment and/or asks for your banking info or any other personally identifying info - run don't walk away from them. Basically, if it sounds "too good to be true," it probably is.
I have had the same thing happen from 3 different companies. The first company said I would be sent the equipment needed for my mini office. Then they tell me before that, I need to purchase software for $250 that had to come from their supplier. The pay would be $28 an hour.
Rebekah, you're totally right. You did all the right things here. Well done!
I have probably fifteen replies with this whole "google hangouts" thing.. such a waste. Good luck!
Absolutely, Rebekah! There are so many of them out there right now and I'm so glad you saw the signs. Thank you for sharing with the community so we can continue to look out for these situations.
I had one do the same thing. After the Google Hangout "interview" I did more research on the company and his name certainly wasn't the name of the person with the same title at the company. I called the company to ask if they had anyone by that name, or the name of the person who initially contacted me, and neither one of them existed there. I messaged him back to never contact me again, yet got a check in the mail the next day for $2,500 drawn on an account for a town in New York to use to "purchase my computer equipment" from their designated retailer. I also called that town in New York to let them know I had the check and apparently these scam artists had used their accounts previously to the tune of thousands of dollars. I returned the check to the town and made all parties aware of the names and addresses I has for these people. I guess they took their "company" international so no one could call to verify their employment like I did. Just be cautious that if you do get a check in the mail THEY ARE LIVE CHECKS DRAWN ON SOMEONE'S ACCOUNT. DO NOT DEPOSIT THEM BECAUSE THAT IS THEIR SCAM!!! Please be safe and smart out there in your job hunt!