Never pay to apply for a job
Times are tough, but you should not plop down your credit card for the promise of job leads. Here’s why.
Several companies were accused by federal authorities of duping job seekers into paying for leads for six-figure jobs that those companies had no authority to advertise, let alone recruit for and fill. Some customers found their credit cards being charged for more than they agreed to pay, the Federal Trade Commission said.
The commission said Tuesday it has reached a settlement with the companies — National Sales Group, I Life Marketing, Executive Sales Network and Certified Sales Jobs — and two individuals.
According to an FTC news release:
“The defendants advertised on Careerbuilder. com and other online job boards, and their telemarketers falsely told consumers they recruited for Fortune 1000 employers and had a unique ability to get them interviewed and hired.
“The FTC complaint alleged that the defendants charged fees, purportedly for background checks and other services, and often overcharged, taking $97 from consumers who had agreed to pay $29 or $38. The defendants also allegedly charged some consumers recurring fees of $13.71 or more per month without their consent. At the FTC’S request, in February 2011, the court halted the allegedly illegal practices and froze the defendants’ assets pending litigation.”
The settlement calls for a $13 million judgment, but requires only $279,000 to be paid by defendant Anthony J. Newton, who also must terminate a lease on a MercedesBenz and surrender his interest in a home in Huntington Beach, Calif., according to the news release.
Beware of job offers that require you to pay upfront. I’ve heard of all sorts of scams, such as one supposed-employer who demanded that job seekers buy uniforms in advance for jobs they don’t have yet.