Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
strange request from prospective employer...possible scam
I was interviewed with an out of state employer on the phone and Skype. Everything was online as far as employment forms as they are out of state... a little strange since I am used to face to face daily contact but whatever, I just thought of it as the sign of the times. They gave me an user name and password to log into their online network.
Then, they requested info to be uploaded into their database. Not standard info that you would give to an online application...but social security number, void bank check, drivers license, and car insurance. I would driving on company time and they need to do background check which explains the need for car insurance and social security number.
This is where I started to get VERY suspicious that there was something very very fishy going on. I understand the need for personal info to be given to your employer. I have done it in the past in the form of giving them copies and having the HR dept keeping them under lock and key...but online?! Where the potential to get hacked into is a very real possibility.
I emailed the HR specialist to ask for a fax number and they said they are a paperless company and there is no fax machine. I had no other choice but to upload the info online. After emailing her and saying that I will not comply with this company policy, she continued to call me (never emailed me back) and ask for the info..however she never addressed my concern. It was like a lets play dumb and pressure for info approach.
Am I old fashioned? Is this the time of the times? Or is this a potential scam? I am kinda bummed b/c this seemed like a good job. But not at the risk of an identify theft situation.
Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Re: strange request from prospective employer...possible scam
There's no reason for them to request any of this information before you're hired. That all of your dealings with them have been long-distance--on top of them asking for information that they have no business asking for before actually hiring you--tells me it's a scam.
I agree totally.
I would not give out any of this information without signing a paper that states what they need it for, etc. etc.
The company I work for wants to be paperless so they have a fax number but instead of printing, faxes are emailed to us.
Sketch.
Thanks for all your interesting feedback, everyone!
I am being to think that its what Bunnyfriend said. They needed all the info to do a background check and driving history. Unfortunately, they can not do it in person and for whatever reason, they dont have a fax machine. They have some questionable HR policies. The baffling part is that on their website, they have profiles of all their service providers...whom have all followed the HR policies. and its like 200 service providers. So, none of those people thought it was odd or sadly were that desperate for an income, they were willing to upload all their personal info.
In this day in age, where there is many more people than jobs, companies can set up lame questionable policies and people may have no other choice if it is their only job offer...which is sad and disgusting to take advantage of people like that. Unfortunately, to file a complaint with the BBB, its not annoyomous...I have to give my address and name to them...which I am not sure if I want to do that.
Thanks for this suggestion. I googled them and all that really came up was their own website. This company provides services to children. Parents find all sort of websites to review services like that..which is odd that nothing came up. I will google their number on 800notes.com...will be interesting to see if anything comes up.
I had been given a verbal contingency offer too. However, I had no other choice but to be upload all the info onto their website..which was my concern and ultimately made my decision to not proceed with their shady HR policies. Fax machine was not available.
Did you have to upload it or could you give them hard copies?
I was given a verbal job offer contiguent on my background check. However, I had no other choice but to upload the information on to their website. So, either I uploaded the info requested or I had to walk away from the job offer. Giving paper copies of my SS number, licence and void check was not acceptable.
So you're saying you did not give them the requested information?
The whole operation seems scammy, but the void bank check is your ace in the hole.
I really hope you didn't give them all that stuff.
Sounds like a scam, like you say. I have been interested in studying these scams for a while and I found a lot of good information on the Better Business Bureau web site and the FTC website. I was looking into American Publications in Maryland Heights, MO, run by Dean Spasser, and I found out a lot of information there about what a scam it was.
They also gave the details of how the scam operates and how they trick people not just with the information that they give, but like you say, with just not cooperating with giving YOU information about THEM. If you get too nosy, they just brush you off and move on to the next victim. They won't answer your questions but you should report them to the BBB, the FTC,and the Attorney General of your state. The Postal Inspector takes an interest too.
I learned that in the case of American Publications there is a Cease and Desist order in Washington State, but that only if someone in Washington state who paid Dean Spasser of American Publications money complains to the Attorney General of WA, they can act against the company for violating the cease and desist order. I wish there was a grass roots effort to put these scammers out of business. They are such parasites.
Please post in a week or two to let us know what happened. I still think its a real company because if it was a scam I think there would have been other red flags along the way, like the website would have been really cheap, the interview would have lasted 2 minutes. Its a lot of effort for them to go through to get a SSN.
I don't like that you had a totally valid concern that they basically ignored. Hopefully its not a sign of things to come with management.
No updates to report. I never submitted my info and have continued my job search elsewhere. They called four times in four days to remind me that I still needed to give them info. Apparently, the email that I sent to the girl was not discussed with her team members...or they played dumb. Ironically, all they did was call me.. they never ever emailed me back.
You are right. thats a lot of effort to get a SS number. but in the process they get car insurance, void check, and drivers license. Its a brillant plan to be able to steal my entire identify masked by a phone interview..so they have to put some effort to get a whole of info otherwise it would be too obvious. WDYT?
I wouldn't do it. Listen to your gut. Also I think the advice about checking into them with the BBB and FTC is correct. See if you can find more background information that could help you out here.