Seeking a job? Beware of scams

From the Buffalo News By Samantha Maziarz Christmann

The listing can seem like the answer to a job seeker's prayers:

"2009 Postal Positions $14.80- $36.00 [per hour]. Federal hire [with] full benefits. No [experience]. Call Today!"

But
advertisements like these, popping up in newspaper and Internet
employment classifieds everywhere, are not all they're cracked up to
be, experts said.

Though they appear to publicize openings for
stable, well-paying government jobs, a phone call reveals the company
is actually shilling very pricey -yet unnecessary-"test preparation"
and other materials to "help" applicants find and apply for federal
jobs, pass the aptitude exams associated with them and otherwise secure
government work.

"Right now, it's buyer beware more than ever.
This economy brings out all the cockroaches," said Ellen Tucker, Better
Business Bureau Foundation director. "They register as scholastic prep
companies, but masquerade as screening agencies for the government."

There
is never a registration or administration fee required to apply for
government jobs. And test preparation materials associated with
government exams are provided for free. But that hasn't stopped
unscrupulous companies from bilking consumers out of more than $10
million a year with false promises and misleading practices, according
to the Federal Trade Commission.

Though most companies are
careful never to make fraudulent statements outright, many portray
themselves as affiliated with the government and present their services
as a necessary government requirement.

A phone call to a
company advertising postal jobs locally turned out to be a pitch from a
company called Testing & Career W/ US, based in Bowling Green, Ky.

Referring
to itself as a "screening and processing center" and to the caller as
an "applicant," the representative preceded her sales pitch with a
battery of "qualifying questions" about U. S. citizenship, age and
criminal record.

The representative also read a list of benefits full-time employees would receive before explaining the "application process."

"There
is no registration or testing fee, but you will need to pay a one-time
$129 administration fee to cover testing materials. Would you like to
register?" she asked.

Though these companies may present themselves in a misleading way, the mere act of selling test prep materials is not illegal.

"If
someone believes it is worthwhile and wants to pay for something,
they're free to do so," said local Postal Inspector Ray Williams. "But
people may be disappointed or find out there really are no jobs open."

In
fact, though representatives at Testing & Career Services W/ US
asserted the Post Office was actively seeking many full-time permanent
employees in Buffalo, Williams said there was just a smattering of
openings in the area, just two of which actually required the Postal
Exam.

Promising a service that is not delivered, such as
guaranteeing a job or inclusion on a special government list, is
illegal, Williams said. So is falsely stating an affiliation with the
U. S. government.

When asked if the company was affiliated with
the U. S. Postal Service, one Testing & Career Services W/ US
representative hung up. During another phone call, a different
representative falsely claimed it was and said the company had offices
at a Post Office in Bowling Green, Ky. That "office" turned out to be a
post office box.

Representatives for Testing & Career
Services W/ US could not be reached for comment. A customer service
representative said the person listed as president was no longer with
the company. He declined to name the new president, whom he claimed
didn't have a phone number or e-mail address and only took
correspondence by fax.

Until consumers prove wrongdoing or seek
recourse, many of these companies go unhindered. In fact, despite 34
complaints in the last 36 months and an unsatisfactory rating from the
Better Business Bureau, the company and countless others like it
continue to operate.

"You'll see many of these same companies
pop up in the fall promising to get students into college or secure
scholarships," said Tucker. "The companies in this industry are
notoriously bad."

For credible listings of job openings within
the U. S. Postal Service, visit USPS.com/employment or contact their
local postmaster directly. Other government job listings can be found at
www.USAjobs.gov
or under the blue government pages in the phone book. If you feel you've been victimized by an unscrupulous company, visit
www.ftc.gov
or call (877) 382-4357.

schristmann@buffnews.com