I wrote last week that I was going to report on a scam that was running an ad in our very own Victoria Advocate. Then life happened and I had to deal with some home issues. After all was well, I started my investigation and immediately found out that the ad was not running in the Victoria Advocate any longer.
So, what was I supposed to do? I wasn’t sure until someone emailed me the contents of the ad, before it had been taken out of the Advocate. Here is what it read:
“HIRING for 2006 Postal Jobs! $18/hour starting. Average pay $57,000/ year. Federal Benefits. No exp required. 800-584-1775 Reference #5220 Fee Required.”
I called the number, and acted like I was eager to get a postal job as soon as humanly possible. The “800” number is answered by an automated service (surprise, surprise…) that “verifies” your eligibility. The company is identified as USWA and the message tells you they fill positions for post offices. Once you verify that you are 18, a US citizen, and you have completed high school or a GED equivalent you are put on hold.
During the hold time, another message plays that tells you that once hired, you will make a minimum of $20 per hour, and on average postal workers will make more than $57,000 per year along with outstanding benefits.
Finally, someone answers the phone and in a very pleasant voice asks you for your name. Her name was Kimberly Taylor and she thanked me for calling and then asked if it was my first time. I explained that I really needed a job and that I would be perfect for the postal service. She then verified all of the requirements the automated message had asked.
When she asked if I was a US citizen or had a green card, I hesitated and asked her if I really needed that. She said that it was not required, and that as long as I had completed a GED program or high school in the United States then I would qualify.
I told her that I had and she continued on to tell me about how much money I was going to make. She then said that I would be sent a registration packet. This packet would contain a 250-page study guide and several practice exams.
The packet, of course, would cost $99.50. I told her that was a lot of money, and that I had read you should never pay for a job. She assured me that this was only a deposit.
Kimberly told me that if I was not offered a job on my very first interview, or I didn’t even pass the exam, I would be 100% refunded. She then told me that once I complete my first full week of work as a postal worker, I would be refunded the money as long as I sent the 250-page book back. I told her that was perfect and she went on to explain four different positions available to me.
She said I was eligible to work and all I had to do was pass the exam with a score of 70. She did include that if I passed the exam with a 90 or above, I would be offered a job automatically, and that with this study guide I would be guaranteed to make a 90 or above.
I wanted to know what happened next. She said after I take the exam, I would be notified with 2 weeks of my score and my first interview. I asked about when I could test and she told me that as soon as I was comfortable to take the exam, I could look up online when to take the exam. I would be provided a link, and the exams are given weekly.
I then told her that I didn’t want to have to relocate to work and she assured me that I would be “placed” within 30 miles of my home. It was a guarantee along with the other guarantee of getting my money back.
After asking me if I had any more questions, she quickly moved onto the payment part. I told her I didn’t have a bank account or a credit card. I told her that I had the money, and I could send it to her in the form of a money order.
After inquiring if I could give someone the money and use their credit card, Ms. Taylor advised me that they did not accept mail in payments, but I could send the money via MoneyGram.
She told me the total after shipping and handling and with tax would be $129. I acted thrilled about being able to do this and she promptly gave me the information I needed. I would pick up an express payment form and put in a receive code and their company name. I acted as if I was writing this information down, and said, “ok then, company name, USWA.”
She quickly corrected me and said that the money had to be sent to “Exam Services” because it was for this particular exam. It made no sense, but I acted as if I was jotting it down anyway.
Kimberly gave me the account number to write on the form, and the total once again. She asked me when I would be able to send this payment off, and I told her I would do it as soon as I picked up my children from school.
She thanked me and told me that my information and packet would be sent as soon as they were advised of my payment. I waited for a couple of seconds and she asked me if I had any more questions. I then asked her how they would know where to send my packet, since she had not taken any information from me.
Her words suddenly became a bit flustered and she explained that I would put that information on the MoneyGram form, but I could go ahead and give it to her anyway, in case for some reason it was not legible on the form.
I quickly gave her my fake address, complete with a hard to spell street name. She, I am sure, then wrote the information down just as quick, never asking how to spell anything.
Finally, I was told good luck with my test and my new future and then “goodbye.”
Immediately after I hung up, I called the post office to see exactly what I would have to do to be hired. I was told that they only test once a year, and it is advertised in the paper. So, first of all, I would have to wait until next year because they just tested not to long ago. Second, I was told that they test close to 600 applicants in the Victoria area alone and no one was guaranteed a job no matter what score they make.
Interestingly enough, I found out that if you are a veteran, you automatically get 10 points added to your test and you get priority during the hiring process (YAY for me if I ever want to become a postal worker…).
This is when I made the call back to the original “800” number. I explained that I had just studied for a month and taken the practice exams, only to find that my post office was not testing for another year. The customer service agent gave me another number to call, and said that it was the Customer Care Department.
I called the number the previous woman gave me, and was told to call yet another number. Oddly, I didn’t have to hold when I called either of these numbers. I dialed the last number and told the next person of my problem. She asked me when I had gotten my materials. I said about a month ago or so ago.
After typing a few things, she asked me if my name was “Stephanie.” This was the fake name I had given to the girl when I previously called. I told her no, that it was “Marlene Farrelly.” (I am not good at this, obviously.) She asked me if I was calling from my home and I explained that I was at work.
Evidently, this was enough to convince her that I was calling from a business and she asked me again what was the problem. I explained what my post office had told me, and that I wanted a refund. She said that was not part of their refund policy. I then told her that I was told my post office would test weekly.
She explained she could not be responsible for anything a customer service agent had promised to me and would fully reprimand the one I had spoken with. I didn’t have much else to argue after this, and politely said good-bye.
If I had been a part of this, then I would have been out $129. I found out about this from a reader who alerted me to this ad running in the Advocate. As per her request, I will keep her name and identifying information private, but I will call her “Mary” for this article.
Mary desperately needed a job, and this sounded like a great thing, complete with a 100% refund. After getting her book and studying, she went to the post office, only to learn exactly what I found out. They only give tests once a year, and they hire after that.
She called this company back at the number they provided and it was a non-working number. After nearly 50 calls (which she had documented on her cell phone bill), she still could not get anyone to give her money back, or even explain why she would not get her money back. Mary then returned the book to them, and found out a few days later the company (USWA) refused it.
She called her credit card company and they contacted USWA. They informed her credit card company she had never once contacted them, asked for her money back, or sent the book to them. Of course, Mary has kept all of this information and quickly sent it to her credit card company.
She told me that it took nearly 6 months, but she finally got her money back. She reported all of this to the Federal Trade Commision and Fraud Protection Agency and then to the Victoria Advocate.
This is when she found out that the only thing that USWA had to do was add the words, “fee required” to their ad to keep it running. Mary also explained that she knew two other people in the Victoria area that had fallen for this, and didn’t have the time, or energy to try and get their money back.
I wanted to write about this because I want people to know that falling for these types of things does not make them any less educated than the next person. There are new things popping up every day, and they are becoming increasingly clever. You should keep in mind when seeing ads to this nature, or getting emails from places in which you hold accounts that there are some steadfast rules for these things.
- NEVER pay for work or the promise of working at home over the phone. I am a stay at home mom and I have more than enough experience in looking for “work-at-home’ jobs. There are not that many that exist, and the few that do require an extensive hiring process that does not require money, but do require you to fulfill a lot of things that don’t make it worth it in the end (unless you want the extra tax work.)
- NEVER answer emails that claim to be from your bank (credit card company, Paypal, E-Bay, etc.) and ask for identifying information. If you have an account online, it doesn’t matter where, these companies will NEVER EVER contact you and ask for you to give them credit card numbers, social security numbers, or other personal information. Companies NEVER email threatening to close an account if you do not provide this information.
- NEVER click on a link in your email that is to your bank, Paypal account, or anything of the like and input your username, password, or any other identifying information. This is a common scam that I almost fell for once. I got an email from Paypal telling me that I had money waiting to be deposited into my account; I just had to verify the funds. I clicked on the link in the email and was about to “log-in” to my account, when I realized the address at the top of the address bar did not say anything about Paypal.com. If you have to log into any account you have anywhere on the Internet, ALWAYS manually type in the web address to prevent people from obtaining your personal information.
I hope that this information helps and is passed along to your loved ones. My grandma and mother have both been close to falling for things of this nature, that look innocent enough. This isn’t about age or education, though. Anyone can fall for something like this. Here is a link that provides information on some scams that are happening now.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/fedjobs.htm
In the end, if you are questioning paying for something, or giving someone your personal information – it is best just to not do it. Talk to a friend who works in that field, or contact an office close to you that deals with what you are hesitant about. Get answers before you share your personal and identifying information.
And most of all – please don’t forget about the Twizzlers, ya’ll.
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