Job ad scams on Craigslist

Anyone who has looked on craigslist for a job can usually see the scam ads in a second. They ask you for money, or promise the reader they will make $20,000 and up the first month. This scams are nothing new but there is another one that is creeping up. It's the one where the job ad looks legit, so the reader replies with and right away they get a response from the "potential" employer telling them in order to be considered for a position they must agree to sign up to a free credit report site and send them the results. The link sent in the response email goes to claoffers.com. It's a scam, they want to know you credit information and steal your identity. In case you need proof here is an example of the response email received.

from Haley Myers haleymyersalqun@gmail.com

date Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 1:06 PM
subject KLT media job application (second stage) Re: Response to craigslist ad Information Systems Documentation Clerk
mailed-by gmail.com

hide details 1:06 PM (9 minutes ago) Reply

Thank you for taking the time to reply to our job
opening here at KLT Media. We are pleased to tell you that you have
been selected into the final screening process

This job will be a rewarding and profitable career choice and we offer
our employees the best salary and health packages available. We
believe a happy worker is the key to a growth oriented company.

As part of our routine background check on all employees we require
all applicants who have reached this stage to do a routine credit
check to verify your details.

This check is toally free to yourself and all details are totally
confidential.
Please note: We can not and will not use any bad credit to deny your
application (your credit is not important to us), this is simply to
verify your employment history and Social Security number.

To get your free credit report we suggest using this provider
http://tinyurl.com/58rrha

Once you have received your report please send it along with your
current cv to our human resources department hrdept@kltmedia.com

Once again thanks for your interest in the position, we look forward
to working with you in the near future.

Hayley Myers (human resources dept KLT Media)

Oh and here is a copy of the ad seen on craigslist:

Information Systems Documentation Clerk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reply to: JamarCraneWB@gmail.com [?]
Date: 2008-10-21, 9:02AM EDT



Rapidly expanding business South Coast looking for dynamic individual for full time work. . Candidate must have basic computer skills and a down to earth approach

All training provided to right applicant must be willing to work towards a group goal completing work on time is preferred Dont miss out on this great opportunity

Compensation: $15 - $19per hour, plus commission






Compensation: ask
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
PostingID: 887431278

So it appears KLT Media, JamesCraneWB@gmail.com and haleymyersalqun@gmail.com are a bunch of scam artist praying on people who are just trying to find a job and support their families. No legit job would ever require an employee to sign up for a credit report sight nor would they ever ask a potential employee to shoulder the cost of obtaining a credit report. Another thing the credit report an individual receives is different than what a potential employer receives. The reason this company is asking their potential employee to send the credit report results to them is because the report an individual receives has their social security number on it a long with other identifying information. If anyone sees this types of ads or have become a victim of these ads take a look at the advice here.
http://listofscams.blogspot.com/2007/10/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-been.html

Also for those who need it, it is required by federal law the three credit bureaus must provide consumers with one free credit report a year, each. For more information go here: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/freereports/index.html
That is the federal government site and it will direct you to the REAL free report site.