Military Vets Targeted by Sophisticated Job Scheme

NBC Bay Area News Online ^ | Sept 17, 2014 | Vicky Nguyen, Liza Meak, Jeremy Carroll and Felipe Escamilla

[huldah1776]

Mark Blum served his country for eight years in the Air Force. When he left the military, he had high hopes the skills he learned as a logistical advisor would help him land a new career in civilian life. Instead, he says, he was taken in by an elaborate online employment scheme that has financially ruined him.

Blum posted his profile on LinkedIn, which led to an email from a woman identifying herself as Betty Blake from Blue Line Network. “The very first contact with me was, 'We’re looking to hire ex-military people because of their attention to detail,”' Blum said.

*****snip*******

Veterans are especially vulnerable to online job scams because they have been out of work, out of the country and out of touch with civilian life, according to Sara Menke, the CEO of Bay Area recruiting firm Premier Staffing. She recommends that vets and anyone making a major career transition use a recruiter to help spot bogus jobs. “We are that go-between. We vet this out, and we act as a safety net on behalf of the candidate,” Menke said.

[huldah1776]

Personally, I don't trust many people face to face let alone online. Don't send anyone any money and remember, pending transactions means your bank is fronting the money for you. they do not have the funds being transferred or deposited into your account. Transfers still take the same amount of time as a the old paper checks. Reason being the Fed has to know how much money to print to cover the transfer.

[babygene]

“he had high hopes the skills he learned as a logistical advisor would help him land a new career in civilian life”

Why would he think that? A career managing a warehouse?

[a fool in paradise]

I had to take a lengthy online skills assessment test today (100 questions). The site recommended that I buy and read a $20 electronic book first.

There were typos in the test. I am going into the phone interview with an open mind tomorrow but I am also going in with my spidey-sense on guard.

I’ve search the website name online and didn’t see it listed under any known scams (I think I did match text from one solicitor before).