Information and Alerts

Alert

BBB Serving Atlantic Canada has confirmed recent reports that this business, Automation LLC, is using a fake address and does not actually exist in our region.

Consumers report being contacted by the business with a job offer and accompanying paperwork which requires detailed personal and banking information from the job applicant.

BBB strongly advises consumers to consider the possibility that posting a resume publicly, even on the most commonly used Employment/Hiring websites, can potentially expose you to unsolicited offers which should be viewed with suspicion. Use caution when contacted by a business offering what appears to be a “too good to be true” job offer. These are often scams. Do not provide detailed information to anyone until you have verified the credentials of the business. Please check with BBB first.

If you are looking for employment, beware of scam job postings, fake recruiter emails, and work-at-home schemes. These cons often use real company names and can be very convincing. It may look as though you are starting a great new career, but you are really giving personal information or money to scammers.

Here’s how the scam works:

You spot a Help Wanted ad online or receive an email or a text message from an “employer” asking you to apply for a position. The ad likely uses the name of a real business or government agency. Companies small and large – even BBB – have been impersonated. You apply and get a quick response from the “hiring manager.” In recent versions of this scam, many victims report doing a phony interview through Google Hangouts or another video chat service.

After you are “hired,” the company may charge you upfront for “training.” You may need to provide your personal and banking information to run a credit check or set up direct deposit. You may be “accidentally” overpaid with a fake check and asked to deposit the check and wire back the difference. Or you may need to buy expensive equipment and supplies to work at home.

If you question the company’s methods, you will likely be met with a defensive response. But don’t give into the pressure and follow the demands. The job is not real!

How to Spot This Scam:

Some positions are more likely to be scams. Always be wary of work-from-home or secret shopper positions, or any job with a generic title such as caregiver, administrative assistant, or customer service rep. Positions that don't require special training or licensing appeal to a wide range of applicants. Scammers know this and use these otherwise legitimate titles in their fake ads. If the job posting is for a well-known brand, check the real company's job page to see if the position is posted there. Look online; if the job comes up in other cities with the exact same post, it’s likely a scam. 

Different procedures should raise your suspicion. Watch out for on-the-spot job offers. You may be an excellent candidate for the job but beware of offers made without an interview. A real company will want to talk to a candidate before hiring. Don't fall for an over-payment scam. No legitimate job would ever overpay an employee and ask for money to be wired elsewhere. This is a common trick used by scammers. And be cautious sharing personal information or any kind of pre-payment. Be careful if a company promises you great opportunities or big income if you pay for coaching, training, certifications, or directories. 
 Be wary of any offer to give you special access or guarantee you a job for a fee – if you are paying for the promise of a job, it is probably a scam.

Get all details and contracts in writing. A legitimate recruiter will provide you with a complete contract for their services with cost, what you get, who pays (you or the employer), and what happens if you do not find a job.

To report a scam, go to BBB Scam Tracker. Subscribe to weekly BBB Scam Alerts.