Tips to Avoid Scams

You can recognize and avoid would-be scammers by following these common-sense rules:

  • If a job post asks you to process REBATES or DATA ENTRY and promises "After 1 month, average data entry assistants make $8,000 - $10,000/mo." to work from home, it is a SCAM.
  • NEVER apply to a job that requires you to enter credit card information or pay a fee of any kind. It is a SCAM.
  • NEVER PROVIDE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (bank account number, eBay/PayPal info, passwords, etc.) or any other personal information that would allow someone to steal your identity - anyone who asks you to share this info before your in-person interview is a scammer.
  • DEAL LOCALLY WITH FOLKS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON - follow this one simple rule and you will avoid 99% of the scam attempts on HireAbility.com. If you are looking for jobs in other cities, make sure you use common sense in the amount of information you give.
  • NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM or any other wire service - anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.
  • AVOID DEALS INVOLVING SHIPPING OR ESCROW SERVICES and know that ONLY A SCAMMER WILL "GUARANTEE" YOUR TRANSACTION.

Who should I notify about fraud or scam attempts?

  • FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
  • FTC online complaint form (http://www.ftc.gov)
  • Canadian PhoneBusters hotline: 888-495-8501
  • Internet Fraud Complaint Center (http://www.ic3.gov)
  • Non-emergency number for your local police department.

If you suspect that a job posted on HireAbility.com may be part of a scam, please email the details to "support@hireability.com". Please be sure to the Job ID number in your message.


Recognizing scams

Most scams involve one or more of the following:

  • inquiry from someone far away, often in another country
  • Western Union, Money Gram, cashier's check, money order, shipping, escrow service, or a "guarantee"
  • inability or refusal to meet face-to-face

Examples of Scams

1. Data Entry Company offers you a job doing data entry from home, promising boatloads of cash

  • asks you to pay a fee to become a member
  • asks for credit card information
  • does not provide a way to contact a real person
  • promises a return of thousands of dollars per month with no skill requirements

2. foreign company offers you a job receiving payments from customers, then wiring funds

  • foreign company may claim it is unable to receive payments from its customers directly
  • you are typically offered a percentage of payments received
  • this kind of "position" may be posted as a job, or offered to you via email

3. Someone requests wire service payment via Western Union or MoneyGram:

  • Scam "bait" items include clerical servics, bookkeeping, housing - but could be almost anything
  • Often claim that an MTCN or confirmation code is needed before he can withdraw your money - this is FALSE, once you've wired money, it is GONE.
  • Common countries currently include: Nigeria, Romania, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Spain, Italy, Netherlands - but could be anywhere
  • Deal often seems too good to be true, allows work from home, no interview, pay is too high, etc

4. distant person offers to send you a money order and then have you wire money:

  • this is ALWAYS a scam, in our experience - the cashier's check is FAKE
  • sometimes accompanies an offer of part-time or full-time job, sometimes not
  • scammer often asks for your name, address, etc for printing on the fake check
  • deal often seems too good to be true

5. distant employer suggests use of an online escrow service.

  • most online escrow sites are FRAUDULENT, operated by scammers
  • for more info, do a google search on "fake escrow" or "escrow fraud"

6. distant employer asks for a partial payment upfront, after which he will ship goods or wire or mail payment

  • he says he trusts you with the partial payment
  • he may say he has already shipped the goods
  • deal often sounds too good to be true

Example Scam Email

Hello APPLICANT'S NAME, 
My name is Angelo Dellarmo from COMPANY NAME THAT MAY OR MAY NOT APPEAR REAL , i link suppliers who have been personally tested to buyers and can stand for 100%. I source for buyers and suppliers at the same time so I can link them to make mine and the company's profits. On every actual purchase made through administration's linking, I have a 20% profit .I source buyers and supplier within and outside the United States of America. I am constantly on the move organizing Seminars and Webinars to bring buyers and suppliers together. I need someone that can complete billings, invoicing and payments on my behalf and get them to the vendors, as well as always be on deck to receive payments from my buyers, so the linking is effective and immediate. 
The only way I am entitled to the 20% payment is, if the actual deal is concluded through me. When suppliers and buyers go head to head, I am at a loss as they can transact directly with one another without my knowledge. My hard work at sourcing, emailing, conducting webinars and seminars are left to a big loss and I know how difficult it is to source reputable and good suppliers, hardest to source are ready, willing and eager buyers. This position offers you 8%, you're offered a very good pay as transactions are steady, continuous and constant. An average transaction is for $2,000.00 and over and you can handle as many as 3 transactions in a week as most payment are made in installment. The pay is good enough to encourage you to work hard and be efficient while it's more than enough for me to stay in business while encouraging me to source harder and link more. I travel a lot and when buyer wants to make purchase, when I'm on company errand, he\she has to hold-on till I return, to place an order, on the long term. The effect is our customers start sourcing for suppliers on their own, so having an online assistant easily reachable has its numerous advantages. We have lost too many deals due to this and I'm trying to put an end to it. 
 
The best form of payment used are Business checks, money orders and direct bank transfers they are readily available and confirmed on the spot, they are not the only means used but they are the best for our process. Most of the buyers we work with are those we've previously handled successful transactions with, new buyers are verified and confirmed before the linking process occurs. You have nothing to worry about. The modus operanda goes thus; you receive the payment directly from the individual buyer, in your mail, usually via ups and have them cashed. You send the payment to our suppliers/vendors when I need you to, or directly to the company and your pay is 8% of the amount sent to you. All charges during cashing, sending of payments and transaction completion will be deducted from the balance after you've gotten your pay and not deducted from your pay so your pay is fixed on the amount cashed per transaction. You can handle as many as 3 or more transactions per week, but you'll be handling one (1) initially to see how efficiently and how quickly you can carry out the completion.  
 
On 3 transactions you're sure of nothing less than $600 weekly. The hours are flexible and you can decide when you want to work as what you'll be doing initially is cashing the payments and completing the transaction to the supplier. I don't need you online 24/7, just to be online on a daily basis and at least check your e-mail regularly. Working with me will also not disturb your other jobs, (If you have any) as I require that applicant only have easy access to the internet, be reachable easily and respond/carry out instructions sent as soon as possible.  
 
 
10(Ten) most asked Questions.  
 
1.  
Quest... Do I have to pay money to get this Job or spend my money in completing it in anyway(s)?  
Ans... No! You don't pay a cent to work, you're chosen if i think you're the right match for the Job and you do not spend your money.  
 
2.  
Quest... Is there a training period?  
Ans... Yes & No. Yeah it's via email and No, it's not nearly a training but a description of duties.  
 
3  
Quest...Do you send a W2 form or a 1099 form for tax purposes?  
Ans...If you're picked, your tax is handled by the company contractually on a quarterly basis.  
 
4  
Quest...It seems so easy, is this real?  
Ans... many are called, few are chosen. Guess if you sort the applications you'd know it's not easy a position? If you're called YOU must be right for it.  
 
5  
Quest...Do I contact the buyers, vendors/suppliers or both?  
Ans...NO, you do not. Contacting buyers and vendors require you to have been with me for at least 6 months.  
 
6  
Quest...Is there a maximum number of transactions I can handle 3(three) a week?  
Ans.....This depends on your output, the harder you work. The more the transactions you source for yourself. As more buyers are directed to you.  
 
7  
Quest... Are Business checks and Money orders the only payment method and are personal checks used as a payment?  
Ans....Other methods have been tried and this is the best method for the linking process I run.  
 
8  
Quest...Is there a pay review or the pay is fixed at 8% permanently?  
Ans...Over time and transactions, highly efficient assistants get to partner with me, not in rights but in pay, as we adjust and conform to a 10% each, pay structure.  
 
9  
Quest....Do you share or sell my personal/contact Information?  
Ans...Your privacy is very much mine. I'll treat your privacy the way I would treat mine.  
 
10  
Quest...Do I handle actual goods paid for, mailings or receive anything in the mail aside the payments sent to me for completion?  
Ans....No you do not. You just cash the payments and direct to the right department (Vendor/Supplier).  
 
Please show your continued interest in this position by sending me the following info.  
First Name: 
Last Name: 
Date of Birth: 
Mailing Address {No P o box}: 
City: 
State: 
Zip Code: 
Mobile Phone #: 
Contact Phone #: 
Alternative Contact e-mail address: 
Sex:

Personal Safety

The overwhelming majority of HireAbility.com job posters are trustworthy and well-intentioned.

Nevertheless, it's very important to take the same common sense precautions online as you would offline.

When meeting someone for the first time, please remember to:

  • Insist on a public meeting place like a cafe
  • Tell a friend or family member where you're going
  • Take your cell phone along if you have one
  • Consider having a friend accompany you
  • Trust your instincts

Taking these simple precautions helps make HireAbility.com safer for everyone.

For more information about personal safety online, check out these resources: