Job Seekers. Apply faster.
Job seekers, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you are unemployed candidate, seeking new opportunities, or simple exploring other job opportunities while at your current job, please be WISE. Don't be emotional or desperate, control your ego!
Today I received a message from a 'StartWire Recruiter' from the HR department with the perfect remote job opportunity. He was good at highlighting all the items I have on my LinkedIn profile, and it felt real good. My profile states that I am only seeking remote and consulting work. Wow, a remote job that matches my skills, this is awesome. Well, my inner BIG BELL sounded and my inner voice said: "I know you are good, but something is not right."
I reach out to two of my friends, YouTube and Google and there it was. My friend YouTube led me to "StartWire Warning" video by Jennifer Best — Thank you Jennifer. My friend Google led me to several pages with comments saying "I have selected this company from LinkedIn for some job position and unknowingly got subscribed to a spam system." Jennifer's comments and the other comments were the same. Later received another message from the same recruiter with a link to an application form. Although I still had my doubts about him, I told myself "What if I am wrong?" I made sure my virus scanner was up and running, then I did it. Yeahhhh, I clicked on the link and once it took me to the website form, it was clear to me. This fool is a scammer!
The website had the StartWwire logo with arrows, and as a UI / UX Designer I didn't like how the site looked or felt. Now I felt so smart again. At first I laugh and wanted to tell him how smart he was while laughing with him; however this laughing with him was going take place after slapping him for lying to me. Ja ja ja (you write Ha ha ha or He he he), but anyway "Where is Miss. Cleo when we need her?"
I flag him as a scam/spam and now he is off LinkedIn, but he will be back with a different name. This time he is coming for you, just like Freddy Krueger. LOL
The fact is, I have been working from home for many years, and I love it. I have received all types of scam / spam messages and totally ignored them, but this was clever. These fools are getting better at playing with our emotions, and if you are in a desperate time in your life you will complte that form without thinking about it. Just remember, if you are on LinkedIn your information is out there, and if you are on Facebook your life is out there. Scammers can get to you better than they did before, if you are emotional and desperate. I don't know anything about the real company Startwire, and I am not trying to promote them.
Just do yourself a favor, ask questions before you fill out any form. If you don't trust your virus scanner, don't click on the link anyone sends you; even your Mom. Yes, my Mom sent me a link, and I called her because it was a strange looking email. Over the phone she said: "Someone sent me this email and I sent it to you so that you could tell me what it is. I tried clicking on it several times but nothing happen." Her email said "please click on this link and tell me what it is." Hmmmm she is loyal client to all scammers, even if she is a bit better now. She is old and don't understand technology or scammers. If you are on LinkedIn or Facebook you don't have any excuse, and don't blame your emotions.
What should you do? If you are in contact with a recruiter, but your communication feels suspicious, then it is. If you are hired for a remote job that you're not sure is real, trust your guts not your emotions. Scammers will read this post, therefore I can't advice you correctly because they learn from reading posting like this one. All I can say is, be wise, and be aware of inconsistent contact information. Having a big company name or logo doesn't mean anything anymore, even if they have an amazing website.
Be wise, do your research, as questions, don't share your private data, and don't fill-out any forms if you are not sure about them. Also, if you do fill-out any application form, don't use the same password or user name. Don't trust them! Hear is some good news. I talked to my friends YouTube and Google and asked them to help you when you are in need, so reach out to them before you complete any job form. Okay, I am getting tired of talking, even if my mouth is not moving. God bless you and see you on my next adventure.
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