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  Employment Scams
  To view the full article, please visit:
  https://www.bbb.org/central-georgia/news-events/bbb-scam-alerts/2020/03/employment-scams/
  March 25, 2020
  
  Unfortunately, COVID - 19 (Coronavirus) has affected many areas of our communities, and some of us are now seeking employment. 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.
  
  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 a 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'll likely be met with a defensive response. But don't give in to the pressure and follow the demands. The job isn't 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 overpayment 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 about sharing personal information or any kind of pre-payment. Be careful if a company promises you great opportunities or big income as long as you pay for coaching, training, certifications or directories.
  
  Government agencies post all jobs publicly and freely. The U.S. and Canadian federal governments and the U.S. Postal Service/Canada Postal Service never charge for information about jobs or applications for jobs. 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's probably a scam.
  
  Get all the 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.
  
  
  Better Business Bureau encourages you to report possible scams to BBB Scam Tracker at bbb.org/scamtracker. For assistance finding reputable businesses visit BBB.org. BBB has received multiple complaints and or Scam Tracker Reports from consumers indicating Octal Technologies did not pay wages for jobs they were hired for.
  
  Octal Technologies claims to be hiring for positions data entry work that is remote. Consumer applied for a job thru LinkedIn that takes you to Business's application page. Consumer is then contacted thru text messages from 1(386)492-0972 a few days after that read: "Hello "my name", my name is Curtis Taylor, Octal Technologies hiring manager, you applied for a job position at our company via LinkedIn, you have been offered employment at Octal Technologies. Kindly get back to me soon as you receive this text." "You will earn $30 per hour and training $25 per hour, you will receive your pay via Direct deposit or Paycheck weekly. Be able to provide a minimum of 25-30 hours of schedule availability." " This is a remote job position, you would work from the comfort of your home zone. Kindly follow the link below for your interview on our website: http://www.octaltechnologies.com/interview-data
  After filling out was instructed to provided address which had already been provided on this same website during the application process. Then before paperwork could be fill out business sent, "On a grade of 100% how much can this company depend on you for your loyalty, diligence, hard work, team spirit and sincerity?" I thought the repetitive words, words without correct punctuation were a little odd for a hiring manager of a supposedly highly advanced technological support company especially since text messages auto correct punctuation while typing things out for you. After reply business stated "Due to your level of experience and communication skills, Octal Technologies has decided to give you a chance to work with the company and will like to see your diligence, Charisma, Commitment to this job. Congratulations!!!"
  He then proceeded to ask about my full address even though I already gave them that in the application. I questioned why he needs me to send it to him after it's already done in the application and he insisted me giving it to him over text. I waited a little big before planning on telling him no, and decided to ask three random questions for verification reasons. I asked "What's your favorite color? What's your preferred choice of ice cream? And lastly what is the worst kind of spider in your opinion?" After he dodged the question, he told me he found the "information which was submitted on the website." and said, "Kindly look out for your employment letter it will come in your email tomorrow. Got it? Once again!! Congratulations on your new job Position. we are looking forward to your great commitment, Dedication and trust. Bye and have a blessed day! God bless!!!"
  
  BBB attempted to verify the contact information for the business but BBB was not able to locate a corporate filing with the Florida Division of Corporations for the business name Octal Technologies. BBB also found that the address provided leads to a house which cannot be verified to be associated with this business.
  
  BBB shows that Octal Technologies website http://octaltechnologies.com was created 1/22/2020 and one of the pages is just filler text and not anything that actually makes sense.