I have had the strangest interview experience, and now have been offered the job...but maybe there are too many tiny red flags?

Anonymous

January 19,2023 at 6:15AM UTC

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I have had the strangest interview experience, and now have been offered the job...but maybe there are too many tiny red flags?

So, I didn't think much of it when a recruiter reached out to me about a position, because they do that. I applied, and they invited me to interview with a Sr. Recruiter. However, it was all done via a Teams chat. Not a call...a text chat. First red flag. The second interview was done via a questionnaire over email. Second red flag. I've never done interviews where I didn't talk to a single person at least via the phone. However, these are new times, so what do I know.

A few days later they offered me the position--this time via phone. They sent me an official looking offer letter, benefits list, and contract stating they'll reimburse costs. Nothing I haven't been sent before. But there were some other red flags as I looked over everything. The company is a .com, but the email is from the company .careers. Okay, some companies do that. However, it is paid every week (outside of temp jobs, that has never happened before). This isn't a low-paying or contract position. This is a manager job.

So, I called the company to verify the offer. I left a message with the head of HR, with the HR ops manager, and with reception. I even messaged one of them on LinkedIn. I've heard nothing back.

There is nothing online about anyone using this company name as a scam. The company itself is quite legitimate. However, something feels off, and I don't want to send them my passport or anything without verifying this is real. I'm just asking what you all think. Scam? Not scam? Have any of you experienced anything like this before?

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Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJanuary 19,2023 at 6:58AM UTC
I say scam - because of this right here ---> "contract stating they'll reimburse costs."
This is a known scam - I've heard a couple of different versions - they tell you to buy computer equipment and they'll reimburse you.
I, personally don't know of any legitimate company whose computer security group would allow this. I've worked remote for almost 20 years and I've only ever used my own computer or one they sent me.
They have you buy the equipment and then ask for your bank account info to re-imburse.
All the other things you mentioned are also blazing red flags to me.
Zeecil KimmelJanuary 19,2023 at 1:28PM UTC
It sounds off and you would need to speak to someone in person with a corporate email account before sending any emails with personal information. I will tell you that I recently interviewed at a company and one of the benefits they were so proud of was "reimbursement." They actually thought I would buy my own computer and they would give me $300 and since I could keep the computer after 2 years that was a bonus. Needless to say, I did not take that job.
Carolyn HipkinsJanuary 19,2023 at 1:33PM UTC
I say scam also. Scammers have been using legitimate company names to scam people. Some companies have warned people about that.
Hilary GrayJanuary 19,2023 at 1:44PM UTC
Definitely a scam. I haven't personally experienced this but have seen people posting almost identical stories online and they all ended up being scams.
Gina KeenanJanuary 19,2023 at 1:54PM UTC
Good thinking, yes I agree it could be a scam.
Jessica FerlandJanuary 19,2023 at 2:05PM UTC
I read your headline and before reading the post, thought, go with your gut. Then I read the post and confirmed what I already thought. You're totally right. Even just 2 of those things seems weird but that's a lot. Onto the next!
AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 2:12PM UTC
I went through a Google chat similar I was told I was hired and then when I asked to speak to a real person before I filled out any paperwork, especially with Social Security numbers, passport ID, etc. they never got back to me. How shameful we’re living in a world where people are being scammed over employment opportunities
Meg McCormickJanuary 19,2023 at 2:27PM UTC
It's a scam. Our company was used in this way for fake job offers. You did the right thing by contacting the company directly, but do NOT give any personal information that could be used for identity theft.
Jennifer FingerJanuary 19,2023 at 2:37PM UTC
I agree, it's a scam. You should at least have had to talk to someone on the phone before receiving an offer, and the employer's silence when you reach out is concerning.
Rebecca AliJanuary 19,2023 at 3:30PM UTC
Trust your instincts. Apparently there are lots of people using their talents for evil instead of good which is just exhausting to think about TBH. WHY? I don't get it.
Anyway. No company I have ever heard of, no matter how much they cut HR staff and try to make things efficient, would ever offer a role without some kind of face to face meeting.
AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 3:52PM UTC
Unfortunately, it sounds like a scam. My (very legit) employer, currently hiring, has been fraudulently used to interview/make job offers using the tactics you describe here. We've learned about it when the job seeker called the number on our website, and the call was routed to my team. We'd never heard of the recruiter, position, or candidate. If you can't proactively make contact with someone at the firm to confirm, then keep looking.
AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 4:36PM UTC
Run don't walk.
AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 5:00PM UTC
Scam! Please delete and block the number if possible.
AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 7:49PM UTC
Block and report them on your email address as well. AND AND put them on any watch list, such as bank alerts, credit card alerts. If you have a cpy name submit cautious complaint of lack of transparency to BBB. They were successful in connecting with you on your computer, take that into consideration. Having your computer checked for viruses isn't the worst idea either.
Becca A.January 21,2023 at 3:55AM UTC
Yeah, that part creeped me out. Like I know there is a site called zoom i n f o that has a lot of people's professional contact information on it for some reason so I wonder if they used means such as that to connect to her. As, from personal experience, I have had unsolicited contact to my company-provided emails attempting to recruit me for a job which always alarmed me!
Birgitta WJanuary 20,2023 at 12:40PM UTC
Run , that is not correct, something is wrong
AnonymousJanuary 20,2023 at 1:55PM UTC
I had the same thing where they wanted me to do a interview on zoom chat - when i began asking some pointed questions about the job, like a JD, location etc, I got radio silence. I looked them up and also saw great reviews. What led me to thing they were bogus was they reached out to me about seeing my resume on a job board - so I didn’t even apply for this role. I’d walk away from this one - too many scams out there.
Cinzia IacovelliJanuary 20,2023 at 5:24PM UTC
One word: scam.
Kimberly GrahamJanuary 20,2023 at 5:57PM UTC
Pay attention to red flags and more importantly what your gut instincts are telling you!
Melinda PayneJanuary 20,2023 at 8:41PM UTC
SCAM.
Becca A.January 21,2023 at 3:53AM UTC
A red flag is a red flag no matter how big or small the size of a flag. This screams of a scam more so since you did your diligence by reaching out to the HR reps and still received no response. Talk about a prelude to the "support" would have received had you moved through with being with this company....if they're not already to be a scam that is.
I would not share any sensitive information with them and move on to the next potential employer that does not raise these alarms. 2023 and small clusters of people are still out here preying on the innocent who just want to find safe employment. How disgusting.
Sorry that this one didn't work out and happy you checked in with our community to share our take too
Patricia CooperJanuary 21,2023 at 1:25PM UTC
Scam I was scammed the same way
Jennie AbrahamsonJanuary 21,2023 at 1:38PM UTC
Scam….run away!!!!
Valentina Huang, MBA, SHRM-CPJanuary 21,2023 at 1:47PM UTC
Everything you’ve described sounds like a scam. Trust your gut. Do not send over your information.
AnonymousJanuary 21,2023 at 2:26PM UTC
That is not normal. RUN!
AnonymousJanuary 21,2023 at 2:46PM UTC
Scam, RUN and don't look back ?
AnonymousJanuary 21,2023 at 3:54PM UTC
Total scam-RUN
AnonymousJanuary 21,2023 at 4:38PM UTC
We do remote interviews. #1 may be by telephone or more likely by video meeting software. #2, depending on the exact job will be either be a writing sample and/or technical testing. #3 is
Julie Chatman, MBA, CISMJanuary 21,2023 at 4:56PM UTC
This sounds like a scam
Me!January 21,2023 at 5:22PM UTC
This Is too many red flags. Beyond that ask yourself if you want to work for a company that 1.) Hires employees without speaking to someone (until the offer). This does not allow you the opportunity to interview the company 2) What about a discussion with the manager of this position or a colleague? As a manager would you be comfortable hiring this way? When texting you have no actual confirmation of who you are conversing with. I suspect the offer is just good enough to cause one to ignore these issues.
RichJanuary 21,2023 at 5:41PM UTC
I've been helping mid-to late-career professionals land jobs for more than 10 years.
This is too weird!
Not only should you run away, you might file a complaint with your state's attorney general. This is attempted fraud.
Grace BergeronJanuary 21,2023 at 5:54PM UTC
Listen to your inter self. Something is telling you this is not right. BELEIVE what you know. RUN, don't walk. Good luck in your job search.
AnonymousJanuary 21,2023 at 5:56PM UTC
Check to see in the location where they are incorporated to see if it has legitimate business licensure. US based employers are required to have an FEIN number given to them by the IRS. Ask for that and some information about their banking. Do let them know that you want this information to assure the business they are in is legitimate. If they repel from providing that information run the other way.
I would not share your social security number with them unless they can provide some documentation of legitimacy. Good luck.
AnonymousJanuary 21,2023 at 10:23PM UTC
Not a FEIN number but a TIN or EIN
IntentionGirl299847January 21,2023 at 7:46PM UTC
Send no *personal documentation. In today's tech world everything you have said screams scam. Wlak, no run, away
AnonymousJanuary 22,2023 at 12:30AM UTC
Sorry that this has happened to you.
Based on the information that you have supplied, my sense is that this is a scam. No interview in person, by Zoom or even by phone? No reference request? Sounds very wrong. Your instincts not to supply any documentation are on target.
I’d drop contact and see what happens. If it is a real job offer (which I doubt), you’ll hear from a human being whose status with the company can be verified.
misskelleypJanuary 22,2023 at 4:07AM UTC
I had this happen to me once, it was a scam. They sent me the offer letter, plus all the paperwork which would have given them my social security number and banking info. DEFINITELY more due diligence to do on your part.
Summer BammesJanuary 22,2023 at 7:16PM UTC
A friend of mine recently had a similar experience, including the text chat interview and the offer to reimburse costs. She cut the process off, feeling fairly sure it was a scam, and reported it to our Department of Commerce. If your state has an agency investigating internet fraud, I might get in touch with them to see if there are any complaints that sound similar.
AnonymousJanuary 22,2023 at 8:51PM UTC
This is happened to me more than once with a recruiter, and at first it looks like a legitimate company, and then you find out it was a “Recruiter” One time I had an appointment and the person who I had made the appointment with wasn’t even in the office, but they said, go ahead and give me a copy of your social and your drivers license and fill out an application. I sat down and then thought better of it after I learned, it was just a sweatshop type recruiter they had Stacks upon stacks of people’s files with their personal information in Plainview. I told him I was leaving and took back my résumé from them.
i’ve had other experiences that asked for things upfront like that and we hadn’t even talked about a job. I told him that’s not how it’s done and moved on.
Job searching, isn’t easy as it is and having to watch out for this land mines to side step. Who would’ve thought that there are big job listings and job scams out there. It’s disgusting!
JudikingJanuary 27,2023 at 3:54PM UTC
Never give any personal ID on line.