IS THIS A SCAM?? GOOGLE HANGOUT INTERVIEWs

[d1trance]

Wondering if these people are part of a scam?? I am new here on Upwork and have been contacted by two companies that proposed that they were interested in interviewing me. At first I was all happy that I was hired and would be working and earning money to pay for classes at my school but then I had a second interview and this interview was almost the same as the other (same questions, almost the same programs needed for job) and this is when I started getting suspicious. I do not know who to contact at Upwork in order to ask questions about these two companies.

Here is the proposal for interview message sent to me:

These proposals are for work as a bookkeeper, data-entry, administrative assistant. I received 2 proposaals yesterday 4/11/2016 and was asked for an interview. This is the message that I was sent. 

**Edited for Community Guidelines**

So...yesterday I had the first interview and then on the second interview I saw that both were almost the same. After about an hour interview with **Edited for Community Guidelines** (the first interview) who works for a company (**) and gave me the website address. I found the website legitimate and continued with the interview. After the interview I was told I was hired and that I needed some supplies for my home office. I was informed about benefits, pay rate and hours and duties required for the job. I was told I need these:

IBM Notepad laptop,

BS 1 Accounting software ,

MYOB business essentials software ,

Peach Tree Software ( US Patent Single Users Pack ),

simply accounting .

Microsoft Office Accounting,

Sirius GT Accounting For Windows X window time tracker ,

for my home office and that I would be provided a check in the next day for me to cash for the purchase of the supplies. This is where I started getting suspicious. I do not know who to report this to or ask questions pertaining to these companies who offered me a job.

IS THIS A SCAM????

 I really need this job and now I think I am stuck still looking. 

[kochubei_valeria]

Hi Rochelle,

I checked the interview I believe you are referring to and it looks like actions have already been taken against the job and the client account.

Thanks.

[jkrl]

This just happened to me two days ago.

[collazozaira]

That just happened to me today.  I am really sad because i really need the work.

[kochubei_valeria]

Hi Zaira,

I believe I found the interview you are referring to and it looks like the team has already taken actions against the post and the client.

Check out this post for more tips on how to avoid questionable jobs.

[jenniferalyssa]

I received something very similiar, however they did not ask me to purchase anything. They did however, ask for what bank I used and my name, address, and phone number. I did not give them any of that because it was screaming red flags, however the company they are claiming they are from seems to get a legitimate company, and the "person" I have been in contact with is listed as an eployee on the website. This did ask to speak to me through google hangouts. How do I know whether it is legit or not, because right now, I am thinking more that it is not. 

[mcluc]

Don't fall for that Jennifer. If the person is already asking for personal / private information, this is a scam. The site can be a clone of the original with few letters between changed on their url. Then, name, photos, description can be easily copied to their fake-clone website. Ask him via upwork video app / desktop PC version and see if he is the legit person he tries to prove.

[prestonhunter]

re: "They did however, ask for what bank I used and my name, address, and phone number."

No client needs all that.

Thankfully Jennifer was too smart to fall for this.

She realized something was wrong, if if she wasn't experienced enough to know that she was dealing with an identity thief or a scammer who only wanted to steal money from her bank account.

Let's think about this logicallly...

They asked what bank I use? NO CLIENT on Upwork needs that information. ALL payments go through Upwork. The ONLY reasons somebody would want that information are because:

a) They want to pay you directly to your bank, which is a violation of Upwork ToS, and would get you kicked off the platform.

or

b) They want to steal your money.

If they are hiring me (for example) to write an article... and the payment goes through Upwork, then why would they need to know the name of my bank?

When was the last time you thought about buying a book, and the first thing you wanted to know about the book was what bank the author used?

And why do they want to know my address? Are they going to come to my house and pick up the article in person? Every other client wants me to send the article to them through email or messaging. Are they going to come here and kick my dog if my article is late?

[rverang]

---

@Jennifer C wrote:

however the company they are claiming they are from seems to get a legitimate company, and the "person" I have been in contact with is listed as an eployee on the website.

---

It is a scam.

These people will use information that you can Google so that people would think it's legit.

If you call that company, they wouldn't know of any interview they are conducting in relation to what is being offered to you.

[aocumen]

Hi Jennifer, 

I would like to confirm that this is a scam and actions have been taken against the client and their job post because of a violation of the Upwork Terms of Service. 

It is unusual for client to request for your personal information, and/or your bank details, and we don't recommend meeting this request. You may want to read these tips for avoiding questionable jobs

and the Safety First! section of the freelancer resources we compiled to help you work safely on Upwork. 

[petra_r]

---

@Jennifer C wrote:

I received something very similiar, however they did not ask me to purchase anything. They did however, ask for what bank I used and my name, address, and phone number.

---

 They want to know your bank because some banks are better at recognizing the fake check they plan to send you than others. They want your address so they know where tosend the fake check...

At the end of the Hangout interview they offer you the job (of course there is no job) and then tell you they'll pay for your home office and will send you a check so you can buy typically 3 to 4 thousand Dollars worth of "stuff" from their "approved vendor" (the scammer themselves)

They want you to deposit the check which will initially show as "cleared" and they then want you to send your real money to the "approved vendor" (the scammer themselves)

A week or so later the check turns out to be fake, you lose all the money you sent, possibly your bank account and might get into trouble with the authorities for money laundering.

[a6b627cf]

I unfortunately fell victim to this "scam". I think it has to do with "public" setting of your profile...I could be wrong...but it seems like "they" target "newbies" with a public profile..

anyone else have this problem 😞

[gfraller2016]

The SCAM challenge is all round is. Be vigilant and prudent.

[hoppie5925]

 I was wondering the same thing, I have gotten two also and they just want to communicate on hangout. That is a red flag to me and the fact that the payment it not verified, both were like that. I did not get to the point to see if they asked me to purchase anything because it sounded fishy and I did not answer. I would have to let a job opportunity pass by but I don’t have time for scams. 

[boshoffirene]

I can, in all honesty, say - from personal and other people's experience - google hangout is the place scammers tend to use. 

[352fa0f4]

Good morning,

I had the same thing happen to me today.   They actually had my home address.   And when I spoke to the lady not once but twice, she said this is not a scam at all and said she would call me and I have been waiting for over 2 hours.   

There is not a way to report this since they contacted me via Google then Google chat and did not go through UPWORK at all.   I don't want anyone else to get scammed this is my 2nd time being scammed in a week, and I know there are legitimate work from home opportunities, and was assured that this was one of these sites.   I am getting totally unnerved by this.

Please provide next steps or something to help?

Sincerely, 

RT

[bstojadinovic]

Hi Rosina,

Please note that it is a violation of Upwork’s Terms of Service to request or share contact information before a contract starts.  You can check this help article for crucial information that will help you have a safe and successful journey on Upwork.  Please use the Report Suspicious User Activity feature whenever you see a violation of the Upwork Terms of Service.

Thank you!