(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – As unemployment numbers stagnate, scammers are finding new ways to exploit those desperately searching for jobs. In response, at a news conference today in Washington D.C., Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray joined David C. Vladeck, Director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, to announce a national sweep of job and work-at-home scams fueled by the economic downturn.

“What makes job scams particularly insidious—and what makes today’s efforts so important—is that these scams most often exploit honest consumers who are trying to make an honest living,” said Cordray via video conference. “Instead of making money, victims end up losing hundreds if not thousands of dollars.”

The sweep, which was dubbed Operation Bottom Dollar, resulted in 44 criminal actions by the Department of Justice and 18 actions by state attorneys general.

In Ohio, Cordray sued Cincinnati-based Job Line for multiple violations of Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act, including failure to deliver and making misleading statements. According to Cordray, Job Line advertised as a job referral service with exclusive employer contacts and charged an upfront fee of $250 for inside information on open positions. However, an investigation by the Attorney General’s office revealed that the majority of the employment offers were not obtained through exclusive relationships with employers and that Job Line provided information about job openings that was already publicly available, often outdated and inaccurate or false.

Filed today in Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, the lawsuit asks the court to prohibit this company from continuing its deceptive acts and to hold it accountable for providing restitution to consumers and paying civil penalties.

“This is just one example of this type of scam. We know that there are hundreds if not thousands more out there,” said Cordray. “The problem is identifying and tracking the scam artists who often work in the shadow of the Internet.” 

Cordray offered the following advice for Ohioans looking for employment:

• Don’t pay for help finding work. Be suspicious of companies that make you pay for “exclusive information,” mandatory training sessions, starter kits or other materials, especially if they ask you to wire transfer money to a foreign country.
• Don’t trust unrealistic salaries or vague job descriptions. Demand a detailed description of the work involved before you commit to a job.
• Beware of lengthy contracts. Don’t sign a contract without reading the fine print. Scam artists may try to slip in certain clauses, hoping you won’t read them. Written contracts generally are binding, so take the contract to an attorney or trusted friend to review and don’t sign until you fully understand the agreement.
• Take your time. Don’t give in to high-pressure tactics. If a company doesn’t give you enough time to review a contract or make a decision, don’t do business with it.
• Be wary of suspicious interviews. Be skeptical of group interviews and representatives that seem to be selling the company to you. If you feel pressured, walk away—you probably have good reason to be suspicious.

If you know of a scam or feel that you have fallen victim to one, contact the Ohio Attorney General’s office at www.SpeakOutOhio.gov or by calling (800) 282-0515.
 

Media Contacts:

Kim Kowalski: (614) 728-9692
cell: (614) 893-6018
Ted Hart: (614) 728-4127
cell: (614) 743-2286