Social Engineering / SCAM Alert !!
Dear QA Analysts and People Abroad,
I'm normally not a big fan of calling fraudulent actions out on public forums, but this one is heinous on multiple levels ... and worse, because I too was taken.
I preface this by stating that it is despicable beyond words that there are some who would take advantage of others, and go to great lengths to exploit a basic need like getting job to support a family or pay for needed expenses (medical, or otherwise).
We don't need foreign terrorists when we have these people lurking. They ought to get the worst of punishments.
It starts with an e-mail ...
The initial phase of the scam takes place in the form of an e-mail sent to you from a "Mr. R. Giles" ... a person I cannot guarantee as legitimate (or real) for that matter. This person send you an e-mail stating that he's writing in response to an ad you responded to on some job board. If you're like me, you've lost track. So you reply.
Then comes the urgent call-to-action ...
A follow-up e-mail is sent to you stating if you're still interested to respond with additional steps. Keep in mind, other than the request to purchase a book (which didn't seem like a terrible thing - for $20), there was no real financial commitment.
There was a pre-qualifying test to take - about 100 questions - that were relevant to the position of interest. Again, I'm a fairly intelligent person and the questions asked were very on-point with what one would expect for a position of interest.
References required ...
Here's where things may start to take a turn. This fictitious person requires a listing of references. Typical of any agency, they ask for a resume, references, etc. There's nothing on my resume that I should be afraid of being tampered with, but there are former employers and other tid bits of information that could be used for good or ill.
The references is again, a typical ask. But in hindsight, this is means by which this $%^& spreads the maliciousness.
Finally, the site fails ...
So after a couple of days when I hear nothing back regarding my test results, references, or where I'm even at in the process I send an e-mail. The e-mail bounces. I give it the benefit of the doubt as it could be a host of different issues. I try again, same effect! Now I'm pissed for getting taken.
I check the website, and suddenly its down. Guessing distinct IPs get blocked once the scam is completed. Well played, #$%^& ! Well played!
Lesson Learned
In the quest to better my station and move upward, I was faced with a very insidious and clever ruse. I send this out to all who may read this, beware of this. But don't take my word for it ... click these links and do your diligence, as I should have done.
