Description

I completed a profile on career builder looking for remote customer service positions. I received a text message within less than a week to schedule an immediate interview. When asked if I had Microsoft Teams I immediately downloaded it and replied, "I do now!" This morning at 9 am an "interview" commenced. I got up at 7:30 am and prepared for a zoom type (video), interview. That is not what happened, the entire interview was in text format. From 9am-12:30 pm I spent time texting questions from a George Mendez about my job experience, required duties, examples of difficult job related situations and job qualifications. At the end I was asked to wait 15 minutes because HR would review my responses and have an immediate response. 25 minutes later I was told I was hired! Making roughly 65-70K a year and that they would provide me with office materials (a new laptop, chair, mini filling cabinet and computer software). All I had to do was receive a check and use the funds to buy the materials from their specified vendor. After sharing this with my current employer he gave me a link to a page that was notifying job seekers to beware of this very specific scam and not to deposit checks from persons unknown. I was even asked, and answered, which bank I currently bank with. After speaking to my current employer I notified this "George Mendez," that my family was concerned that this was a scam and said I need to speak to you or a company representative via zoom or video chat before proceeding. After reading my response for about 20 minutes he attempted to call me through Microsoft Teams: the first time the call was connected but his camera was disabled and when I initiated my camera he disconnected the call. The second time when I accepted the call he disconnected. The third time I called him and he declined my call. Then he proceeded to tell me that he had attempted to call me but could not get through. I have attempted to call the number attached to company website for Athlone Labs but it has been disconnected. So I sent a direct messages to the email listed on the company website. I want to make Athlone Labs aware and more importantly job seekers: BEWARE! if the pay and benefits sound too good to be true and then they ask you to deposit a check into your personal account to purchase supplies for the job it is a scam!