We're seeing another one of those annoying patterns again. If you've checked out our bait & switch offers, you might have read about Career Network. Their model is this: They buy up domains by the hundreds and create Web sites that all look pretty much alike. They aggregate jobs from publicly available resources, similar to how Indeed.com does it, but then they take it a step further by sending recruitment emails to job seekers, encouraging them to go to their sites to fill out "application" forms.

 

The problem, we feel, is that they are intercepting information meant for the prospective employer and claiming to be forwarding resumes to the employers, but there's no real proof they're following through. They've also claimed these employers as clients when no real relationship seems to actually exist. Aggregating jobs into a handy search is nice, but their whole modus operandi seems to be to get you to fill out THEIR forms so they can try to sell you educational programs. Sometimes they ask weird questions on their forms, like who your cell phone provider is. Probably an attempt to market cell phone services. In other words, there's no real proof you're applying for the job you saw.

We see the same thing here, and it started with Davieson Staffing, where many of you have posted comments about Ms. Claire Hunter at Munson Search Consultants, so we thought it was about time they had their own entry.

Don't you find it odd when a supposed staffing company registers multiple web domains and sends out mass emails recruiting for jobs that you could find at Indeed.com or CareerBuilder/Monster? We can't see what benefits you would get from entering your personal info on a form when there's no guarantee the employer will see it. We also have a hard time with people who act like or call themselves recruiters but are in fact just doing online marketing to try and make a buck by giving away your info. The best part is that if you didn't read their privacy policy, you can't complain, because if you look closely, they usually tell you this is what they're going to be doing with your info.

There are two lessons to be learned from this:

*  If the offer's unsolicited (meaning you didn't specifically go to the employer's site to apply for the job) you should be instantly suspicious. Don't blindly trust every job offer that comes your way. There are lots of fake recruiters out there and very little to differentiate the good apples from the bad.

*  Always read privacy policies before giving away your info! If you don't think it's very dangerous to share your name, address, phone number and email, you'd be wrong. They can find out if you own your home, they can try to break into your email/phone accounts to get more personal info, and the list (unfortunately) goes on, depending on how much you send (imagine what a bad guy can do with your resume!).

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Name: Email:  Do not notifyNotify Title: UBBCode:         -color-aquablackbluefuchsiagraygreenlimemaroonnavyolivepurpleredsilvertealwhiteyellow -size-tinysmallmediumlargehuge     Please input the anti-spam code that you see in the image.

jobseeker  - yep, got this too from "Claire"   |2009-08-11 07:27:03 yeah, I got this exact same email and I am glad I googled it before I clicked on a link. If a job is real, there is no need for your info to be updated, they should take whatever resume is posted on the job site. That's why I was cautious...again, glad I googled Munson Search Consultants.

Dan  - "Claire" emailed me, too   |2009-08-12 07:02:11 What gets me is that these so-called "executive" sites look so awful. Seems to me that anyone with executive-level brains would see through the clip art and chintzy web design.

"saved"  - Thanks for the phish update   |2009-08-26 10:16:44 I am so furtunate that this info was readily available. Super glad I took the time to check their credentials. Thank you PhishBucket.org!

Ed  - Domainbyproxy.com subpoena rules   |2009-08-27 09:40:17 Can they charge for following the law? There must be 99% lawyers in that place. The 1% prob is the guy in Nigeria or something. Clair Hunter...is prob an inside joke meaning 'clearly (not) a hunter' http://domainsbyproxy.com/popup/subpoenapolicies.aspx

Mark  - Clare is Busy   |2009-08-28 11:07:08 Receivbed the same message from Claire at Munson. Thanks for putting these scams out for others to see.

Anonymous  - new name/old phish   |2009-09-14 09:23:44 new twist? i received the following this morning, it included a former job title, so they've seen my resume. the email was from avrsearchconsultants.com, but the street address led me here... Hi _, Your background as _ came up as a match with new listings that were posted. If your job search includes professional or executive positions in the Information Technology industry, kindly update your resume here... Bryan Davis 848 N. Rainbow Blvd. Suite 21005, Las Vegas, NV 89107 btw, the googlemap street view of this address shows a 7-11.

Gerry K  - "Claire Hunter"   |2009-09-25 08:31:06 FYI, Just received an email 9/25/09 for the same "recruiter" - Claire Hunter. This time she was working through an email from "bryan.davis@avrsearchconsultants.com" that sends you to all these other "links" - Six Figure Careers, in affiliation with Executive Search Online to edsanders@bestjobs.sixfigurecareers.com GK

Ann  - Just got an e-mail from her   |2009-09-25 09:58:54 Glad the link didn't work and I tried to look up her link on Google and found you - brian.davis@avrsearchconsultants.com Hi Ann, Your resume was reviewed and passed on to our office. Your experience as Contract Senior Recruiter was of interest. If you are still seeking a professional or executive career in the Human Resources sector or other fields, with pay between $60,000 and $500,000, please update your information here... Regards, Claire Hunter

Mike Steinberg   |2009-10-27 09:20:58 I got one from avrsearchconsultants as well. What are they trying to get from me?

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