Scambusters, Preventing Internet Scams & Phishing Attempts

This blog is dedicated to help preventing internet fraud and internet scams. Scambusters was a radio show I started in Albany Oregon, but due to defaulted payment by the radio station we took the show offline. Regardless of this issue we still wish to help prevent internet fraud and save people from internet loss. I have been interviewed and featured in various publications such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times & Daily News, The London Times & AARP Newsletters. Please watch this blog for latest tips and tricks and scams to avoid.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Cell Phone Racket : Job - Office assistant - Spire Hiring HR

Wow, what a scam... they send you to this goofy IQ site, where you need to sign up using your mobile phone, where they bill you 9.95 for the 1st month and $14.95 each month for their service.  What a racket

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Samantha Regent <Samantha@spirehiring.com>
Date: Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 3:52 PM
Subject: Job - Office assistant - Spire Hiring HR


Hi, your resume crossed my desk today, and I am glad to say that I would like to interview you for an office assistant position.  We are scheduling interviews for Monday afternoon since this week is expected to be quite busy. The last requirement we have of you is that you take our recommended IQ test at (removed for safety) and email your results to hr@spirehiring.com, our minimum score for employment is 105 but considering your resume you should have absolutely no trouble reaching this.. The test is about 10 mins and we are expecting that you will be able to have this to us before Friday and I will personally call you to schedule your interview afterwards. Once again, thank you for considering this position and we look forward to making a long-term work relationship possible from this.

-
Samantha Regent
Spire Hiring HR dept.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

This guy is working in the Washington, D.C. area ... Robert Coleman ... an official sounding name ... same gizmo -- gives you a test (personality related) and then says you only need to pay $1.00 for your free Credit Score which he needed before processing me for the Legal Administrative Assistant position ... I paid the $1.00 but when I read the fine print inside ... it talked about monthly charges being made to my card for a year, etc. etc. If I had not read this (because they try to hurry you about with a "timed test" so you WON'T read the fine print ... I would have been stuck with the payments untili I realized what happened. Good thing legal secretaries KNOW to read the fine print so this doesn't happen but it still makes me VERY ANGRY -- especially when I've been trying to get a job very hard for over 2 years! This guy should be shot!

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for your post!!!! I was just about to fall for his scam...
I had applied for a clinical research assistant position in San Diego. Got an email from Robert Coleman saying "We have reviewed your application, and have decided to introduce you to the next phase of our application process." I took the personality test and went onto the next step and was shocked when you were supposed to provide your credit score after using the credit link. I googled Spire Hiring and found all this scam stuff...Yikes! Hoping that I havent gotten a computer virus or anything from opening the email.

Anonymous said...

Hey, I got the same thing, and just got charged $1.00 on my account. So, i've been looking for where I go to figure all this fine print out and cancel anything that he might have been setting up on me, Ideas?

Anonymous said...

I received an email from this same phony email account. I had replied to a job posting on Craig's List. Same story as all the comments below.
Links to http://www.FreeScore360.com which in turn links to http://creditdiagnosis.com. Unfortunately, I fell for it and now have to try to call the toll-free number listed as 1-800-379-5036 to try to cancel. I hope this information helps anyone else who has been scammed.
I intend to file complaints with the FTC, Craig's List and the BBB in my state (FL).

Anonymous said...

I just got the same email from Robert Coleman- I check here first- Thank goodness- taking advantage of people in need of a good job. Thanks for the help---

Unknown said...

They just tried to con me. Don't fall for their BS. They are a SCAM.

Anonymous said...

I got this yesterday. I was very disappointed to find out it was a scam.

Anonymous said...

I got a Robert Coleman email last night as well. Seemed fishy, so I checked it out and found this site and others confirming my suspicions.
I didn't click on anything.

Anonymous said...

I received the same email this week too. It wanted me to take some application test. I clicked on the link and put my name and email address in and the I.D. number they gave me. It didn't work. Maybe I'm lucky that it didn't work. I decided to google Spire Hiring and found out that it's a scam. It's terrible that people take advantage of good people.

Anonymous said...

I applied for a job that involved in dealing with benefits for the state run programs. It seemed legitimate, but after thinking about it, the state takes care of those programs. Took a half assed assessment test which said nothing, then directly to a credit report site. The world is a mess, this crap on the internet, solicitation calls on the phone (on the do not call list-doesn't seem to have an effect, and now have kids coming to the door running scams selling bogus subscriptions. I need a job,not this bs.

Anonymous said...

https://support.namecheap.com/ > Submit a Ticket > Domains -- Legal and Abuse. The more people that submit tickets the faster they get banned!

Anonymous said...

He is also using the name alias William McMacken from Canada as well.

Here is his email and MySpace page:
wmcmacken@gmail.com
http://www.myspace.com/525961298

Anonymous said...

I've received the same email as the OP, except this time from the email address Samantha.Regent83@yahoo.com. I can't stand when people prey on those in unfortunate situations.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing all of this information!! Same EXACT wording but the email is:
Samantha.Regent83@yahoo.com

She is saying she is "JDI Exec HR dept" as a job title. Spire Hiring was only listed in the subject line or I would have missed it.

VERY upset that sites like this take advantage of unemployed/desperate people. I agree that these people should definately be held accountable....
:(

Anonymous said...

I received the same email but went to the website and did the IQ test. What do I do now? I used my cell phone.

Anonymous said...

This is the same scam I got after applying for a Ground Service Agent position on Craigslist.com

"We have reviewed your application and have decided to introduce you to the next phase of our application process. Based on requirements from our clients we combine expertise with the latest recruitment software that allows us to quickly assess and combine your experience and personality to each organization's goals and culture.

You may continue the process by visiting the application screening page of our website. In order to complete the screening you will need the application code that we have provided in this email. We will forward your screening information to our client once you complete the process.
This is the same scam I got:

Application Screening Page: spirehiring.com/portal2.php
Application Code: XXXXXXXXX

If you have any questions contact our support staff at spirehiring.com

Regards,

Robert Coleman, Spire Hiring

THIS IS CLEARLY A SCAM and it kills me that innocent, naive people are being trap by it.

Anonymous said...

I received this email today! Anyjob that wants to know your credit score...on line MUST be a scam! Whitecollar crime! I tell you this....they picked the wrong email this time!!!!


From: Rob Coleman
To:
Sent: Thu, February 17, 2011 1:33:50 PM
Subject: Re: Front Desk Assistant

Hi Sharon,
We have reviewed your application and have decided to introduce you to the next phase of our application process. Based on requirements from our clients we combine expertise with the latest recruitment software that allows us to quickly assess and combine your experience and personality to each organization's goals and culture.

You may continue the process by visiting the application screening page of our website. In order to complete the screening you will need the application code that we have provided in this email. We will forward your screening information to our client once you complete the process.

Application Screening Page: spirehiring.com/portal2.php
Application Code: 0720571704

If you have any questions contact our support staff at spirehiring.com

Regards,

Robert Coleman, Spire Hiring

Anonymous said...

I've been out of work for two years. Like most, I'm almost willing to try anything to pay the bills and then Robert Coleman comes along... He had me up until they wanted my credit score - ridiculous!!!