Here we go again.... I belong to a Work At Home forum, where mostly legitimate job leads are posted. A Proofreader job was posted last week, and many of the forum members applied (myself included).
Each and every one of us got the following response:
First, thank you for applying. We received an overwhelming number of responses and have finally narrowed it down to a few candidates.
We've made the decision to work with you temporarily on one or two projects to make sure this is the right fit for everyone. I think this may be the best way to see if this is going to work long-term. I hope so!
There are several hanging projects I would like to finish before we can start on some new websites and newsletters. These miscellaneous tasks should take about a couple of days. I would like to have them completed by the first week of October.
We partner with an agency Real Writing Jobs to manage and track these projects. You will have to go through this portal to gain access and fill in your information on how to get paid as an independent contractor. Checks will come from this agency. There is a registration fee of $2.95. Click above link to go directly to the sign up page.
Once you have completed this process we can get started. I will email you some directions and logins to begin.
I look forward to working with you!
Caryn Lara
Assistant Editor
Arc Publishing, Inc.
The immediate Red Flag is the fee. Yes, it is a small fee of $2.95, however, you should NEVER have to pay for a job.
In looking into it a little further, that small fee is for a 14 day trial, it is then $47.00 per month.
Based on my research, once you sign up, it is very difficult to get them to stop charging your credit card.
Looking a little further, the person that posted the job ad, and sent the response email is an affiliate of the site (Real Writing Jobs), and receives $18.00 for each person that signs up with her link (referral).
There is no job available (proofreading or otherwise). The scammer is just trying to get you to sign up, so she can make money off of you. Then you sign up for a sight that will repeatedly charge your credit card, for you to look at more fake / scam job postings.
*UPDATE* 14.Oct.2010
There are other people posting for this same job. Exact same form letter, different names, and using the company name i.r.c Publishing, IRC Publishing, a.r.c Publishing. Beware!
*Update* 27.Oct.2010
Thank you to a reader that commented that they received the form letter from a Beth Freeman. Another name added to the scammer list.
Watch out for those scams!
Wishing you all success!
Thanks for the warning. I applied for a proofreading job and got an e-mail from the same person, although it didn't ask me to pay a fee. That e-mail could be coming later. Now I know that it's a scam. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGlad I was able to help!
ReplyDeleteWendy
Very funny! I just got the same exact letter! Knew it was suspect because of the payment. Thanks for confirming my instinct!
ReplyDeleteIt is great that you can have a sense of humor about it! I admire your attitude!
ReplyDeleteWendy
I also received one. It seemed pretty shady, which is why I searched the keywords that led me to this page. Thanks for taking the time to write about this and posting a warning!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that my posts have helped all of you!
ReplyDeleteWendy
I also just got my letter and figured it was a scam due to the vague nature of things plus the fee to get a job. Glad to be able to confirm this on your post!
ReplyDeleteAmazing and sad that so many people have come into contact with this scam. Nonetheless - glad I was able to help!
ReplyDeleteWendy
thanks for this great information
ReplyDeleteI was a bit slow on the uptake with this one...my first time trying to do work at home. Paid the $2.95, was issued no access to the site (no password, etc.), called and left three messages and two emails, then found your blog. Had to have my debit card number changed and BofA reimbursed me the $2.95. Lesson learned but a huge waste of time. What scumbags!
ReplyDeleteI am so so sorry to hear that happened to you. I am glad you got your fee refunded!
ReplyDeleteWendy
Hello, I did this same thing on 9/29 and totally forgot about it . I just got charged $47 on my card. and of course can not get any assistance. I am going to call me card company but its Friday so I am screwed until Monday. Any advice on how to get my money back?
ReplyDeleteOk I was charged $47 and I found this phone number +18009806172 call and you can cancel your "subscription. Its only a message service. But I left a message like 15 mintues ago and just an emailing stating they are cancel the membership and refunding the charge. I am still going to call my bank and have them send me a new card and dispute that charge.
ReplyDeleteWow - the comments just keep coming in. Amazing how this scam has effected so many.
ReplyDeleteAs far as getting your money back, I would call your credit card company and tell them that it was an unauthorized charge. I would also ask them to block the company, so they can not charge you again. They should be able to get it sorted out.
Good luck!
Wendy
Thanks for blogging about this. I got this scam today. Lauren Whitman
ReplyDeleteAssistant Editor
i.r.c. Publishing
I did a web search on who it came from, it lead me to your comment on WAHM thanks Wendy for commenting on the post!
You are very welcome. I am so happy that I am able to help others. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd very glad you did not get scammed!
Wendy
thank you so much for posting this. I got 'hired' as well and something aboutthe e-mail just seemed really fishy to me -- it didn't sound at all like the way a human being would talk, plus the 'registration fee'. So I decided to google IRC Publishing and Real Writing Jobs. it is AMAZING the lengths they have gone to to cover up for the fact that they're nothing but a scam. When you look up the company names, all you get is a bunch of links to "people" "blogging" and "commenting" about how great the site is and how much money they've made, which was also really suspicious to me. Somehow, after Googling a few different phrases I found your blog. I hope other people that were 'hired' do their research and find your blog. In this economy, there are a lot of desperate people out there, and a lot of lowlifes looking to take advantage of that. You're helping a lot of people!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am so glad to know that I am helping! :)
ReplyDeleteAlso glad that you looked it up before paying their fee, and didn't get scammed.
Wendy
They got me, too. Same email. I would encourage all of you to report this. I did. http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear that. :(
ReplyDeleteThank you for the link - I will definitely report this as well as other scams!
Wendy
Just received same email, word for word from Lauren Whitman at I.R.C. Publishing. Thanks for the heads up. I was looking for something to verify my gut feeling this was a scam.
ReplyDeleteGlad you caught it beforehand, and didn't get scammed!
ReplyDeleteWendy
Wendy, thank you SO much for posting this. I got the e-mail as well but it just didn't sound right. I did a search of keywords and noticed that they post on several different sites, so I have flagged them as spam on the sites that had the option. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
ReplyDeleteWendy
Just adding to the list... They almost had me! But fortunately, maybe from the number of comments, this is now the top page that comes up in a Google search of irc publishing. Hopefully they can't cover their tracks much longer...
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you found the warning and did not get scammed!
ReplyDeleteThank you for letting me know.
Wendy
I just received this email! I found it weird that it went to my spam folder and that when I tried to reply, the server would not allow me access. When I clicked on the link and the Real Writing Jobs page opened, that's when I really got suspicious. I searched irc publishing and found this page. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how many scams for translating and proofreading jobs I've gotten. Thanks to whomever posted the contact info to report these kind of scams. I'm contacting them!
By the way, never, ever, accept a translation job from someone who will send you a cashier's check, the amount is way higher, and you're supposed to deposit it and send the difference back to them through Western Union. Looking back, I feel really dumb, I almost fell for that one and I would have lost about $2000! By law, the bank has to clear the check to your account by 2-3 days, so you think you're safe and do the Western Union thing. It takes the bank about 2 weeks to realize the cashier's check is bad and they take the money back from your account.
I am glad you didn't get scammed!
ReplyDeleteYes - that 'job' with the cashiers check is money laundering, and punishable by jail time. Glad you did not participate in that one.
Best of luck!
Wendy
Wendy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the warning! I was ready to go for it. If you come across legitimate work-at-home opportunities, please be so kind to advise. I am a writer, editor and proofreader but am open to other options for employment.
wordwisebelle@gmail.com
Hi Yvonne,
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you did not get scammed!
Check out my posts about job leads / postings. Maybe you will find something!
Best of luck!
Wendy
I totally signed up for the $2.95 fee without thinking about it or doing any research. When the email address I tried to reply to had been canceled, I started to worry. I googled IRC Publishing and this was the first link. Thank you so much for posting this warning and thanks to Anonymous for posting the telephone number. I called and left a message to have the "service" cancelled. Hopefully it won't do too much damage to my credit card...
ReplyDeleteI am glad you have put a stop to it before it has a chance to get out of hand. $2.95 isn't a big deal to lose. Repeated charges of $47.00 would become a huge deal.
ReplyDeleteI would also call your credit card company and have IRC/ARC blocked from your credit card. That way, they can not charge anything else.
Best of luck!
I received the same letter verbatim, only mine was from a "Beth Freeman." I thought it was weird that one email from these people went to my inbox and the same email (with a slightly different subject line) went to my junk folder.
ReplyDeleteBut after Googling IRC and finding this page, I was already on my guard--thanks so much for shedding a revealing light on these shady characters!
Thank you for letting me know! I will add Beth Freeman to the post, so when others search on her they will find out about the scam, too.
ReplyDeleteWendy
I'm in the same situation as the last poster above. "Beth Freeman" also sent me the same email, which made me suspicious. A google search sent me to your site. Thanks for what you're doing to help folks like us avoid scams!
ReplyDeleteKyle
Thank you for the comment, Kyle! I am glad you did not get scammed!
ReplyDeleteWendy
Got the same email from "Beth Freeman." I'm reporting this to my state consumer protection division. Don't fall for this!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you did not get scammed!
ReplyDeleteWendy
I sent an email back and told them I was broke and could not afford the registration fee. I also asked for an advance on my first paycheck. Still waiting to hear from Beth Freeman.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I would love to know if they get back to you, and what they say.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Wendy