Proofreading job SCAM! IRC Publishing / ARC Publishing SCAM

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!