NBC

Online Resume Leads to Fake Check Close Call

Jamie Jewel is out of work and has been on her phone, day and night, applying for jobs.

Her resume is posted on many online job sites, like Monster.com and Jobs.com.

Her resume has her phone number and email, so when she got an email about a job, she was thrilled.

Her interview, which was done via social media, lasted for hours. 

"[They were] your typical interview questions, so it's very legitimate-sounding all the way until the end," said Jewel.

That's because at the end, the employer told her he was sending a check to help pay for "job training."

"And that was it. That was like, 'Oh, now I know. Now I know this is not for real,'" said Jewel.

The check was sent priority overnight and looked pretty legitimate, but Jamie wasn't having it.

She called police who said it's almost impossible to trace. Since this company used FedEx, the postal police couldn't get involved either.

"I was kind of saddened because if I had deposited this check and then got out money of my own and sent it somewhere else, then I'd be out that money and I don't have that kind of money right now."

Jamie called NBC 5 Responds because she wants other job seekers to know they're at risk for fake online interviews if they post their resumes online.

This seems to be just a ploy to get an out-of-work person to fork over their bank account information.   

No one has money to give to scammers. Be careful if you're job searching and always remember anytime someone asks you to cash a check and send them money back -- it's probably not legitimate.

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