Thursday, September 28, 2017

WHEN I NIBBLED THE BAIT, IT DIDN'T TASTE THAT GREAT

To read the beginning of this story, please click on I WAS PHISHED AND I NIBBLED ON THE BAIT.

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

After I sent my cover letter and résumé to "William George" of Sas, which is a real company that has a beautiful, professional Web site, I was surprised to find another email from Sas in my inbox the very next day.

This time "Jessica Julious" wrote:

Hello, 


        Sas Institute has approved your application for the position of a Content writer/Editor after careful review of your resume/portfolio and we want to arrange you for an immediate interview with our Human Resource hiring Manager Dexter Jackson ASAP.

        To begin the process you need to get a Gmail account and install Google Hangout on your PC or phone and add Dexter on his hangout ID then send him a message on hangout to communicate with him, you can do the hangout chat interview either on your computer or mobile.

        We look forward to hearing back from you asap and i wish you best of luck with your interview.
         

Human Resource,
Dexter's Hangout ID: I removed the link because I don't want you to click on it

Interview code: Saswriters007.

I had already started to suspect that the job was too good to be true. When I received the second email, "scam scam scam scam" wouldn't stop running through my brain.

What is it about the second email that you think tipped me toward believing it was a phishing expedition?

Once again, to be continued . . . .


Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug





61 comments:

  1. Run-on sentence and lower case "i"?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I gave that some thought, but having worked in the business world before, I didn't give this too much weight. It's amazing how many of them need an editor. And after all, weren't they planning to hire one? Seems to me they need one. But that's not what made me suspect them. It was the directions of needing to set up that whole hangout thingy. :-)

      Delete
    2. The hangout thingy was another red flag.

      Delete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Could it be the grammar? (we want to arrange you) Could it be the lack of punctuation? Could it be "i"? Could it be singular where plural was called for? (resource) Could it be all of the above??

    You have to LISTEN TO THE VOICES IN YOUR HEAD, JANIE!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are the voice in my head. I noticed all of those, and some more.

      Delete
  4. Trust your gut/voices.
    I have had similar emails but given that I haven't applied for any of the positions they have received short shrift.
    I suspect it was the clumsy use of language which set off warning bells, but am waiting anxiously to know more.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, the clumsy language was a big old red flag.

      Delete
  5. I would say my first warning bell was that the person wanted you to use Google Hangouts. Why would a real interviewer not want to call and speak with you on the phone if they wanted to see about hiring you? Also, the email itself was hideous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You've added another good point: Google Hangouts.

      Delete
  6. What tipped you off? Run-on sentences? Poor punctuation? Dodgy grammar? The unprofessional tone? The necessity to set up a special line of communication? "ASAP"?

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm waiting with bated breath for the conclusion of the story (or at least the next part).

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your previous commenters covered the things that would have made me cautious. Hell, I never even heard of Google Hangouts. Some Google stuff is good, like its search engine, Blogger, YouTube, but things like Google + and now this "Hangouts" thing don't interest me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Although, having said that, I really wish someone would program Blogger's spell-checker to recognize "commenter" as a proper word!

      Delete
    2. I had to Google "Google Hangouts."

      Delete
    3. It's pretty much like asking you to do an interview on Messenger. Class act all the way.

      Delete
  9. Run on sentences, lower case letters, the wording. I don't look forward to looking for another job.

    Love,
    Jessica

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Job hunting bites the big one. It's right up there with divorce in terms of a good time.

      Delete
  10. i speak and write Klumsy !
    Please do not keep us waiting too long for the next installment.

    cheers, parsnip

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll try to write again soon, but I have a stomach bug and have to finish editing a book.

      Delete
  11. Red flags are popping up in my head over this.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The grammar seems to be a mess. That would be a big red flag!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I don't know what tipped you, except the general principle that if it seems too good to be true it probably is... But this is a great story. I'm hooked to the (bitter) end.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sounds like they're in a rush to hire you.
    I want to know more!!! ASAP!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Google Hangouts, clumsy wording, mistakes, and just the ASAP ASAP and the quick responses are all red flags. And how about the code name! Saswriters007 007?

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm not sure what Google Hangout is, but I surely don't need to get involved in any more internet stuff and don't feel much like "hanging out" with anyone I don't know, potential employers or not.

    I get some interesting sounding job openings in my email sometimes, but to date I haven't actively pursued any of them other than looking at the additional job descriptions. Seems like there is always a disqualifier for me and I'm never bold enough to pursue them anyway.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Google hangouts allows you to video chat with someone and I don't remember what else.

      Delete
  17. The whole email sounded fishy to me. I am glad you did not take the bait.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I guess it would be when they start making demands, or asking for private info. I hate that you had to even be exposed to these people.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was a cruel thing to do to someone who wants a job so badly, but they don't care.

      Delete
  19. Yeahhhhhhhhhhhh, that second email? Something smells fishy. And it ain't bacala.
    Google Hangout? Raise shields.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Okay, the wanting to arrange you and other problems with the message only made me giggle. I thought they were trying to show you how desperately they needed an editor. :-) But the Google hangout? uh-ungh. Walk away.

    ReplyDelete
  21. You want to arrange me? Whoa, not on the first date. I'm not an easy gal.

    I'm very eager to see where this goes, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't a HUGE surprise that this was a scam.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm pretty easy. I'll be arranged if enough money is involved.

      Delete
  22. I knew it was a scam the moment you said Jessica Julious... Plus the writer of the email (previous post) seemed to have an unhealthy penchant for commas. Run-on sentences are criminal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Jessica Julious" was one of my first tip offs, too.

      Delete
  23. No matter the salary, I tend to be suspect of such a redundant extent of a hangout factor. I mean, yeah, I'm desperate, but somethings are best left to the imagination.

    PS I'm back. Great post about dialog below. I'll post shortly. First, I'm visiting some faves. (Hint: that's you.)
    Love ya.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh, Janie... So sorry you had this crap experience. Yeah, I fell for one of those, too, a while back. Live and learn, right? ;)

    P.S. — the tip-off for me would've been the weird "arrange you for a meeting"... "Arrange for a meeting", maybe. But that whole sentence is off.

    Thanks for the visit over at Quiet Laughter. If you do get around to seeing Julieta, I'd love to know what you think :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I sort of fell for it, but didn't fall completely. If I see Julieta, I'll try to let you know.

      Delete
    2. I watched Beatriz At Dinner (Salma Hayek) on DVD earlier this week. I liked it a lot. Thought it was interesting and unusual.

      Delete
  25. I actually know a woman named Jessica Julius. Lives in LA and I think works for Disney but got married so probably has a new name. It was still weird to see her name on your blog!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My Jessica's last name is spelled Julious, which I found odd. Anyway, she's not a real person. It's nice to see you. I found your Facebook today. I didn't realize so much was going on with you.

      Delete
  26. They used the word Hangout 4 times in one sentence.

    ReplyDelete
  27. My son used to always click on the free x-box links. I think he has finally learned, at the age of 17, that if it's too good to be true, it probably is. Too bad that's so true.

    ReplyDelete

Got your panties in a bunch? Dig 'em out, get comfortable, and let's chat.