In today’s tough economic times, it is easy to grasp at straws when ones home, family is on the line. Unscrupulous people will take advantage of any opportunity to play these hard times to their advantage.

Have you ever heard of the “Spherion Corporation?” Neither had I. I recently applied for a job as a Warehouse Clerk on Craig’s List. I received a reply back from this company’s resource manager.

Hi Sam,
Thank you for taking the time to reply to our job opening here at Spherion Corporation. We are pleased to tell you that you have been selected into the final screening process.

This job will be a rewarding and a profitable career choice as we offer our employees top salary and health, dental, and vision packages. We believe a happy worker is the key to a growth oriented company.

As part of our routine background check of all employees we require all applicants who have reached this stage to do a routine credit check to verify your details. This check is totally free to you and all details are absolutely confidential.

Please Note: We cannot and will not use bad credit scores/ratings to deny your job application (your credit is not important to us) - this is simply to verify your past employment history.


To get your credit report at no cost we suggest you use this provider: ( Name of credit reporting company excluded until I have a chance to check them out)

The provider listed above provides information necessary to validate your employment history. Once you have received your report please send the Transaction ID# (Do Not Send Your Credit Report) along with your current resume to pam O’[email protected].

Oh there good…very good, they tell you getting your credit report will be free, however getting the “Transaction ID# will not.

They have a website that on the surface appears very legitimate. Several attractive smiling corporate executives, only I noticed several typing errors.

Not that big a deal, however I also noticed many of the links on their website did not seem to lead anywhere. (Except the one offering jobs). I also thought it curious that they are careful not to mention any names as far as the fortune 500 hundred companies with which they claim to be affiliated.

What does a financial advice company need with a warehouse manager? My guess…and I am only speculating here, Most corporate Executives would not fall for this, so they’re expanding they’re attempts to manipulate blue collar workers.

Oh yes…they give a phone number.

A called, a very pleasant female voice told me to follow the instructions in the e-mail. They did mention a bank they were affiliated with out of the country. I contacted them as yet I have not received any reply.

I am constantly amazed at the unscrupulous lengths these people will go to taken advantage of desperate people during desperate times. Remember, if a company is asking an employee to do something that is going to cost them money ask yourself if the company does not have the money to do the background checks for themselves, are they really worth working for?