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Employment "Opportunity" Leaves Job Seekers Feeling Ripped Off WFTV.com
September 10, 2003
Would this ad catch your attention: "Earn up to fifteen dollars an hour, no experience necessary."
If the answer is yes, you are not in a category all your own. Action 9 found several applicants whom thought they would be able to earn such a pay.
Barbara Newton of Orange County responded to the ad placed by Loss Prevention of Central Florida. She had heard that a company was hiring undercover detectives for the big department stores at the Mall of the Millenia.
Newton was under the impression that Bloomingdale's, Macy's and Neiman Marcus all needed undercover detectives and that they were hiring.
During the job interview with Loss Prevention, Newton had to shell out $169 upfront in order to cover the costs associated with a background search, fingerprinting and class instruction for a state security license.
Only after paying did Newton find out that the company did not hire for any local stores and a license is not required for jobs that keep an eye on shoplifters.
Newton acknowledges "I'm a professional and I fell like I was taken advantage of, fell kinda stupid."
Michealangelo Romano manages Loss Prevention of Central Florida and when asked by Action 9 if he felt that running ads then taking people's money was fair responded, "Well I explain everything to them in detail. If they want to do it, they do it."
Besides Newton, Action 9 found five other applicants who felt misled from the start. For many desperate to find a job, getting burned for $169 is a tough setback.
Another woman admits, "I used money that should have been paying for bills or food in my refrigerator."
We are reminded that, although it's true that the company contract discloses it's an employment service, there is vital information missing. And, many were left, as Newton was, with the question, "Where does it say I have three days to cancel this contract. Doesn't. Does it? I don't know."
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