February 9
Subject: Pyramid Scheme
On February 7 I received a phone call from one Michael Stimac.in this telephone conversation he stated that he had come across my resume on Monster.com and noticed that I had a strong computer networking background. He invited me to an interview to discuss an open position in his company, stating that it was in the field of computer networking. The appointment was scheduled for February 9 at 2PM at the Crawford County Job & Family Services building.
Upon my arrival, I waited for Mr. Stimac to become available. As we began the interview, he handed me a standard application form and asked that I fill it out. I obliged. Upon completion of the form, Mr. Stimac took a moment to review it, and noted that I had previous employment in the computer networking and support field. We discussed my employment, and my ability to support computer users. He noted that my ability to communicate well with computer users about complicated issues was important. We continued discussing computer support related concepts for a few minutes. He compared me to a young man who used to work in the office as he put it. He went on to tell a story about how this young man was going to college and working in the office supporting their computers. He went on to say that said gentleman's father was associated with a company called Primerica and to tell a story about how the young man dropped out of school and began working for the company.
Mr. Stimac then introduced the Primerica company into the conversation. He began describing the company, as one would explain to a job candidate to establish company function and background. I noticed that Mr. Stimac had a significant amount of material on his desk that appeared to be advertising based. He picked up one of these books and began pointing out photographs of people with small bibliographies and headings of $100,000 and $250,000-$499,999 and so on.
At this point I became concerned that this was a hoax, but disguised my concern in hopes that it was just an overly broad company introduction. He went on to explain more about the company, and how if one person signed up X amount of people they would receive X dollars commission, and how after X number of people they would obtain some higher position and get X dollars commission for each person under them who signed someone into the program. The scam was based around some type of financial planning.
I allowed Mr. Stimac to continue his sales pitch until I was certain there was no computer related opportunity, but in fact a pyramid scheme. He asked me if I had any questions. I replied by asking him what exactly the job opening was and how it pertained to computers. He stuttered on to explain that it was a financing opportunity. I blatantly asked him if this had any relation what so ever to computers. He said no. He asked me what I was thinking. I informed him politely that I was very disappointed and upset that he would lure me all the way up to Bucyrus, a 25 mile each way drive and waste an hour of my time.
I accused him of lying to me to disguise the actual job opportunity. He denied saying that it was a computer support related opening, although in fact he had during the phone conversation February 7. I told him that I was not upset with him, but that he was only doing his job, but I was very upset with his companies operating strategies. I also stated that while I was not familiar with the laws, I was under the impression that pyramid schemes were illegal. I informed him that I would be contacting the authorities about his company's devious operating policies and their blatant lies.
Upon consideration of the facts involved, I determined that I had been conned by Mr. Stimac. I am writing this to inform the proper authorities so that action may be taken to avoid further manipulation of hopeful job seekers, and also to question the legality of his pyramid scheme. I am also billing Mr. Stimac for 48 minutes of my time (1:50-2:42) and 44 miles travel at the current rate of $. 405 per mile.
I encourage an investigation to determine whether Mr. Stimac is in violation of Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1333.91, and also any legislature related to the false claims that he used to lure me into an interview. I believe that something has to be done about people like him.in this day and age there are many predators that like to prey on the public, whether it be the elderly, ignorant, or just misinformed. We need to send a strong message to such predators that they can not molest and harass the public with their lies.
I have fowarded a copy of this (with additional addresses and phone numbers of the parties involved) to the state attorney general, BBB, and the director of the otherwise legitamate association he was hosting these interviews in. I was decieved into wasting 2 hours of my time, and 44 miles of gas on a bunch of BS. He outright LIED to me to drag me up there. I hope to see some sort of action taken, im confident he will no longer be allowed to do this in that building, as it is a government based occupational center. I will check back with the director, and county commisioners if neccesary.
Ive seen other threads about this with people supporting it, thats just rediculous. These are the same type of people who try to con our grandparents. Same tactics as the spam e-mailers. If he did not call on the same day I was expecting a LEGITAMATE phone call about a job I had applied to, I might not so easily have fallen into his deceptive trap. And if this is legit, why does he need so many diffrent addresses and phone numbers? I know of at least 3 I encountered in the total 1 hour I talked to him (one of which I had to get from tracing his phone number). If he does not return my certified letters regarding compensation for my time, I plan to file suit against him in small claims court, and have already drawn up the documents. Even if I do not win, it will be worth the court costs to see SOME kind of reprocussions for his devious actions, even if it is only through mild inconvenance.
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