I found an ad for this job on Craigslist.com and they offered to pay $12 an hour. I thought to myself, "this is too good to be true!" And unbeknown to me, it was.
I call for an interview and they they tell me to come in a apply. I asked what it was that we were doing and they were very vague about the job. "All your questions will be answered in person."
I go and apply, the very next day get called back for a second interview. Right after the second interview, we started training. We went over and over and over how to talk to these people on the phone and they made it seem like it was the most important job in the world. I started working that following Sunday and basically what we did was call people that had allegedly filled out "profiles" online for their dating service. Every single person I talked to personally told me they had never heard of our company and insisted that they did not fill out anything of the sorts. Most hung up and there were a few that seemed genuinely interested. We were required to ask them five questions that allowed them to be "qualified" for the program:
1. Do you own a car?
2. Have you ever been convicted of a felony?
3. Do you have a checking account in your own name?
4. Do you have a credit card?
5. Do you have a valid in state driver's license?
They told us that we had to ask those questions because "people don't want to date someone who can't drive to meet them or can't even get a checking account!"
We were then instructed to invite them in to "meet with a relationship specialist." The biggest question I got was, "How much is this going to cost?" and as an employee, I didn't even know!"Because we are a private business, we're not allowed to quote fees over the phone to ensure a quality program. But I can assure you that we have single parents, teachers, and retired people on fixed incomes doing this!" and all kinds of other BS.
Turns out, what we do is lure unsuspecting victims to come in, tell them about the program, offer them "packages" for them to select from. As soon as the price (by what I read online, averaging $3000) was dropped, the clients are pressured on the spot to make a decision. Basically, they won't take no for an answer.
A way that we employees are scammed: We start off making $10 an hour BUT you have to stay there for at least 30 days to get it. If you quit before your 30 days, then you only get paid minimum wage per hour you worked. Here's the trick, THEY FIRE YOU BEFORE YOU EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO MAKE 30 DAYS!
It shames me to admit that I actually helped scam these nice people out of their money.
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