Potential employer is not disclosing any information about themselves without references

Question

I applied to a job via craigslist post. Person contacted me and asked a few qualification questions. My email disclosed my website, and resume and Linkedin.

They then proceeded to ask me for job references. I said I would like to learn more about the company and their website and location and they refused to provide any info by stating they can't provide any info until I give them references. To add to the matter, their email is company_name@gmail.com, the email did not contain persons name or signature or anything. Is that a normal practice or should I be wary in my proceedings?

This is a bottom-feeder recruiter, at best. An identity thief, at worst. — Wesley Long, Mar 16 '16 at 16:39
Yup. I can't think of any possible scenario that reasonably explains this other than this "job" being a front for somebody who wants to get your references. Probably some unscrupulous recruiter. Or worse. Do not give them anything. — Francine DeGrood Taylor, Mar 16 '16 at 16:40
yeah upon further investigation i found out that it is a front of some sort as they have spammed many job websites with various emails as a carpet cleaning business which was ok with paying a substantial salary to a web designer hahaha thank you all for the info — Stanley VM, Mar 16 '16 at 17:07
Why look for a job on craigslist then give someone your LinkedIn name? Just use LinkedIn. Much easier to weed out the scams and other unsavory folk that way. — , Mar 16 '16 at 20:00
Weird enough, a few weeks ago I stumbled upon one that demanded photos or scans of my University diploma (?) instead of references. Straight to the bin. — Trickylastname, Mar 16 '16 at 20:37
I'd like to post a gif of Gandalf in Moria when they find the Balrog "Fly,...", but not sure how many downvotes it'd get. — Mindwin Remember Monica, Mar 17 '16 at 11:53

score 104 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 16 '16 at 16:39

104

Don't do it! This is a recruiter looking to get you to provide managerial references. You'll never hear from that person again, and they'll be plugging your references for new business.

Old scam.

answered Mar 16 '16 at 16:39

Xavier J

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I think you're being optimistic in thinking this is even a recruiter. – Laconic Droid Mar 16 '16 at 16:42
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Information on a resume is pretty generic and useless to a marketer without some demographics. But phone numbers to hiring managers are GOLDEN! :) – Xavier J Mar 16 '16 at 16:44
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Right, but phone numbers and job references are valuable to someone trying to open a store credit card in your name and buy a large screen TV. – Laconic Droid Mar 16 '16 at 16:51
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Not without an SSN. – Xavier J Mar 16 '16 at 18:04
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A colleague responded: "Sure! Here is my current manager's phone number." Then gave them the phone number to the local Sheriff's Department. :) – MealyPotatoes Mar 16 '16 at 21:29
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@codenoire I did some consulting work for the fraud department of a major credit card company. SSN is trivially easy to obtain if you have other details such as phone numbers and employment history. – Laconic Droid Mar 17 '16 at 17:28
@LaconicDroid: Any chance you could tell us how it's so trivial? (I mean just a basic overview... I'm not asking for a tutorial on how to steal SSNs.) I'm asking because I've heard that a lot and I know that if you e.g. buy a home then your SSN becomes public record, but what if I haven't bought a home? Is it still trivial? Is it still public record? Or is it done through social engineering? How? – user541686 Mar 18 '16 at 07:56

score 51 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 16 '16 at 16:40

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Yes it is normal practice for meeting a creep. At worst they might ask for pictures and if you like leather or being tied up.

At best they are a fishy company with little funding and pay. In the middle they might just be skimming for contacts.

Verdict: Don't. Ignore future contact unless you just feel like messing with them with fake info.

(you can give them a series of email address and fake people to see what things these people get in the future)

answered Mar 16 '16 at 16:40

blankip

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I like the idea of providing fake contact information and faking being your own references to see what happens to them. – Bobson Mar 16 '16 at 19:32
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Or, create a few e-mail accounts for the 'references' and see what comes in. – CramerTV Mar 17 '16 at 19:45

Potential employer is not disclosing any information about themselves without references

2 Answers2