Help Wanted: Any Moron Who Will Easily Give Over Their Credit Card Info

Part 2: Listen To Your Gut

Every new college grad dreams of making the big bucks someday. And why shouldn’t we? We’ve just completed 4 years of long grueling days spent sleeping in class, hanging out with friends and long nights spent “educating” ourselves to all the world has to offer. If that doesn’t justify a high paying job straight out of school, then I don’t know what does.

For me, that high paying job meant pursuing an opportunity I saw in the local newspaper that boasted of a $38,700/year sales position. It didn’t matter that the name of the company wasn’t printed on the ad nor any other trustworthy indicators, the $38,700 had my attention, that’s all I needed to know.

When I entered the office for my 2pm interview, it seemed rather odd to be greeted by a 16 year old receptionist. No matter, I was confident that $38,700 was in my immediate future. In fact, it wasn’t until I left that office that I started to put the pieces together.

My thought process:

• 16 year old receptionist…weird.
• Empty office building with only random furniture and nothing on the walls…hmm, must be a start up.
• An 18, maybe 20 year old kid interviewing me? Wow, if he’s the boss, I’ve got a real chance of moving of the latter fast. Duh!
• I’m selling a new type of fire retardant materials, alright, at least I’m making $38,700.
• I have to pay for my own training? Ok, sure, why not
• I have to give my credit card number so I can purchase my resource books? Well, I’ll make it back in my first week. No biggie. :-)

I know what you’re saying…WHAT WAS I THINKING? Well, I obviously wasn’t. And I obviously didn’t learn enough from my “don’t buy one stolen speaker from guys in a child molester van” experience.

I did however react to a gut feeling as I drove away from that interview. I immediately called my credit card and had them cancel the charges for my $300 resource materials and then called the Better Business Bureau to report the incident and even got the local news to investigate the situation (pats on the back, thank you thank you). Sure enough, it was a scam.

Again, the moral of the story. Listen to your gut. I new full well that this didn’t smell right, however, the idea of making money blinded me.

Let my foolishness be a lesson to all y’all.
-brian