Labor department files complaint over misuse of job search system 

The Idaho Department of Labor has filed a formal complaint with the Idaho Attorney General against Brand Concept Inc. for misusing the department’s electronic employment services system. The department also notified people identified as company officials that their access to the employment services system has been terminated, according to a news release.

In the letter to the Consumer Protection Division, the department said in at least one case the company offered a job to a registered job seeker as a “mystery shopper” for one of its clients and sent a check for $2,500. The job seeker was told to cash the check, keep $200 as compensation and send the rest to an address in London, England. The job seeker was suspicious, contacted the bank on which the check was drawn and was told the check was bogus.

Had a job seeker followed through, cashed the check and it bounced, some banks may have held the job seeker responsible for the outstanding amount.

According to Labor’s chief information technology officer, the department regularly reviews manual and automated procedures to make sure its system is being used appropriately.

“People should always be cautious about job opportunities which involve any use of their own bank account, or sending cash, checks or money orders to people they do not know,” Eric Beck said.  “We have no tolerance for any kind of misuse of our labor exchange services and will vigorously pursue our legal options against Brand Concept and any others trying to abuse the system.”

A department investigation into the apparent scam found the company registered as an employer in the Labor system on June 24 under the name Future Farmers of America in Culdesac, Idaho, with Jerry Duncan as the contact. Over the next six weeks, the company accessed a number of résumés in the employment services system, apparently selecting several to contact with the sham job offer.

The department has not been contacted by any job seeker who attempted to comply with the instructions in job solicitations from Brand Concept Inc.

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