So, about a month ago I go to work and to my dismay I receive the ultimate news. Our company has decided to drop it's West Coast representation. With the knowledge that I'll be laid off no later than January 17, 2010 or take a potential position in one of these cities: Springfield, OH - Florence, SC - Duluth, GA. With this new position, possible a lateral move, comes a new and lowered wage, which is "appropriately" reduced due to regional cost of living adjustments. In addition, Duluth, GA is the only site which is not in a one horse town. That being said, Georgia is known for harsh winters, life taking summers, tornadoes and hurricanes....not to mention your backwoods lynching here and there. While all this sounds quite appealing, I would much rather stay in California and deal with the sunshine, beach and occassional earthquake.
All that being said, I've been sending my resume out to many companies around Orange County. The replies to my applications have starting pouring in within the last couple days. This is where the fun begins. Sure, I've posted my resume all over the net....Careerbuilder, HotJobs, OCJobs...etc etc etc. It seems that most of the job offers are quite legit and then there are those not quite so. One of those emails I received is from one Lisa Rain, supposedly from Merrill Lynch - email listed as
recruiter@merrilllynchcareers.com.
I was slightly suspicious when I first received the email, but my dire need for a new job since the receipt of my pink slip encouraged me to reply to the email. Now that I have received the corresponding response, I definitely realize the scam is very apparent. First, the complete disarray of the application itself and all the grammatical and spelling errors...wow, a company like Merrill Lynch would not go for that. In addition, where is the Merrill Lynch signature logo. Not a single piece of documentation goes out without that wonderful logo. And, by no means will I ever give out my bank account information or open a new one to a company over the internet, no less.
For any of you looking at this "opportunity", here is a copy of the email. Your best bet is to just ignore anything from Lisa Rain.
Initial EmailDear Jon AndresWe found your resume on Employees CareerBuilder web site and after reviewing your resume concluded that you could be a positive match to a few of positions available at Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.There are couple couple positions listed below you might be qualifying for: - Client database builder- Data entry specialist- Customer Service representative- Payment collection coordinator- Mail distribution coordinator- Payment processing coordinator * You don't need any special education in services or finances, company provides free training course to cover all aspects of available positions. Guaranteed base salary package for all positions starts from $3700 monthly, include Weekends with holidays, Medical and Dental coverage and other benefits. There is full-time and part-time positions available. These positions are office or home based due to our new policy on remote employee program. Jon, if you are interested, email back to me and i will send you detailed information about our company and open position. Yours respectfully,Lisa RainCompany Direct Employer, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
Secondary EmailDear Jonny AndresThank you for your response, here is the detailed information about open vacancy, Jonny. Additional information about our company and new iCommerce section you can find at www.ml.com EMPLOYEMENT Responsibilities will be to provide assistance with iCommerce platform to company clients. Customer service manager's accountability will be to instruct users, to provide the current statuses of their operations in the system and to be ready to answer on any general question about iCommerce and control all operations in company database. Candidate will get all necessary knowledge and experience during the training. No previous experience with iCommerce or alternative systems is required. Before start to work, company will provide free training course to cover all aspects of the iCommerce platform operation and maximization. You don't need any special education in iCommerce services or finances, company will provide you all information. This course is to be done distantly (except first training day that should be held in 5 miles close to your house in local office location with your local manager). This means that you will be studying from your own home with internet access. Training duration is 1 week including 2 training hours of free time during the day.During the training you will get all benefits like full company Employee and be paid by Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. The training period wage is $99.4 daily and $498 weekly by direct deposit from our company. You dont need to pay for training or job, company pays for it include benefits and dental/medical coverage. After you finish free training courses in iCommerce section, you become a company employee and will get certificate of iCommerce Manager specialist. Jonny Andres, you start working in Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc local office, that 5 miles close to your house, in Full-Time position or from home in Part-Time position. You will have access to company database and all documents for work.The Employee’s guaranteed monthly base salary is $1750 for the Part-Time job and $3700 for the Full-Time job include all benefits. Jonny, if you are interested to start free training course, please let me know as soon as possible. I will send you Training Courses Application Form include pre-interview form, you will sign it and we will start free training in iCommerce section and start to work. With Best Regards,Lisa RainCompany Direct Employer, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc
Final EmailDear Jonny AndresThank you for your response. Please find the attached Training Courses Application include pre-interview form. Read, complete application form and send it to us in e-mail attachment.Please use block capital letters. Incomplete applications will not be considered. During 24 hours we will process your application (sometimes it can take up to 48 hours for your background check in central department) and your personal training manager will contact you to provide instructions about first training day and find nearest address of the local office. Jonny Andres, if you have any questions, then ask me freely. I will be glad to clarify at any time. Yours respectfully,Lisa Rain,Company Direct Employer, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc
ApplicationMerrill Lynch & Co. IncTraining Courses Application Form
This Agreement is a Contract between you hereinafter referred to as iCommerce Manager and Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. here in after referred to as Company "we", "our" or "us" as appropriate).This Agreement describes your and our rights and responsibilities in the context of providing services related for the e-Commerce training courses.NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the Parties hereto agree as follows:
1. SUBJECT OF THE AGREEMENT1.1. The present Agreement comes into force and is considered valid provided the following conditions are observed:1.2. The Agreement is signed by both parties or all incurred terms and conditions are observed by the Client.
2. GENERAL TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT
2.1. The Parties acknowledge the legal force of documents' records received via communication channels equal and as effective as the documents made in writing.
3. LIABILITIES OF THE PARTIES
3.1. iCommerce Manager is liable to:3.1.1. Follow the provisions of the present Agreement3.1.2. Provide and confirm the following data:3.1.2.1. Legal status of residence in the country or work/student Visa.3.1.2.2. Must have/ be able to open a new one bank account to receive payments for their job and once money for the iCommerce training courses.3.1.2.3. Two business hours per day of free time to be spent for training courses during 1 training week.3.1.2.4. Telephone number available to be contacted by Company Personal Manager and Local Manager.3.1.3.5. Be available to meet face to face with local manager in office location for the training purposes.Please Note: after CareerBuilder Resume review, your local office direction is not more than 5 miles close to your house. On the first training day your personal manager will provide you information.3.2. THE COMPANY AGREES3.2.1. To follow all provisions of the Agreement.3.2.2. Provide iCommerce Manager with free training courses in iCommerce section and pay for all process of the training.3.2.3. Doesn’t take any fees or charges (money) for iCommerce training or job from employee.3.2.4. The Company agrees to pay during the training to iCommerce Manager guaranteed $99.4 daily or $498 weekly directly to their bank account.3.2.5. Provide all benefits include payment for their taxes and fees on bank account, cell phone and home internet bills, dental and medical coverage. 3.2.6. Doesn’t star training on weekends and holidays. 3.2.7. After training 1 week training period provide iCommerce manager with iCommerce specialist certificate and hire their to iCommerce Manager or Main Local manager position in Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc company with monthly guaranteed base salary package: $1750 for the Part-Time and $3700 Full-Time job include all benefits. Also company agrees to pay additional money for employee taxes.3.2.8. To advise Customer Service Manager on all questions related to co-operation during the duration period of the Agreement as stipulated herein.
4. BENEFITS- 4 weeks (20 days) paid holiday- Medical and Dental coverage for employee and their baby- Medical and Dependent Care Reimbursement programs;- Payment for your home internet and cell phone bills (include $120 monthly)- Free FedEx shipping include 2 parcels in a week- Exceptional cash incentive, bonus programs, and recognition programs.- Generous Vacation and Vacation Purchase Plan;- 401(k) WITH company match of 5% after one year;- Growth Opportunity as well as Paid Training programs and ongoing travel counselor education including luxury Familiarization trips- Domestic Partner Benefits5. LIABILITIES OF THE PARTIES
5.1. The Parties bear responsibility for non-performance or inadequate performance of their liabilities in the context of the present Agreement in accordance with the governing law of the United States and with respect of the provisions of the present Agreement.
6. FORCE MAJEURE
6.1. Neither Party shall be liable for any delay or nonperformance of any provision of the present Agreement due to force majeure circumstances arising after the date of conclusion of the Agreement.6.2. The following circumstances shall be acknowledged as force majeure events: fire, explosion, flood or other natural and industrial catastrophe; terror; warfare; strikes or labor difficulties; other unforeseen or precluded circumstances preventing the Parties to follow their liabilities stipulated by the Agreement.6.3. The Party shall notify the other as promptly as practicable, but no later than 3 (three) working days of the occurrence of a force majeure event herewith. Failure or the delay to notify the other Party of force majeure events shall not release the Party from its liabilities hereunder.
APPLICATION FOR iCOMMERCE TRAINING EMPLOYMENT
Full Name:
DOB:
First
Last
Address:
Street Address
Apartment/Unit #
City
State
Zip Code
Home phone:
( ) _____-______
Cell phone:
( ) _____-______
E-mail Address:
Position Applied for:
* Please put Full-Time or Part-Time positionDate Available:
___/August/2009
If hired, can you present evidence of your US citizenship or proof of your legal right to live and work in the USA?
Yes No
Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offense (other than convictions relating to marijuana that are more than two years old), and/or arrested for a crime for which trial is now pending.(Note: A conviction is not an automatic bar to employment. The nature of the offense, date of offense, the surrounding circumstances and relevance of the offense to the position applied for will be considered.)
Yes No
For reference purposes, have you worked financial structures? If yes, please list name(s):
Yes No
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Do you have any other experience, training, qualifications or skills, which you feel, make you especially suited for the position applied for? If yes, please explain.
Yes No
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
DIRECT PAYMENT
iCommerce Manager must have/be able to open bank account to accept payments for their job and once money for iCommerce training courses from company side. All given information as strictly confidential will not be shared with any third parties. If you don’t want to provide us your own account information, just open a new one personal in local Wells Fargo bank.Please Note: By Business-Partners license - company pays additional money for all fees and charges to employees having account in Wells Fargo bank, that’s why it is the best way for our employees to open a new one account in this bank.
Bank Name: _________________________________Holder Name: ________________________________Please Note: You don’t need any money; company pays for iCommerce training and job.Also like our employees benefits to this account you will receive payments for your taxes with home internet and cell phone bills.
9. ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONAfter first part of the training in iCommerce section for the Western Union* system I will be available to meet my local manager face to face in local office for the second part of the training in iCommerce Services.* Because you will work in Customer Service for iCommerce clients, first training day will be in iCommerce services for the Western Union system. During the training you will understand how it all works and how you must assist company clients in Customer Service if they will have questions during transactions and operations.
Yes No
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first written above. The parties hereto agree that facsimile and E-mail signatures shall be as effective as if originals.
Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc.By: Sarah E Rice By:______________________Its: Company Main Manager Its: iCommerce Manager
Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc iCommerce Training Courses Application FormLicense Number: 40842042
alive and get that 25th homer this season. He has already hit 13 homers and only needs 12 more in the month of September to keep that impressive streak alive. Currently, he has hit 25 or more HR's in 11 consecutive seasons. Guerrero is some kind of mutant hitting machine. His second homer tonight, he put into the upper deck of Safeco Field and the pitch was at his ankles and hit one handed. Incredible strength and absolutely no strike zone make for an impossible opponent for a pitcher to face. 
alive and get that 25th homer this season. He has already hit 13 homers and only needs 12 more in the month of September to keep that impressive streak alive. Currently, he has hit 25 or more HR's in 11 consecutive seasons. Guerrero is some kind of mutant hitting machine. His second homer tonight, he put into the upper deck of Safeco Field and the pitch was at his ankles and hit one handed. Incredible strength and absolutely no strike zone make for an impossible opponent for a pitcher to face. 
