CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Scammers are preying on people looking for work this holiday season and using Channel 9's address to do it.
Chuck Weaver was looking for work and saw a job ad on Craigslist for a company called Quest Tower installing cellphone towers.
Weaver applied and got a phone call back.
The scammer said Weaver needed to pay $95 for a training class before he could start the job.
Weaver looked up where the class was: 1901 N. Tryon St., the address of WSOC-TV's studios.
"I basically zoomed in on the map and I (saw) that it was you guys' TV station (and thought) this doesn't make any sense to me," Weaver said.
The real Quest Tower is based in Georgia and officials there told Action 9's Jason Stoogenke it's not working in the Charlotte area and doesn't have upcoming work in the area either.
They said the company "would never ask a prospective employee to provide a (prepaid debit card)."
Weaver was disappointed.
"Yes, I am because I wanted to learn a new trade," he said.
But he thought it was suspicious and cut ties with the caller before losing money.
In the meantime, he says he's working to patent an app called Chucks Trucks which would connect people with truck and van companies who can help move or haul items.
The scammers took the ad down and aren't answering their phone, but the call came from Robert Collins and the phone number is 470-219-2065.
Experts recommend being suspicious of an employer who wants you to pay an upfront fee for training or materials.
If the company said it will reimburse you, the Better Business Bureau suggests you ask what the reimbursement is contingent upon.
For example, is it contingent upon you getting hired after your training or is it contingent upon you successfully completing your first 90 days?
Check on the company with BBB, or do a Google search to see if other people have complained about not getting these fees reimbursed.
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