# Does this ping your scam-meter? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 17, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-ping-your-scam-meter/453245 "2008-06-17T19:27:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-ping-your-scam-meter/453245/1 "2008-06-17T19:27:10Z")
So, the search for employment has taken me to many places and to many interviews that have turned out to be outright scams. This one is starting to ping my meter as well, but I’m worried that it might be burned out after so many bad experiences. So what do you think – does this one look like a scam to you? Here’s the [job listing](http://jobview.monster.com/GetJob.aspx?JobID=51921270&JobTitle=Medical+Transcription+-+Will+Train+-+No+Experience!&q=transam+associates&brd=1&cy=us&vw=b&AVSDM=2008-06-13+02%3a02%3a00&pg=1&seq=3) on [Monster.com](http://Monster.com). It has the hallmarks of an illegitimate offer: experience level and field are both really vague and the pay scale is described in an odd way. I did the “sample dictation,” which was animated for some reason, and sent it in to the email address. A short while later, I got this email in return: > [@](#): > > Your sample has been accepted! > > Hi!! > > WHERE ON THE INTERNET DID YOU HEAR ABOUT US? > > We have received your sample and it has been accepted as a true > representation of your work and worthy of moving forward. > > You transcribed a digital voice file. Actual physician dictation may be > more difficult to understand. > > If you need training, we provide tuition FREE training. > > ~~ If you have already been trained then you DO NOT need to go through our > training. You are ready to work for Transam in a real job. The only > requirement is that you transcribe accurately. > > This is for an entry level individual. > > We would like to see if you can train and work with us. You have the > FREEDOM to choose. You can transcribe any time during the day as long as it > is back to us by the next day. The only other decision is to choose which > days you are available. Special books and software are required. > > All of your questions will be answered in the agreement. Let me know if you > would like to review the application agreement. > > We are looking forward to working with you. > > Thank you. > Kimberly Carton > Regional Recruiter > Transam Associates, Inc. > 3433 Lithia Pinecrest Road > Suite 303 > Valrico, FL 33594 > [dictation@transamassociates.com](mailto:dictation@transamassociates.com) > [http://www.transamassociates.com](http://www.transamassociates.com) It was also formatted oddly – while that comprised the entire message of the email, that body was doubled so that the entire thing appeared twice. So what do you think? My gut is telling me to delete this email and never look back, but…well, I’ve applied to so many freaking places at this point that I don’t feel like I can just reject anything out of hand. God, job hunting blows. EDIT: Dang dang dang I meant to post this in IMHO. My apologies ☹ ---
**Author:** ![FarmerChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@FarmerChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FarmerChick)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-ping-your-scam-meter/453245/2 "2008-06-17T19:37:17Z")
It does a little bit, I would check it out further though. Be prepared for the books and software to be the big cost, if it is, bail! Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Agonist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@Agonist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agonist)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-ping-your-scam-meter/453245/3 "2008-06-17T19:38:30Z")
It sounds to me like they’re trying to sell you something. It may not be a scam, but it sure doesn’t look like a job listing. It also looks like a form letter. It reads like a response to a “send me more information” form on a software website. I doubt there’s a real person on the other end. I doubt it would lead you to a real job, but just in case you might hit reply and ask some real questions about the job. If someone responds to “What are the job duties” and “What is the pay range” with real answers, you can go forward. If you get more marketspeak it’s safe to ignore. ---
**Author:** ![Tupug\_Anachi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@Tupug\_Anachi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tupug_Anachi)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-ping-your-scam-meter/453245/4 "2008-06-17T19:49:47Z")
[Second google entry](http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/190/RipOff0190265.htm) You’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-ping-your-scam-meter/453245/5 "2008-06-17T19:52:41Z")
Did you send a resume to this company and this is their response or is this the first contact between you? It reads like you sent them a sample of some type of work. If you didn’t do that this is a scam. If you did that it might still be a scam but is less likely to be fraudulent. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-ping-your-scam-meter/453245/6 "2008-06-17T19:56:39Z")
Here is their BBB report: [http://westflorida.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=47&bbb=0653&firm=90015242](http://westflorida.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=47&bbb=0653&firm=90015242) 26 reports in 36 months, with 15 resolved, is not terrible. However, this company sprang out of its predecessor with the same principals, [http://westflorida.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=47&bbb=0653&firm=17000327](http://westflorida.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=47&bbb=0653&firm=17000327) whose report says that > [@](#): > > consumers filing complaints with the BBB have stated that the company misrepresents its program. Consumers stated that they are required to purchase medical transcription training software in order to work for AMA Trans Am. Once the software is purchased, AMA Trans Am requires that they complete practice tests prior to being given paid work by the company. Consumers are not provided work by AMA Trans Am until the company feels they have successfully completed the program. Additionally, consumers have stated that the software the company requires does not work properly, and they cannot get assistance from the company. What puzzles me is that neither company has a BBB rating, which is something I haven’t seen. Unless a company is so new that it doesn’t have a business history, the BBB will state that the company has either a “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory” rating. These companies both have “no rating.” IMO the main purpose of the company is to sell you software, and you will then be on your own to market your services to people who might want to engage you. I’d stay away. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-ping-your-scam-meter/453245/7 "2008-06-17T20:05:30Z")
[QUOTE=Soul] I did the “sample dictation,” which was animated for some reason, and sent it in to the email address. [/QUOTE] Try a little experiment–send in another sample, but do everything wrong. I guarantee that it will be “accepted as a true representation of your work and worthy of moving forward”. This is as comical as when you had to “draw Binky” to get accepted into art school. Yes, this is a scam. Companies with real jobs to discuss don’t begin their e-mails with “Hi!!”. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-ping-your-scam-meter/453245/8 "2008-06-17T20:07:56Z")
[QUOTE=Freddy the Pig] Yes, this is a scam. Companies with real jobs to discuss don’t begin their e-mails with “Hi!!”. [/QUOTE] O HAI! We can haz sampull uv yr transcriptions kthxbye. ---
**Author:** ![Soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-ping-your-scam-meter/453245/9 "2008-06-17T20:08:48Z")
[QUOTE=Tupug Anachi] [Second google entry](http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/190/RipOff0190265.htm) You’re welcome. [/QUOTE] Aha, I accidentally stuck an extra space in, “Trans Am Associates,” and I didn’t get that result. Nice find! Thanks, all, for confirming my suspicions. It’s been so incredibly frustrating trying to find a job, but I must not begin grasping at straws! ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-ping-your-scam-meter/453245/10 "2008-06-17T20:40:42Z")
That burns me. I work for a legitimate internet-based transcription company. According to the Ripoff report, their ‘application’ process is much like ours. We do charge $50 before any testing, let alone hiring, is done, partly due to legal reasons I don’t claim to recall and partly due to weeding out the internet dregs who are just going to waste our time. We’re completely legit, and if you’re any good at transcription you can make your money back in the first day or two of work. But to outsiders, it smells pretty strongly of a scam, and it’s not hard to see why. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-ping-your-scam-meter/453245/11 "2008-06-17T21:38:24Z")
Hey, **Soul**! I know a guy who works for a legit company like that, if you’re looking for work. Maybe he can hook you up. **Soul** , meet **Bosstone**. **Bosstone** , meet **Soul** 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-ping-your-scam-meter/453245/12 "2008-06-17T22:03:55Z")
[QUOTE=Soul] It was also formatted oddly – while that comprised the entire message of the email, that body was doubled so that the entire thing appeared twice. [/QUOTE] Shortly after I first went online, I received a similar e-mail (in the form you describe, but assuredly not in content – it was a “how you been?” query from my former college roommate Dave, who had noticed my name had been added to our alma mater’s alumni mailing list). I asked my more computer-savvy brother about the repetition, and he told me that Dave was probably using [Lotus Notes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Notes), which includes that feature.