Jenna Davis

719/636-5076 extension 118
jennad@csbbb.org

Don’t pack your bags just yet! Advertisements are popping up offering construction jobs overseas earning $3,000-4,000 a week. One of those ads is currently running in a Washington paper claiming to find work in Iraq for carpenters, electricians, welders, plumbers, etc. The company is called Overseas Construction Personnel or O.C.P. When you call the 877 number, there is a pre-recorded message asking for a Processing/Placement fee of over $100 to be sent to a PO Box number.

The Better Business Bureau serving Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho is currently investigating this advertisement and many others. In order for an agency to “place” or “hire” contractors or to subcontract, it must be licensed and bonded. Without any way of getting in touch with a live person at the phone number, a perspective employee cannot do his/her research in this area. You could also leave yourself open to identity theft if you leave you personal information recorded for anyone to hear.

The following tips could help you steer clear of a scam like this:

• Don’t ever respond to a pre-recorded message with a flat out payment to ONLY a PO Box! More than likely, you’ll never get your money back.
• Be wary of a business opportunity that does not allow you to talk to someone in person or that makes you pay up front. You should never have to pay for employment.
• Verify all licensing with local and state offices. In El Paso County you can check with the Regional Building Department at 719/327-2880 or visit the website at www.pprbd.org/contractors.html . To check with the State of Colorado, you can check with the Department of Regulatory Agencies at 303/894-7855 or log onto www.dora.state.co.us.
• You can also check with other agencies to confirm job offers of this kind. A place to start would be the Pikes Peak Workforce at 719/667-3700.
• Also, be sure to call the Better Business Bureau for a report on the agency making such job offers. You can call 719/636-1155 or visit our website at Colorado Springs Better Business Bureau. For national searches you can log onto Better Business Bureau.