UPDATE: Derek Firth of Joined.com has officially responded. See his response below.
UPDATE 2: Based on recent comments and a recent spam, seems these scammers are referring to sites other than Joined.com now. I'd guess that Joined identified them and cut them off, so they just found another affiliate program to exploit. I've taken Joined.com out of the title of the article since it's only historically pertinent to this scam now.
Got this bogus mail just a few minutes ago...
From: Emma Dunwin-Dunwin StaffingHi Greg,
If you are still in the Business Development job market or if you are looking to expand your professional network in the Lynnwood area, here is a great site for job search and career tools.
Regards,
Emma Dunwin
Senior Partner
Dunwin Staffing
I am using Joined for professional networking and more...
Like the BNR-National scam, this e-mail used a purportedly legitimate mail service provider, bettermail.ca, to send the mail and track clicks on the links. Both the words "job search" in the body text and "joined" in the footer were click-tracked links to joined.com.
A check of the headers shows it was sent through Bettermail's servers. Since Bettermail claims they're opt-in only, either Bettermail's lying or these folks forged my opt-in.
But here's the even more damning thing. Dunwin Staffing's domain, dunwinstaffing.com, bounces you straight to Joined.com. Furthermore, if you look up the registration, it's registered by "Domains By Proxy" meaning the owner of dunwinstaffing.com is hiding their true identity.
UPDATE
It would be nice if Joined.com would make an attempt to publicly address this issue since it's gone on for months. Whatever their role in it, good PR strategy would be to get out ahead of it instead of remaining silent while these spammers continue to associate Joined.com with scuzzy activities. I can't find it addressed on their site. And Derek Firth would be welcome to post a comment or even send me a statement to add to this post.
All I know is that this page has been visited by thousands of people concerned after being spammed by these fake staffing firms and the one thing the spams all had in common was the promotion of Joined.com.
March 25, 2009: Derek Firth of Joined.com e-mailed me yesterday about this brouhaha and addressed user concerns. I asked if I could post his e-mail as an official response, and he agreed.
Hi Greg,Thanks for the followup post today.
These groups have no affiliation with Joined.com.
Joined is a networking site, and we have hundreds of thousands of members, including recruiters and employers inviting others to join their professional networks.These complaints are something we take very seriously, and we continue to investigate.
One of the challenges that other viral web 2.0 sites like Facebook and LinkedIN face, is to police every single avenue that entities use to drive traffic and build relationships on your site. We will be adding additional reporting functions on our invitations in the coming future to help further identify any unwanted communication.
Once someone is a Joined member, they retain complete control of their privacy settings, controlling who can access the various parts of their profile.
There is a `report member` function that allows real time reporting of any abuse or unwanted communication from other Joined members. Unfortunately, these unwanted messages do not come from Joined members.You hit the nail on the head in your post about people feeling tricked, which is a shame, and it should not take away from the valuable service that Joined provides. It seems to be the case of a bad messenger, but I can assure you that registering on Joined will not result in a virus.
We have partnerships with the leaders in job search and networking components. Our job search is powered by Indeed.com, the leading job aggregator, bringing our members the web´s best jobs from over 2500 job sites and corporate employment sites. Users are free to view all of these jobs without having to register as a Joined member. I would suggest to any of your readers that members run a job search and see if there are any good matches. I urge them to judge Joined by the quality of the experience on the site.
What I can tell you is that our members are extremely excited about our rapidly growing site, and we are providing a necessary service to both employed and unemployed member in these tough economic times.
Growing a business in this economy is a challenge, I would like to be able to hire an entire team to manage and investigate these complaints. However, the reality is that we have to work with the resources that are in place.
Regards,
Derek Firth
President & Founder
Joined
Entries (RSS)
I got one of those e-mails from 'Katie Jensen' at 'Dudley (Do-Evil) Search Group today too.
And yes, I was a bit creeped out when it specified my suburb of residence. I did click on the link but immediately thought it looked hinky, so I Googled Joined.com ... and before I was finished typing in the search box, what should pop up but 'Joined.com scam.' So here I am.
Like several other posters, I suspect I may have been hit because I've updated my resume on Monster, CareerBuilder, and Yahoo! HotJobs in the last couple of days.
(When are these on-line job boards going to get the stones to turn down these scumbag/scam listings? I understand they have to make a buck, but have some integrity and turn away the "dirty" business!)
The e-mail that I received from "Katie Jensen Recruiter Dudley Search Group" had a subject line as "Terrell New Jobs Posted". I'm sure most of you got this e-mail stating the same, only with wherever you live. I did happen to click on the "here" link and was directed to the Joined.com website. That is when I thought something was afoul. So as most people had done I Googled the website name and found this site listed at the top as a scam. Thank you for posting this website so I didn't go any farther into Joined.com website scam.
Erv
UPDATE: I put the "7 Dies Street Canton, NY 73617" into Google Earth and to my surprise (or not) it sent me to a "house" on Dies Street in NY. Just thought I'd share it with all of you out there who got the same scam e-mail.
Erv
Scam!! I got the same e-mail too! And i was kind of surprised wondering myself when did I apply or how did this people know i am from Canton and then when i made a Google search : scam word appeared!
I learned that you ALWAYS have to make a research before you give any information!
I also received the "Katie Jensen at Dudley Search Group" email. It immediately looked suspicious because it mentioned new jobs and business contacts in my town. My town is just a small bedroom community where people retreat to recover from the rigors of a day in the city. Sure glad Google is always there to help us research and avoid these scams.
I do not understand. I got the Katie Jensen at Dudley Search Group email, too. I ended up at join.com, too. So, this is a scam? What bad things can happen?
@Stephanie, there's no one complaining that Joined.com will do anything bad as far as I can tell. The issue is with these scummy fake recruiting companies sending you e-mails that look like a recruiter contact solely to pimp Joined.com. Tricking people into visiting Joined.com, even if it isn't going to steal their money or install a virus, is still a bad thing. Many people feel very angry over being tricked or someone trying to use the promise of a possible job to try trick them.
Imagine if you were lonely and single and some spammer sent you an e-mail saying they saw your profile online, think you're really nice, and want to talk to you. But it's just a fake come-on for a dating site. You'd be angry, wouldn't you?
Its Joined.com's lack of response to all these complaints and the fact this scam has been going on 5 months that's putting Joined.com's integrity in question and raises the spectre of their complicity in this.
It seems that I am definitely not as internet savy as you others. Correct me if I am wrong, but these "fake" recruiters are directing people to Joined.com. By doing this, they are building up the clicks for Joined.com which in turn increases/improves its position when you Google. Does this also mean that Joined gets paid more money somehow?
How does this negatively affect me - a job hunter?
Not going to comment on Joined.com or the validity/scam nature of the thing, but as someone who freelances in web design and provides hosting/domain registration. I actually recomend my clients use ID Protection like "Domains By Proxy" to cut down on spam. Prior to starting to use ID Protection services in my domain registrations, I had to kill a number of my e-mail addresses because the amount of spam was overwhelming, and I don't trust blacklist providers, or spam tools that are server based. I use Mailwasher to scan my e-mails and remove spam.
Mike, no one ever said Domains by Proxy didn't have legitimate uses, but it's a double-edged sword. While people can protect themselves from spam or even death threats (if they had a politically or religiously offensive site), spammers can use it to make it harder for people to know who spammed them while getting around ICANN rules requiring that people provide valid contact info with a domain registration.
I got a Katie Jensen email from Dudley Research Group. My WOT filter said the links were unsafe, having the "red rings" next to the links. I didn't even bother touching it.
it was a little early in the morning and i was off guard and clicked the url with the tracking code.
i wonder how much spam this will net me? argh.
To remove yourself from future mailings click here
Hi Patrick,
I am checking in on your employment situation. If you are in the Technology job market or if you are seeking career contacts in the Abilene area, please visit this site...
Sarah Walker
Recruitment Specialist
Hey Patrick, I just got the same thing in my mailbox from Sarah Walker. I never signed up for past mailings! I don't like it either, I need a job, not a scam....I'm quitting using monster and hotjobs, all I ever get from them is spam...and from as many breaches they've had in security, it shows that you can't trust them with personal info...any ideas for some legitimate job search engines would be greatly appreciated.
So,is joined.com a legit networking group or a scam?
I posted their official response. Overall, it seems that they're trying to run a legit business. Whether they've done enough to stop the spammers is a judgement each person needs to make for themselves.
Here's my letter. I don't know if it's a scam, but it sure smells like trickery.
Just received the same scam email from Steve Newman (s.newman@sixfigurecareers.com). So they're still alive and looking for more suckers.
I had to laugh when I just received my phishing email - whoever "built" the merge had the audacity to have the opt out message as the salutation and the Hi Scott after the address! If these scammers had taken the time to construct the email too look correct- I might have been fooled.....
Here was my emaik :
To remove yourself from future mailings click here.
I am following up on earlier correspondence regarding the status of your employment. If you are searching for jobs in the Manufacturing/Operations field or other sectors, view today's jobs here...
Regards,
Sarah Walker
Recruitment Specialist
7 Dies St.
Canton, NY
13617-1324
Hi Scott,
Here is mine, I believe yahoo hot jobs is the culprit. I have been a member of career builders and monster for over a year now. I recieve lots of annoying insurance sales offers, but not adds to join other web sites. I just joined hot jobs and recieved this within 2 days. Good luck to all the honest people looking for something better.
To remove yourself from future mailings click here
Hi Jennifer,
I am checking in on your employment situation. If you are in the Human Resources job market or if you are seeking career contacts in the Derry area, please visit this site...
Sarah Walker
Recruitment Specialist
7 Dies St.
Canton, NY
13617-1324
"Sarah" also sent me a very similar email...apparently they are also "hiring" in CT and wow-right in my city--they are using a link to a website "Grahams Search Group" so apparently operate under a number of names. It is really sleazy to prey on people like this, I feel really bad for desperate or naive people who may fall prey to this. Is law enforcement looking into this?? I'm thinking I should check in with our Attny General office and urge those in other states to do the same!!
I have had my resume posted on Career Builder for about a month now and so far all I have received is scam emails. Emails like Sarah Walkers, multi-level marketing sales jobs, and work at home jobs (envelope stuffing, ect.) Has anyone ever found a job on Career Builder of is it just a data mining operation so they can sell your info to spammers?
I also received the Sarah Walker email (and a couple others very similar to it). The links now go through mailsender244(dot)com. I haven't clicked any to know where they end up, but they all use this service now. I have been using Monster for a long time, and only get the occasional fake job spam, but I signed up with CareerBuilder 2 weeks ago, and my spam skyrocketed instantly. There are legitimate jobs at CareerBuilder for sure, however there's also a lot of predators on it taking your resume info and using it for unscrupulous purposes. So is there a bigger issue here, that the job boards need to better police who can view your resume and personal info?
Got a Join.com redirect e-mail spam/scam. From a Robin Ford "Senior Recruiter". The Mail was from robin.ford@recruit-newsletter.com, directing me to a site mail-recruiter.com, who redirect you to joined.com.
When the mailer isn't from the same domain as the links, and the name of the domain where they are at are not the same as the company that they are supposedly to represent, then that's when it is time to send it to /dev/null.
I have just received an email from Robin Ford as well. But, because I am always caution of email scams, I Googled it and low and behold... It was a scam indeed!
Thank you all so much for the insight!
My email was from PatKennedy@greywaldseachassociates.com. The body of the email is pretty much the same as what everyone else has posted and the address at the bottom is the same Canton, NY address.
Looks like more of the same crap from a different name.
just received my first spam from Join.com. how many other bloggers here subscribe to Monster.com job website? I have noticed that the majority of the spammers that use career and employment as bait have gotten my information from monster.com. I have complained to the company and the only reply is a canned response explaining that "I should check out the validity of each prospective employer" apparently monster.com will take money from anyone who says that they are an employer and don't check the credentials of anyone who will pay them.
This one is even better - it says there is a job match from my resume and claims to be a recruiter. yeah right... The link goes to guess where? - joined.com and no you can't search unless you - guess what? - Join!
A recent job match has come up for your resume entry: Acting Public Relations Coordinator
View today's jobs here...
Regards,
Robin Ford
Senior Recruiter
15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
US
I also got a similar email from Robin Ford. I thought it looked jinky since it talked about career opportunities in my town of about 50 people. I googled the name and found this site.
Never clicked the link. They found me off of career builders.
Everyone needs to contact career builders and complain.
I also got an e-mail from Robin Ford. SCAM
I decided to check out joined.com itself.
I noticed there were links at the top of the page, including "Job Search."
I clicked on the link, and the default was "professional networking" for the search, I changed it to the job I wanted (Inventory Control), and put in a local zip code. I was then given links to company sites that were listing the jobs I was interested in, the links actually did lead to other companies jobsites. Seems like a meta-jobsite. At this point, I did not have to join to obtain this information.
What bothers me, is that I received the same email from "Robin Ford", the address listed is actually the address of the proxy server the spammer is hiding behind. I figured that out by a whois search for recruit-newsletter (the displayed domain in the email) and mail-recruiter (the domain displayed in the email header.) Both are registered to the same address in Scottsdale, AZ.
Joined.com whois revealed nothing, they are hidden behind a privacy service.
Again, I was able to conduct a search on joined.com by revealing my job type (already listed in the Robin Ford email) and a local ZIP (but not my actual one.) I got legitimate links...but why the subterfuge? Why all the hiding, not only by the sender of the email, but joined.com itself? It makes me wonder if people are gaining $ by successful referrals/signups to joined.com...
Like others have said before me, I only had gotten this email because of a recent update on monster.com, careerbuilder.com, or hotjobs.yahoo.com. I suppose others stand to profit from my resume, otherwise, there is no real motive to send all these "recruiter email(s)."
I wanted to add that the joined.com joblink does go to or through an indeed.com listing, as Derek Firth mentioned in his reply letter at the top of the page.
Hi Jorge,
Here are your job matches for today:
local Supplier Quality Engineer Jobs
Will Douglas
Take your free QA/Quality Control Career Interest Test
15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
US
This message was sent to you by JobSearch2009
You can change your communication preferences or you can unsubscribe from future mailings.
Well, the address they post is for a company consultant for construction.. nothing to do with a staff company... and the link also send me to join.com.. Is there a way we can identify join.com as a spammer.... they are taking your information from careerbuilder... this is the second spam, or illegal activity offer that supposed to come from someone who contact me from career builder, so I am very concerned abut the security... so I will leave career builder.
Great I just opened my email to yet another scam site. The first one from Crismark which when i googled popped up scam...thank god for google gotta love em' yup and I did recently post on Monster and Yahoo Hot jobs I mean looking for a job and going through scams really takes the excitement out of possible jobs. Bleck!!! I hate all those losers abusing the net!
December 2009 & I'm getting this crap too. They may be a "legitimate" site, but if a spammer/scammer does nothing but point you to joined.com, that is a big clue that the site itself is involved or at least that their data is easy to steal, otherwise, what's the profit, right?
I just got an email from Beth Green but signed by Ryan Taylor...see below. If you go to joined.com, you will notice there is No contact info, No trademark info or policy rules at the bottom of the page. This is a bad sign, the Red Flags are flying high on this one!! And also notice where the email came from...jobs-workcareers4.com. <--This is a OPT backup. I have been searching for a job for 9 mo now and the scams, deceptions and information collectors are getting out of control. Job seekers beware!!
--------------------
From: Beth Greene
Subject: Your resume: Professional Services Job Openings
Date: Thursday, December 17, 2009, 1:32 PM
Hi,
We are touching base regarding your job hunt situation. Employers in the Professional Services field are looking at your resume and are recruiting for Professional Services positions. If your job hunt is still active, please update your resume...
Ryan Taylor
-------------------------
And I have NO resume on joined.com!
Well it seems that they have changed some of their info. My email came from Jennifer Clarke--and the address their using now is
9408 SASSAFRAS DR
DALLAS, TX 75217-8681
Much like you Johnny this is getting very annoying...and I know for certain this is Careerbuilders fault. I've been out of work for a while and desperately trying to find employment..and this is becoming too much. I just want to get back to work...I don't wanna have to google each and every inquiry that comes my way.
i just noticed update 2 above...nope, they are still sending ya to joined.com....so please don't give joined undue credit...
After utilizing Monster, Careerbuilders and Yahoo job search engines ( including uploading my resume) I have received numerous "offers". While they are mainly insurance companies that show up on scam websites ( Aflec, Bankers Life and Casualty Company, other insurance companies/franchise deals are also frequently encoutered) many claim to be recruiters that "found your resume and have great and specific opportunities" for you. Do not enroll on these sites without checking each and every one out. Sarah Clark also emailed me. It is horrendous that folks are using these well known sites for financial profit during this economic downturn- but as P.T. Barnum once said- "There is a sucker born every minute. Indeed.com and simplyhired.com seem to be the best legitimate websites that scavenge other websites (including company specific career postings). Do not pay the Ladders or sixfigurecareers or anyone else to post your resume! Be very aware that there are way too many people trying to make a few bucks from your job search. I will try to compile a complete list of the scam emails I have received in the short time I have made my resume searchable on the major job sites. Until then, good luck and be careful.
My spam came to my yahoo address. The ONLY job hunt site that uses that address is HotJobs by Yahoo. All others were referred to other emails. I even have another email address specified in HotJobs to be my primary email contact. I can only assume that the HotJobs site is compromised or they are assuming a Yahoo ID and going with it (which would be easier). Your best bet is to assume any ID other than one you use for any email. I.e. - if your email is tsmith@xxxx.com then do not use tsmith as an ID in your job searches. Also, don't put any info for contact in your resume since nearly all sites allow for the companies to contact you through the job site if they should so desire.
I think I know how they're getting email addresses.
I just got another email from OptimalRecuiters at jobupdates.com.
The subject line is worded in such a way that the only place they could have found the job title and position was from a resume I posted on CareerBuilder. The common link seems to be job sites where my resume is posted as a word document. I've never had a problem with postings or boards where I could post my resume as a PDF file.
William is probably right. I've been searching and posted my resume on CareerBuilders as well. I received a spam from a Chris Harper @bramhallsearchgroup.com the other day and it read as follows:
Your resume was forwarded for our review and your experience as Account Manager was of interest. If you are still seeking a professional or executive career in the sales sector or other field please enter an updated resume. This message sent to you by ESO 9408 Sassafras Dr Dallas, Texas 75217-8681. I googled the address and this is what I found. Can't find out if this is a legitimate business or not. After reading the posted materials i feel that my gut was right in staying away from this site.
I got the same email today...and i almost clicked on the link because i am a job seeker....but my instinct like yours...made me google it and this is what i got...thanks guys...can't afford a virus...or any thing out the blue right now.
I also recieved a similar email which was actually a follow up to a previous email, so they do seem to be at least keeping track of who they have emailed before, but does appear to be a complete scam:
I'm contacting you to follow up on last week's email re: Telecommunications jobs. If you are still interested in professional or executive posts in the Telecommunications sector or other fields, with pay between $60,000 and $500,000, please update your info here...
Chris Harper
I've also been getting emails from Chris Harper on Technology jobs (paying between $60,000 and $500,000). What made me suspicious was that he does not have a title, phone, company on his signature (although there's an address at the end but not company name).
So I enter the domain name from his email address into my browser, and the website does not exist.
I say it's definitely a Scam.
I wouldn't join anyway. I did click on a link from Career Builder that actually to Joined's website, specifically to the sign-up page. There's no links, like an "about" link, on that page. So, even if spammers aren't operating with Joined's blessing, it still looks iffy.
And, when you click on the About page, it immediately talks about premium memberships, advertising and partnerships. No thanks. LinkedIn is already becoming more and more SpammedIn; I'm sure this place is worse.