I didn't turn it down because it sounded like a shady online scam. I didn't turn it down because the name signed did not match the name on the email address. I didn't turn it down because the first sentence makes it sound as if I'm already employed but the last sentence asks for my interview availability. I turned it down because it asked for my credit score.
Hi,
Thank you for employment with us. The job responsibilities are clear, you will be answering the phone, scheduling meetings, and running company errands such as buying office supplies and making bank deposits. When running errands you will be provided with a company credit card to make supply purchases, etc.
We have had some bad experiences with prior employees taking advantage of having access to a company credit card in the past, so before we can schedule an interview, we need you to get a credit check. We prefer you use Click for FreeCreditReport to obtain this information as they currently have a free trial. We have also found their reports to be the most accurate.
When you submit your information they will send you your credit score.
When you email me your credit score, we can schedule for an interview. Please do not email me your credit report, as this may have private information in it. Just send me your credit score number outputted. If you have a low credit score, that will not prevent you from having an interview with us, but it does show us that you are trustworthy and responsible.
Please send me your schedule with availability for an interview along with your credit score.
I am looking forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Daniel Boone
The email name was Frank Lewis.
Even if this had been a legitimate business...which would strike me as odd, since legitimate businesses typically just have you sign a form giving them permission to obtain the report on their own... Regardless, even if this had been an extremely cheap, legitimate business, I would not have provided that information. >.> I'm positive this particular email is a scam, but I replied as I would have anyway:
I can understand your reluctance; being burned once should make you more careful. However, the credit score of an employee is not really an accurate measure of how trustworthy he or she is with someone else's money. Additionally, someone who is seeking employment for whatever reason is not necessarily going to have the ability to maintain a good credit score simply because he or she lacks steady income. Based entirely on principle, I am not comfortable providing that information.
Thank you for the offer, but if this is the requirement for employment, I must decline.