5Star Concierge Services LLC Ask Sunday LLC 5 Star Concierge Services LLC If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is... especially when it comes to money! Internet

I received a position description in an e-mail from CareerBuilder.com talking about a job working from home as a personal assistant to traveling executives (including data entry, research projects, and general office duties).  On the surface, it sounded on the up and up.  They didn't ask for your social security number, bank account information, or up-front investments of any kind.  The offer was $600/weekly, or $31,200 annually, and eventually would include insurance, 401K benefits, and paid holidays. 

I applied to this position and was soon notified that my application was accepted for employment.  I began compiling the research that the first assignment included, which was identifying car rental agencies and limo services around the major airports in the area in which I live.  That, too, sounded legitimate, as this is a service that traveling professionals need. 

However, the next day when I called with a question, the phone number I had been given didn't ring through...it was a constant busy signal.  I started checking into the validity of this company, and found where others had done work without getting paid.  Then I read the company's privacy policy, which states:

In order to operate Sundays services and to reduce the risk of fraud, 5Star Concierge LLC, ("Sunday" or "we") must ask you to provide us information about yourself and your credit card and/or bank account when applying for one of 5Star Concierges services. 5Star Concierge uses your information to process applications, complete transactions, respond to your requests, deliver the services in which you enroll or for which you apply, and notify you of special offers that we think may interest you. We also use your information to provide you with a more effective customer experience while interacting with our agents or our website.

I e-mailed my contact, Jamie M. Bountres, Senior HR Manager, asking for the company's tax ID #, just to make sure that I wasn't jumping to conclusions.  When he/she wrote back asking what that is, I knew that this was not a legitimate company.

Anytime an opportunity sounds too good to be true, it usually is...especially when it involves money.  It's a shame that we can't trust most of the work-at-home job listings on the Internet, but that is where things are right now.  There's always someone out there eager and willing to cheat someone else.