Job scams on the rise as unemployment rates spike in Alberta

Kim Koble was thrilled.

After a lengthy job search, she found out last Friday morning she had landed a high-paying job as an executive assistant with TipTop Energy.

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The Grande Prairie company claimed it was opening an Edmonton satellite officeand they wanted her to help set it up.

Koble said they made a lot of promises.

"They would send me a cheque and a laptop. I could purchase office furniture and they would get back to me right away," she said.

On Monday, she received further notice from TipTop that a cheque was being sent to her via United Parcel Service.

They even provided a tracking number.

By then, however, she had developed some serious concerns about the company and the job offer.

CBC checked with the Grande Prairie office building that TipTop listed as its business address.

No such company at address

The property manager confirmed there is no such company in that building.

Grande Prairie Place Enterprises staff at the building have taken 10 to 15 calls in the past couple of weeks asking about TipTop's existence.

CBC News called the business telephone number provided to Koble. It is no longer in service.

And the company is not legally registered in Alberta, CBC confirmed.

Koble said she's convinced she is being scammed. She called the whole experience "completely unnerving," and said she feels "violated."

An increase in job scams is occurring as unemployment rates climb in Alberta, with increased competition for a dwindling number of jobs, said Ron Mycholuk with the Better Business Bureau of Northern and Central Alberta.

"People are hurting," Mycholuk said. "They're trying to make money, they're trying to get jobs.

"We're definitely seeing a spike in job scams and financial scams."

Mycholuk said the typical scam can involve trying to get money or banking information out of the target.

Full name, address enough for ID theft

He warned that providing just a full name and address can be enough to become a victim of identity theft.

CBC asked John Adams of TipTop Energy to confirm or deny claims his company does not exist and that his job offer to Koble is a scam.

He emailed his response to CBC Monday afternoon.

"The company is too busy to respond to a frivolous allegation by "one woman" who has no name or connection with our organization," the message stated.

Koble hopes the information she's provided to TipTop so far will not make her a target for identity theft.

She will continue her job search, but advised other job seekers to be cautious.

"If it's too good to be true, then it's too good to be true," she said. "Really do your homework and just make sure that you know it's a legitimate company before you offer anything at all."

Service Alberta advises anyone with concerns to call their Consumer Contact Centre at 1-877-427-4088.

janice.johnston@cbc.ca

@cbcjanjohnston