Linda Christas Academic Advisor Scam

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by spamahoy, Apr 7, 2004.

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  1. spamahoy

    spamahoy New Member

    I posted my resume online and got a response from "Peggy George" of the Linda Christas Foundation" (http://www.lindas.com/) offering me a job the next day to be an "academic advisor". I emailed her back saying she must have made a mistake, because I was posting for clergy positions, and my degree is in theology, not education. She
    emailed me again saying it was no mistake, and that they like to
    recruit clergy. She said she would put in a good word for me with her boss to hire me. After I viewed the website (quite slcik, which lists Pat Boone & Ephriam Zimbalist Jr. as board members), I read there would be a $400 fee for training (via email)by a certain "Dr. Laviosin". Ah, theirn lies the rub.

    In the FAQ section, there was an explanation as to why Linda Christas is not listed in the Better Business Bureau, which I thought was rather strange. There was also an explanation as to why there was no phone number and no physical address in the FAQ as well.

    I was emailed again and told there would be an "online interview". I didn't answer, and the next day was told the online interview would be waived. I guess if you're a pedophile, an ex-con, a toothless drunk, or just some high school dropout claiming to have a degree, this is the place to ask for a job, because they don't check anybody out and hire sight unseen. I wouldn't want to hire them for my kid!

    I then got an email from a "volunteer" for Linda Christas named "Lin Healey", although her email addy was the same as Peggy George, which makes me think they are the same person. At any rate, an "Acaemic Advisor" supposedly gets a commission for each family that signs up for tutoring services (which they claim range about $2500 to $3500). So I guess the way it works is you pay them $400, they make you an "academic advisor", and then it's up to you to round up some students. When you can't, it's your fault not there's, and they have your $400. Sort of like those "assemble products at home" scams, and then after you buy the manual, you find out you have to sell the products you assembled yourself.

    I was told in the 2nd email from Lin Healy of how not to worry my $400 would be "refunded" after I signed up. I told her no thanks, I took another job with a hospice. But I got another lengthy email about the job. So I emailed her once again and told her I was not interested and how I found it strange that this foundation would hire me sight unseen. Then I recieved an email:

    "Dear David,"

    "As you know I have no financial stake in whether you become an
    Advisor or not. However, if there is one thing that Linda Christas cannot overcome is a lack of trust."
    "They can show a candidate the illustrious Advisory Committee
    supporting the program, ask a volunteer who is successful as an
    Advisor to write (me), display the verifiable State teaching
    credential of the Dean, and have gobs of people writing independent positive evaluations of the program on the web, for example, Alternative Education, What Works."

    "However, with all of this, if a person has a heart that doesn't
    easily trust others, the School could have the Lord himself testify
    for the program without positive result. (My aunt is a counselor, and she tells me that the most trouble people in her practice are
    ministers. They feel that they can't trust anyone. I have only known two ministers personally, and they both left the ministry because they felt as if they were the targets of every gossip monger in the community. That's a sorry thing, David.)"

    "Hospice...........Perhaps a better fit."

    "I will inform the School to move on."

    "Sincerely,"

    "Lin"

    Oooookaay, if ministers are so hard to convince, why did "Peggy George/Lin Healy" tell me they try to recruit ministers??? When you ask someone for credentials, if they are legit they will say "you can check us out with such and such acreditng agency". They don't say "I'm so hurt you don't trust me! You're a bad person for that!" That's the way a con artist acts. I didn't send them any money and don't ever plan plan to. The whole thing sounds a little fishy to me. Has anyone ever heard of this "Linda Christas Foundation"? If so please email me at [email protected]ospam (remove
    nospam) http://www.lindas.com/index.htm
    Sorry for the length of this post, but if it is a scam maybe someone
    will read this and not fall for it. I was somewhat a skeptic at first, but now I am convinced it's not for real. It's scary because it's one of the better scams out there. Caveat Emptor.

    Peace In Christ,

    D
     
  2. dontdoit

    dontdoit New Member

    It's true, listen to him!!!

    It's true. My girlfriend got the same offer just recently and she was thinking it was a great job offer. She's been unemployed for 3 months already so she's getting a little depressed about not having a job.

    Anyways, back to the topic. My girlfriend's relative was offered this a few years ago when the program they want you to take cost only $300, guess they increase the price to $400 now. So, the relative paid the $300, took the stupid class, and when she was done, she wasn't hired. Since you're not hiring to be an academic advisor, you don't get your refund back.

    So, they tell you all these crap about how great the job is ($500 per student you enroll and $1000 per student you enroll online), but you need to take a Tier II administrative class which will cost you 400 bucks (you can take this class at a city college or junior college for much less, but i'm sure they'll say it's not qualified and that you have to take it with them). They tell you not to worry about it because it is refunded back to you IF AND ONLY IF you are hired. They are going to tell you, "don't worry, you're our number 1 priority, you ALMOST guarantee you'll get hire after you're done with the class." In the end, those assholes don't hire you and you just lost $400.

    We know the job market stinks right now and we all have tons of bills to pay, but all you job searchers have to stay logical and calm.
    Good word of advice: IF A JOB NEEDS TO YOU PAY THEM BEFORE THEY HIRE YOU, STAY AWAY FROM IT, IT'S A SCAM!!! There are still jobs out there, don't get con by assholes who sound sweet and noble because once they got your money, they'll show you what kind of rotten, fly-swarming assholes they really are.
     

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