Having recently worked in the Internet marketing industry, I've pretty much developed a nose for fraud/scams.

I saw a posting today for pharmaceutical sales reps. Having some sales and marketing experience, and seeing that the compensation was desirable, I inquired with a phone call.

The minute I heard the company name, red flags began jumping up like popcorn in an Orville Redenbacher bag.

"National Sales Group"

If you see, hear, or receive any correspondence from this company, get as far away from it as you can. They have a terrible reputation as being a barely-legal, underhanded company that attempts to swindle unemployed job-seekers out of what little money they may have.

Stay away, Medina-ites, and anyone else who runs across them.

I don't know if this is "sticky-worthy," but it should definitely be seen by all.

Big O... I actually contacted these people a couple of years ago. I had acquired their name through an online career builder site.

All of the sales kids (they sounded like kids anyway) were very ill informed and could not answer any questions that were not on what I would assume was a cheat sheet or a cue card. When I asked them to mail me some literature, they actually told me that they had no way to mail me anything unless I gave them a credit card number. Thanks for the heads up.

After a while, finally tired of the game and asked to speak to a supervisor. I talked to a guy named Vinnie. (yes, the guy said his name was Vinnie) Any way he seemed very professional and was apologetic, stating that the people answering the phones were sub contractors and were there not to answer a lot of questions, but to take peoples money over the phones.

He then took my address (I would not give him my phone number) and said that the information would be in the mail the next day.

TWO WEEKS LATER...... A large paper packet was in the mail. It had about two hundred company names and phone numbers and an INVOICE FOR $219.00!!!. I called the number that I had called before and asked to talk to Vinnie. After being on hold for 45 minutes and talking two at least 5 people (2 that purported to be supervisors) They came to the conclusion that no one now or ever had been employed there by that name. They further went on to say that if I had a packet that I had to pay the invoice or they would send me to a collection agency.

The next day I called the Ohio AG's office and explained what had happened. They asked me to send copies of what I had to them and they would investigate. I never heard back from the AG's office or The nation Sales Group again. These guys are worse than scum and should be raided by the Feds for mail fraud. I can't believe that they are still in business.

Devils Advocate wrote: Big O... I actually contacted these people a couple of years ago. I had acquired their name through an online career builder site.

All of the sales kids (they sounded like kids anyway) were very ill informed and could not answer any questions that were not on what I would assume was a cheat sheet or a cue card. When I asked them to mail me some literature, they actually told me that they had no way to mail me anything unless I gave them a credit card number. Thanks for the heads up.

After a while, finally tired of the game and asked to speak to a supervisor. I talked to a guy named Vinnie. (yes, the guy said his name was Vinnie) Any way he seemed very professional and was apologetic, stating that the people answering the phones were sub contractors and were there not to answer a lot of questions, but to take peoples money over the phones.

He then took my address (I would not give him my phone number) and said that the information would be in the mail the next day.

TWO WEEKS LATER...... A large paper packet was in the mail. It had about two hundred company names and phone numbers and an INVOICE FOR $219.00!!!. I called the number that I had called before and asked to talk to Vinnie. After being on hold for 45 minutes and talking two at least 5 people (2 that purported to be supervisors) They came to the conclusion that no one now or ever had been employed there by that name. They further went on to say that if I had a packet that I had to pay the invoice or they would send me to a collection agency.

The next day I called the Ohio AG's office and explained what had happened. They asked me to send copies of what I had to them and they would investigate. I never heard back from the AG's office or The nation Sales Group again. These guys are worse than scum and should be raided by the Feds for mail fraud. I can't believe that they are still in business.

It's because their business is under the "technically legal" umbrella. They flirt with the line of what is legal and what isn't. They stay enough on the "good" side that they don't get shut down. I've worked with companies like this before, and when I found them out, I contacted the necessary authorities ... not the legal ones ... the ones that will make their business lives a living hell.

Devils Advocate wrote: All of the sales kids (they sounded like kids anyway)

I thought the Gestapo around here was cracking down on derogatory slurs.

^^haha i was just about to say the same thing

Heh, I edit Devil's post to remove the unfortunate typo.