Possible employment scam? (Long)

[griffsmom]

I was contacted last week by a man named "Hendrick Hedlund" who was calling at the request of his "co-worker" "Alicia" from Primerica. They were calling to find out if I was open to new "employment opportunities." Since I am currently on a six-month contract with a legal publishing company, I said yes I could be open to possible employment opportunities. Hendrick asked whether it would be okay for Alicia to call me, and I said it was. I then asked him what the employment opportunity was. He said he didn't know--that he was only calling at Alicia's request. When I asked him where he got my information--same response. Weird, but but not outside the realm of possible. We said good bye on his promise that Alicia would call me, which she did yesterday, leaving a message for me to call her. Interestingly, her last name is the same as Hendrick's. That's not how Hendirck presented it and wouldn't a husband know the specifics of why his wife was having him call about a potential job opening? Hmmm...that doesn't make sense.
 
 
So, the more I have thought about this, the more my spidey sense startled tingling. Now, it's reasonable that they got my info off of an old resume I had posted a few years ago on monster.com, so I seached monster for Primerica job listings. None. Hmmm, odd. Next, I visited Primerica's corporate web site. Nowhere can you find a link for "employment opportuities" or "careers" or "jobs" nor is there any listing of office locations--even under rhe "contact us" section. Hmmm, odder. So then I googled Alica's phone number--nothing. I even tried generalizing it into a corporate number--nothing for Primerica. Hmmm, downright strange.
 
I did a little Internet research and came up with this:
 
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff10157.htm
 
Now we may be getting somewhere.
 
In any event, I called Alicia back and left a message on her voice mail, which informed me that she was in meetings and interviews all day but would get back to me as soon as possible. Excellent. I'm looking forward to chatting with Alicia and getting some answers to a couple of questions I have. :Z
 
So, anyone else have this or a similar experience with Primerica or other company?
 

[Dee4j]

I was contacted last week by a man named "Hendrick Hedlund" who was calling at the request of his "co-worker" "Alicia" from Primerica. They were calling to find out if I was open to new "employment opportunities." Since I am currently on a six-month contract with a legal publishing company, I said yes I could be open to possible employment opportunities. Hendrick asked whether it would be okay for Alicia to call me, and I said it was. I then asked him what the employment opportunity was. He said he didn't know--that he was only calling at Alicia's request. When I asked him where he got my information--same response. Weird, but but not outside the realm of possible. We said good bye on his promise that Alicia would call me, which she did yesterday, leaving a message for me to call her. Interestingly, her last name is the same as Hendrick's. That's not how Hendirck presented it and wouldn't a husband know the specifics of why his wife was having him call about a potential job opening? Hmmm...that doesn't make sense.
 
 
So, the more I have thought about this, the more my spidey sense startled tingling. Now, it's reasonable that they got my info off of an old resume I had posted a few years ago on monster.com, so I seached monster for Primerica job listings. None. Hmmm, odd. Next, I visited Primerica's corporate web site. Nowhere can you find a link for "employment opportuities" or "careers" or "jobs" nor is there any listing of office locations--even under rhe "contact us" section. Hmmm, odder. So then I googled Alica's phone number--nothing. I even tried generalizing it into a corporate number--nothing for Primerica. Hmmm, downright strange.
 
I did a little Internet research and came up with this:
 
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff10157.htm
 
Now we may be getting somewhere.
 
In any event, I called Alicia back and left a message on her voice mail, which informed me that she was in meetings and interviews all day but would get back to me as soon as possible. Excellent. I'm looking forward to chatting with Alicia and getting some answers to a couple of questions I have. :Z
 
So, anyone else have this or a similar experience with Primerica or other company?
 

Wow interesting...I really hope she calls you back...stinks to be her

this is going to be good....let us know what happens

[wavery]

Your link didn't work for me.

I think that you know this but.....

NEVER PAY ANYONE UP FRONT TO GET A JOB

Standard rule of thumb........employers pay to hire employees. If you need to pay someone to get you a job (Professional Head Hunter), the employer pays them out of your salary, over time. NEVER up front.

The standard scam that goes around is that someone is going to help you start your own business that will pay you $50K a month if you work it hard enough and they will sell you the starter kit for a mere $200. Tell 'm where they can stick their starter kit. That's the oldest scam in the book. Elderly people get conned by that one every day. The starter kit can go for as much as $10K. It's all the same junk.

One more tip.........put that guys name in Zaba Search:
http://www.zabasearch.com/

If it doesn't come up (and it doesn't) he doesn't exist. However, Alicia Hedlund (Born  Oct 1977) does show up and it gives her home address & phone # in Costa Mesa. Give her a call and say, "What's up Alicia, I hear that you moved from Newport Beach to Costa Mesa". It'll freak her right out :yikes: .

[bmbkamp]

Lori,

Your link didn't work for me either.  
 
Primerica now is what used to be called "A.L. Williams Life Insurance Company"  It is the Amway of life insurance companies.
 
Essentially, it's a pyramid scheme.  Yes, they do sell financial services that (to my understanding) are no better and no worse than anyone else's.  Where they make money is in recruiting.  Recuriting is number one for them - not how many policies or products you sell, or if these policies or products are the right one for your clients.  As a salesperson, you get a cut of your recruit's commissions - so it pays for you to recruit.
 
Many years ago, I used to work for a very respectable life insurance company.  I didn't sell - I worked in marketing and training in the home office.  At the time, AL Williams was the bane of the agents existance.  I've seen firsthand what a good life insurance agent does, how hard they work, and what a difference they can make.
 
My brother also got involved with these knuckleheads.  He called me out of the blue one night and was obviously reading from a script.  I recognized what he was doing right way, and started asking him direct questions which he could not answer.  He had his recruiter there with him and I asked to speak with that guy.  He wouldn't answer any of my questions easier.
 
I also had the misfortune to view a Primerica regional meeting a few years ago.  Hundreds of these people cheering wildly for their leader.  The leader spoke about recruiting as the main objective - not how many sales or how many lives were impacted in a positive way.  Just recruiting.  Sickos.
 
Long story short, Primerica is a scam.  They're recruiting you to sell financial products in a pyramid scheme.
 
Do a search for A.L. Williams.  Then you'll get the real story.
 
Bob

[Dee4j]

I didn't work for me either..But>>> what I did was on the page it brings you to, click on search ,and then Type in Primera  and sounds exacly as she descibed

oh poop I talked to you last night..I forgot to ask if they called back...if they do, you'll have to call me and give me the scoop

[wavery]

I got the link to work and I put in "Primerica" in the search window. This one report is cute:

Primerica
Address:
5205 Enterprise Drive
East Lansing Michigan 48823
U.S.A.
Phone Number:
do not know
 


I recently went to an interview for Primerica in Lansing Mi. THey contacted me and reeled me in just like everybody else. I had never been to a job interview that made you watch a movie about them and sit through a presentation. During the boring video the people in the lobby kept clapping very loud and shouting out how great thier fiscal year had been.

After the video a poorly dressed man came in to begin the presentation. I heard a few minutes of their pitch and heard the words *small fee of $199 to change my future. I stood up and asked them where they put my coat. The "representative/owner" that had extended me this exclusive invitation, followed me and informed me that I was exactly what they were looking for. She would love to sit down and talk to me more about the company. She also said she was making over $100,000 a year working part-time. Would'nt I love to be doing the same. I again told her politely I was not interested. She persistantly hounded me about filling out a card, with my name and the name of several friends. This back and forth went on for 10 minutes she would not return my coat.

Finally, I asked her why somebody making more than 100 thousand would be wearing cheap shoes. She then took a very mean tone and basically threw my coat at me. I was furious when I left and I thought I should share my awful Primerca expirience.
If you do go to an interview at least do not let them take your coat, hold on to it for dear life. They WILL! take your coat hostage.

[Dee4j]

that's funny I think if it were me, I would say yes agree to go ..call Ch 2 news and do a hidden camera investigation..now that would be funny

[zamboni]

Zaba Search:
http://www.zabasearch.com/

If it doesn't come up (and it doesn't) he doesn't exist.

Whoa.  I need to figure out my legal standing, then... since my wife does not appear in Zaba in any form.  Not married name, or maiden name.  I tried every variation of where she's lived, etc (only in California - Fresno, Davis & Sac, with and without middle name / initial, birthyear and none).

Hmmmm... does this mean I'm legally single?

[TheViking]

Ok Dee, I got to know what your middle name is that starts with a Z.
 
Zelda?
Zimbabwe?

[Dee4j]

Ok Dee, I got to know what your middle name is that starts with a Z.
 
Zelda?
Zimbabwe?

hee hee this was taken from some online thing that "guarantees" our privacy

Dan does stuff like that to see who the source of the junk mail etc. comes from

we get mail to the house sometimes to our black 10yr old female child ssasha...Our cat

BTW..not my middle initial

[chasd60]

Anything other than term life insurance is a screw job. It took a company like this one to force the other insurance comapanies to actively sell term. They wanted to sell the highest cost product with the lowest death benefit.
 
 A Maine State Trooper had $50,000 life insurance with company X. An agent from A.L. Williams educated him on how whole life insurance works and how he could buy much more term insurance for the same money. The agent from company X told him it was a bad deal and he was getting screwed. He chose to switch to the term insurance anyway. Two months later he was killed in the line of duty and his wife received $200,000 to support her and their children.
 
 Was it really a bad deal? Did the agent from company X think his policy would have ultimately been the right one? How can the agent from company X sleep at night? I know the agent that upgraded the state troopers policy, he has no sleepless nights over what he did.
 
 You buy life insurance to replace lost income in the event of an untimely death.......PERIOD. It is not an investement and there are plenty of investments out there to choose from without overpaying for an underinsuring life insurance policy.
 
 At that time the insurance was underwritten by MILICO, Massachusetts Indemnity and Life Insurance Company.
 
 Most people do not understand the inner workings of life insurance nor do they care to so it is easy to take advantage of them and have them believe the agent has best interests in mind.
 
 I say don't work for them if it is not for you but at least have them review your situation with an open mind.

[AustinBoston]

Anything other than term life insurance is a screw job.

I will go further...if you live in a state where you can get Savings Bank Life Insurance, everything else is a screw job, including what Primerica sells.

Oh, and even SBLI's Whole Life policy is a screw job.

In fact, insurance itself is a screw job (I say this despite the fact that PJay and I insure ourselves to dea...uh, to the max).  When I looked at who owned skyscrapers in Boston, I was quite impressed with just how many (more than 75%) were owned by insurance companies.  I've heard it's similar elsewhere.

Standard disclaimers apply...not an employee, have no stake in company, etc.

Austin

[Dee4j]

I will go further...if you live in a state where you can get Savings Bank Life Insurance, everything else is a screw job, including what Primerica sells.

Oh, and even SBLI's Whole Life policy is a screw job.

In fact, insurance itself is a screw job (I say this despite the fact that PJay and I insure ourselves to dea...uh, to the max).  When I looked at who owned skyscrapers in Boston, I was quite impressed with just how many (more than 75%) were owned by insurance companies.  I've heard it's similar elsewhere.

Standard disclaimers apply...not an employee, have no stake in company, etc.

Austin

don't get me started on isurance companies  :swear: especially health insurance :banghead:  :swear:  :swear:

[chasd60]

I will go further...if you live in a state where you can get Savings Bank Life Insurance, everything else is a screw job, including what Primerica sells.
 
Oh, and even SBLI's Whole Life policy is a screw job.
 
In fact, insurance itself is a screw job (I say this despite the fact that PJay and I insure ourselves to dea...uh, to the max). When I looked at who owned skyscrapers in Boston, I was quite impressed with just how many (more than 75%) were owned by insurance companies. I've heard it's similar elsewhere.
 
Standard disclaimers apply...not an employee, have no stake in company, etc.
 
Austin

SBLI is nothing more than an insurance company. The fact that they sell whole life is only an indicator that they will take advantage of you given the chance. They may or may not have better rates on their term insurance. Shop around but educate yourself and don't leave it to others.

[Garrett]

As a licensed insurane agent, I can tell you that Primeamerica is bad news.  They use part time poorly trained agents.  The adage regarding Primeamerica agents is "they change your oil this morning and change your life insurance this evening."