Attorney General Michael A. Delaney and Employment Security Commissioner Tara Reardon have opened an investigation of a potential employment scam involving a company going by the name of Turner Computer Systems, Inc, claiming to be from Patterson, NY. This company has sent e-mails to numerous New Hampshire job seekers over the past days claiming to be partnered with the New Hampshire Job Match System, an online resume posting system run by New Hampshire Employment Security. These e-mails and solicitations are designed to lure job seekers into providing personally identifiable information as part of the employment or interview process and to steal money from unsuspecting citizens who receive fraudulent checks in exchange for sending personal bank information.

Specifically, investigators have determined that Turner Computer Systems registered as an employer seeking workers on the New Hampshire Job Match System. Once registered, individuals claiming to represent that company obtained information contained in hundreds of resumes posted online and subsequently contacted job seekers via e-mail. Under the guise of a potential job offer, these individuals requested confidential information. In one case, they mailed a check and pressured the recipient to cash the check and send bank routing information back to them. Wary job seekers promptly and appropriately contacted New Hampshire Employment Security to report these incidents.

Commissioner Reardon stated, "In these tough economic times, and with so many citizens unemployed and underemployed, it is unconscionable that predators would prey upon these vulnerable individuals."

New Hampshire Employment Security and the Attorney General's Office are investigating the source of these recent contacts from Turner Computer Systems Inc. Attorney General Delaney stated, "My office is committed to working with all state agencies to prevent these types of scams and to fully investigate those who would victimize New Hampshire citizens."

In response to these and similar type of scam e-mail solicitations, both agencies offer job seekers these tips to protect themselves:

• Do not open any unsolicited e-mails or attachments if they are not from a familiar or trusted source;
• Beware of e-mails that link to a Web site that lacks details about who is running the company, where it is based or does not have a phone number to contact the company;
• Never provide any personal information such as your date of birth or social security number;
• Never provide any banking information without verifying the person with whom you are communicating;
• Never deposit suspicious or unexpected checks into your account. Remember that even if your bank makes funds available from a deposit, that does not mean the check is good. It could still be fraudulent or forged and you could be responsible to replace those funds;
• Call or check with your local NH Works One-Stop office if anyone claims to be "partnering" with our offices; and
• If the offer appears "too good to be true", it probable is.

For more information contact Colleen O'Neill at the Office of the Commissioner of Employment Security at (603) 228-4134 or the Consumer Protection Bureau of the Attorney General's Office at 1-888-468-4454.