ATA Alert:new drivers, students being targeted by scam artists
The Trucker News Services
1/24/2008
The American Trucking Associations has issued a scam alert to student drivers and drivers new to the trucking industry.
Scam artists apparently are preying on truck driving schools and carriers with student training programs, according to a news release by the ATA. It quoted Sandra Goforth, of Alliance Tractor Trailer Training Center in Arden, N.C., as saying the scam involves a man known only as "Johnny."
Goforth said when Johnny calls he represents himself as a driver-recruiter for a fictitious carrier of his choosing. He has, however, been known to use the name of a bonafide company, Star Transportation Inc., and perhaps others.
Johnny's demeanor "is very professional and he sounds very knowledgeable," the release stated. He has contacted truck driver's school attendees and graduates after obtaining lists of their names and phone numbers. He then tells them that they have been hired by a certain carrier and somehow manages to convince them to send him money he says will be used to offset training expenses.
Thinking they are doing what is required of them, the students have been known to send Johnny money via Western Union.
Goforth said Johnny has been known to call from a number that she said is a pay phone at a bus station in Savannah, Ga.
On Tuesday, Jan. 22, a Star Transportation Inc. student-driver reportedly was contacted by phone while staying at an off-site facility in Nashville, Tenn. The caller identified himself as Star's Recruiting Department supervisor. Having never met the Star recruiting supervisor, the student believed the caller was legitimate.
The caller insisted that when the student completed orientation he would immediately be assigned to a truck carrying a load to South Carolina. The student responded by saying that his experience level would not allow him to do that and the conversation abruptly ended.
The next day the student reported the call to Star's orientation supervisor. Two other students reported receiving the basically the same call.
That same day, the first Star student was contacted by his wife, who said she had received a call from a "Jim Davis," also of Star, but no such employee exists there. The caller asked for the student's wife by name and was able to convince her that her husband was on his way to Myrtle Beach, S.C.
"Davis" then told her that her spouse was out of money and that she needed to immediately wire him $200. The money was sent by Western Union in the name of "Star" and that's how it was received. The caller called from a pay phone. A police report of the incident has been filed.
Star Transportation is alerting their student applicants about the scam. They're also being told that no one from Star "will ever call them or their families asking for money to be sent anywhere for any reason," the release stated. "The students are being told that if they receive such a call, they are to report it immediately to Star and law enforcement.
The same scenario was carried out on the same day with a student at Covenant Transport in Chattanooga, Tenn., the release noted. "We have also learned that Werner Enterprises has been victimized," it added. "There is great concern as to how the scammer or scammers are obtaining detailed information about students and company representatives."
http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stor...riversstudentsbeingtargetedbyscamartists.aspx
SCAM Artists targeting new drivers, students
Discussion in 'Truckers News' started by Cybergal, Jan 24, 2008.
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I use to drive for star. This sounds like a inside job. I know the hotel they use. Star was bought by covenant. Who ever is doing this would need to know if the hubby had a cell. Otherwise, the wife would have called him and asked where he was and why he needed the money.
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Not only does this conflict in the story.... but it also says at the beginning, that he's going to the truck driving schools, and acting as if he is a recruiter? I'd say that's how he's getting the information, because the schools are giving it to him. However, the story states, that they're not sure how he's getting the information?
Are people really this stupid?
The sad thing is, after reading this story, I know I could pull of the same exact or atleast a similiar stunt, but I am far to honest to do something like that. But there are others out there that are not. If someone asks any of you all for money in order to obtain a job.... IT'S A SCAM! Why can't people mentally process this simple fact?
A trucking school, may and often does, ask for a percentage of the tuition to be paid up front. But that's a school..... YOU WILL NEVER, and I repeat NEVER and should NEVER pay to get a legitimate job people. JOBS PAY YOU, not the other way around.
Sorry, I am ranting now..... but dang, people are stupid, and the people that take advantage of the stupid, should be taken out back, and I'll leave it at that.
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ATTENTION !!
Any and all Big truck truck drivin' posters here should send me $37.28 if they want to continue posting here.
I accept only cash.
US dollars.
And the sooner, --- the better (for me).
I know who y'all are.
Don't try to cheat me.
I'll leave the light on.
Address the envelope containing the cash to:
Bonnie Clyde
5150 Mental Place
Kornville, Kalifornia
Zippity-Do-Dah
Thank you.
I'm waiting..............................................
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All I said was it sounds like an inside job. There is too much info there that an outsider would not have info on. You don't have a clue if it is from star or not. You say star notified the media. Well, that may be, but there might be a person working for them that is doing it. Now in my original post that you quoted I never said who I thought it was. Covenant, star or a school. It could be any of the 3. I did not blame any of them. I just said there is too much info that an outsider would not know.
Who the flip are you to come on here and tell me to quit blaming people??? So if you don't like my post hit the back button and take your own advise... shut up and drive...
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