Scam targets job seekers

Nevada Attorney General George Chanos is alerting consumers seeking careers in the oil and gas industry to be wary of false employment opportunities being advertised by Elfina Oil & Gas Company. The company, which purports to be headquartered in Carson City or "Nevada City," Nevada, posts job openings for engineers on various oil and gas employment Web sites over the Internet.

The Nevada Secretary of State's office has no listing for Elfina Oil & Gas. The phone number and King Street address provided as contact information for the company actually belongs to a state agency in Carson City.

The job postings are particularly attractive to foreign applicants due to the wide range of benefits offered, including "sponsorship for a U.S. visa."

Applicants who are extended job offers via e-mail are then told that to work in the United States they must first pay money in advance for a temporary work permit and a "US Expatriate License."

Once the money is received, the company promises to send the applicant an "invitation letter," prepaid airline ticket, and other documents which will allow them to work at their "duty location" in Nevada.

One complaint received from a Canadian citizen stated that he sent $510 to Elfina via Western Union to a contact in Bristol, Va., in order to obtain the work permit and license for entry into the United States to work for the company.

The applicant became suspicious after wiring the money, when he was told that the documents could not be delivered until he sent an additional $625 to ensure that he was not connected to a terrorist organization. No documents were ever received, nor was the applicant successful in obtaining a refund of the money he wired to Elfina.

The Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection offers the following tips for applicants responding to job advertisements:

• Be wary if asked to send money via Western Union or by any other means. Legitimate companies do not ask applicants to pay for documents which would allow them to work in the U.S.

• Be cautious of contacts that use free e-mail providers such as Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail, as most employers do not use free e-mail providers.

• Always check with local or state officials to verify that the company is lawfully operating and located in the state. You may also contact the local Chamber of Commerce to verify the existence of a business in a particular location.

If you believe that you have been the victim of this scam, please call the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection at (775) 684-1180 in Carson City or (702) 486-3194 in Las Vegas. A complaint form, as well as other valuable consumer protection information, is also available on the Attorney General's Web site at www.ag.state.nv.us