Johnson & Armel Consulting and Staffing Services review: Scam 86

Rebecca
Today is Saturday, and I was just taking a chance calling 1.877.659.0133, and a specialist answered to my surprise. I submitted my application for the position of File Clerk, listed on geebo.com via J&R Consulting... Specialist asked for my telephone number, and he retrieved my application, and he even addressed me by my name (So, I am thinking this is legit), without me telling him my name. Then he proceeds on with the questioning (Suppose to take twenty-five minutes)…are you a citizen…are you 18 years of age or older…do you own a computer…highest level of education, and do you plan on going back to school? Based on my answer to the last question, he said okay, I will forward your application to the Human Resources Dept at this job, and if the manager is interested in your application/resume, he will give you a call…and what is the best time to reach you? The interview process took about two minutes. Now, I am kicking myself, after reading the informative comments on this site. Usually, I do my research and check a company out, beforehand. However, since, Johnson & Armel Consulting and Staffing Services are listed on geebo.com. I thought it was legit. Now, I am going to avoid submitting an application/resume to a company that has an "800" telephone number to call to confirm, because you have to research these companies first, if you do not want to be scammed. Hence, Looking at the description for File Clerk is an excellent description for a Promotional Advertiser! Wow, thank you all for your input.

Thank you all very much for your postings. I saw a posting from them in my daily "SimplyHired" feed, but I thought I should check them out on Google before I gave them a bunch of information. I'm so glad that I did. I will report them as a scam to the job feeds I get, and again, I appreciate all of you taking the time to post these comments. I hope that each and every one of you are able to find gratifying employment soon! marilyn

I to have applied to several jobs and never heard anything from them so I also researched and found that it was a scam. Thank you guys for posting your complaints because if it weren't for you guys other people just like me would still be applying on that website. Today marks my last day applying with them.

I ask where to apply, they sent me a web site to go to...I went to the web site and it ask alot of personal questions, I was suspicious and stopped and deleted everything I typed..
I hit submit to see what would happen and my virus scanner went crazy and blocked it, it was a phishing site...When I went back a few days later, it was gone no web site, I was going to turn them in to the FTC..Everytime I respond to one of those postings I now get no response back...If it sounds to good to be true it is...I wish there was a way to contact craigslist and tell them when someone has a scam listing and not just a disclaimer...

I applied for the receptionist position in atlanta ga last night, I got this message this morning "joshsonarmel : Hi XXXX call me about the clerical receptionish job you have applied for [protected]. (txt Stop to cancel) " as many of the people comments above, the lady name Sandy answer the phone, said that the call would take about 30 minutes or so, then she asked me my address, status, age, then if im currently enrolled in school, then I told her that i am, and she just said that ok she would forward my info to the employer and that hung up. the whole process took less than 3 minutes. I guess because i am in school so they can get nothing out of me. Hope nothing will happen to my identity or credit card. :( {crossing fingers}
We apply for job just to support ourselves, and there are these heartless people come preying on us. so mad

I just got off the phone with this company, well actually i HUNG up after typing in the name and finding this site. His name is "Dallas" and asked me nothing involving the position I had applied for. I should of known it was a scam when they asked me what time I wanted to set my interview and the number was [protected]. He knew my name instantly, the damn phone didnt ring. He was asking me about schooling and if i wanted to go to school if it didnt interfere with my work and start within the next 1-6 months. This is a cruel way of scamming people who are looking for ACTUAL jobs and they are trying to trick people into going to their damn school.

I agree with everyone else who thought they were applying for a job. The same thing happened to me, too.
I was told the interview about the job would take about 20 to 30 minutes. Then they asked me two or three questions which took about 1 minute. So, I'm thinking, what happened to the other 19 to 29 minutes? I spoke to three people-- one from who knows where, one from Florida and a woman from Phoenix, Arizona, who was quite nice, but wanted me to enroll in online classes from a school in Pittsburgh. How devious can people be just for money? It's sickening... I really had my hopes up when I saw the job, applied and was contacted. (I was contacted by text message, by the way.) There has to be a law about this kind of thing. Since these people are possibly scattered all over the country, would it have to be a Federal law? By the way, I came across their employment ad on Indeed.com.

Thank you all for this information! I recently discovered this site and have to admit I was a bit excited to see the job listings that were posted...more specifically the pay scales. I should have known that if it looks too good to be true it probable is but I went ahead and applied anyways. I haven't heard anything back and based on what I see here, I dont expect to hear anything because thankfully I am a student :)

people, please, do your research before applying with job staffing agencies, especially if the pay says it's higher than normal. my husband did and he kept getting calls about going back to school. since then, every time i see a site, i check it out. Thanks for all the posts on this company. it's sad... we could lose our home in a couple of months if we don't find jobs, and these people want to scam us :( God have mercy on their souls.

I also applied for a receptionist position, filled out the information and submitted it and was told I needed to call (or schedule a phone call) for my application to be complete. This seemed like a red flag to me, but I figured what the heck. After going through my information, they only pushed furthering my education, transferred me to "Education Connection", then they connected me to South University. After reading about South University's fraudulent business practices, I figured I'd look up the company that got me here in the first place. Should have done that from the start. I'm furious with myself for not recognizing this scam, or at least looking up Johnson & Armel Consulting and Staffing Services from the start. At least all I wasted was 1 hour of my time.

I applied to several jobs online last night and this morning I was excited to see some responses in my email. I also got a text message saying I should call back about an admin assistant position in Louisville, KY. I thought it was a bit weird so I searched it on google and came across several websites. The first one I looked at was their "actual" website, then I came across these comments. I'm very glad I did not waste my time with the phone call. I decided to do a little more research just for fun after and found another website called jordon and armel counsulting and funny thing, it was the exact same site, different name. wow what a scam. Also I got a few responses from other places saying that the job I applied for required the use of a company credit card and before I could even be considered for the position I needed to send in a credit report and it even had a link to direct me to where I could purchase one. DO NOT FALL FOR THAT! sure I would love to send you my SSN and credit card info. DUH! its amazing how hard it is to find a good job today :(

I've experienced the same things, They'll only call you back if you click on "YES, I WANT TO CONTINUE MY EDUCATION" Their a huge waste of time, praying on people who are down & unemployed. They need their ### kicked!

I was put in the same position as the other young lady who said that she first received a text confirming your appointment and when you call them back they won, t to start talking to you about futhering your education and then they give you a number to call which was [protected] and you get connected to someone at the career institute who won, ts to know your live story. iI find this company to be a complete joke and a bunch of liers who couldn, t tell the truth it it bit them on the back side. Do not trust anything they say because they have know clue of the truth. eekemp Landover MD.

I'm glad I finally tried to find out more info on JAA. My experiences mirror most of the other posts on here. I've put in several apps over the past few months for different positions they've posted and after the first or second one I heard from them and got the back to school pitch.

I guess sometimes I'm just too trusting but I thank all of you fellow bloggers for enlightening me. Does snyone have any ideas how to shut these people down so other people won't waste their time?

Good luck to all of you in finding a real job in this wonderful "post" recession economy! Hey Boehner- Where are the jobs?

I had received a text from them yesterday and the woman asked if I was going to continue my education. And she said that it would take 45mins for the telephone interview and that the conversation would be recorded. Just like the other innocent people here has expressed that the interview only took about 5 minutes and I thought that it was strange to receive a text regarding a job appointment. And today I had received another text to fill out an application with jobnab.com. I am so over this company and intend to report them to BBB, indeed.com and the other employment sites where I have viewed their ads numerous times.

This is *#@$?&% ridiculus! I am a single mom of three. I just want a job in order to keep a roof overhead and food in our mouths. I filled out application for office assistant received an appt. time after completing an application online under heading JAA. Been down the scamming road before; looked up JAA online and I was directed to website for Jacksonville Aviation Authority. Thinking this a legitimate job offer, I became to hopeful that with a hard-earned bachelor's degree in English I may get opportunity to show my children that hardwork, an education, and dedication can get you somewhere in life. Beginning to think its not possible anymore! How do I explain that to my kids?

And the "SCAM" goes on. This is the 2nd time I called this phoney company. First time was mid-2010. I now remember the first time, I got hung up on. I made another attempt but it turned out to be the same as all the postings here. Today, "Jason" (I'm sure a fictitious name) didn't hold me for the quoted "45" minutes. As he was talking, I was reading these various posts and cut him off by telling him I was NOT interested in going back to school (just to test him). He immediately said he will refer me to the 'client' who will give me a callback. Yeah, right. I'm looking into reporting them using any & every possible avenue I can find.

Add me to the list of disappointed. I need a job, just like everyone else, and I always google a company before an interview, so I was a little confused when this board was the first listing for J&A Staffing. I made the call anyway, just to see what would happen. After asking if I had 45 minutes for the conversation, I was off the phone in more like 45 seconds once I told the woman I was not interested in furthering my education. Hopefully, this complaint stays at the top of the search results and helps a few other people avoid the scam. Good luck everyone!

thanks for all the comments... I have the same story... have received several text messages about a "position available"... have not responded after reading all of these comments- ridiculous that some companies do this- terrible actually- guess i'll keep looking for a REAL job!

Wish I would have seen all this before I applied for a job they had posted. At least I know not to bother calling them for my scheduled phone interview.

I agree with everyone here. I also posted for what seemed to be the ideal dream job and waited by the phone for that scheduled phone interview. Guess what, it never came. I am a new graduate from a college here in Tampa, I have a degree, a college certificate in the same field that I have the degree, because I went to two different colleges, plus I have certification through an organization that helps prove my ability. So the job that I was looking at and applied for was looking very rewarding. This is unbelievable, how can people pray on the individuals in society that are trying to survive and build the economy up? I just don't get it. I hope and pray that we as a group can find these people and bring them to their knees. However, I can almost guarantee you all that they are not in the United States, therefore it will be difficult to bring them down. They are probably in one of those third world countries where they cannot be prosecuted or extradited, living it up on the money that they make off of us little people trying to survive.

Hey guls & gals,
I just want to thank 2 each & every1 of yall that posted a complaint against J & A Consulting because I was just about to submit my personal info. i.e. apply for a job . . . through them here in Tampa, FL. by-way of www.cnn.moneycom (yes the cable news network have a site that you can look for employment) the CNN site's legit but this J & A Consulting from what yall are informing me's full of "bullshiza" (if you can speak German you'll know that I did'nt compliment J & A).
Thanks again yall keep your head's-up things will work-out
(no pun intended) we let a "few" get us in this mess (economy) so now we "all" have to pull 2gather and see each the other through by doing just what you're doing "informing" because unfortunately there are those (VULTURES my apologies to the real "vultures" that will @least wait till you're gone before they devour what spirit you have left) . . . I digress (my bad) but as I was saying there are those that will take advantage of what they assume as the weak but we're only that if we don't stick 2gather,
in parting let me leave you with this . . .
"SUCCESS releases it's reward ONLY
after you refuse to quit." - Maya Angelou-
so stay encouraged my fellow & fellowette
job seekers . . . peace.

Wow. I wish I'd found this before I talked to these people! She kept insisting that I needed to speak to a counselor - "You need to have the ability to discuss future plans with a potential employer". Honey, I'm 44 years old and know what my future plans are - find a full time job, not going back to school. She did tell me that they would be 'forwarding this interview onto the employer' which I highly doubt. Lesson learned - stick to the job websites with the solid reputation.

I too had the same experience... "this call could take up to 45 minutes to verify information" but it only took 3 minutes. "Jessica" at 877.659.0133 asked if I was interested in going back to school and if I had access to the Internet at home. After stating I was but not within the next 2 years, she still went on to discuss financial aid. She then asked if I would be interested in going back to school within the next year if I could receive financial aid and work full-time. I again explained no, and the call was over. It's truly sad that people would do such a thing with so many Americans out of work. I had two other calls scheduled today with "OPTIMA CONSULTING GROUP" and "ELITE STAFFING"; both of which had an identical process. I will not be calling either. Thank you for the heads up... Now off to the Career Center to look for REAL opportunities.

I also applied for a receptionist position just like Mab815 and they
sent me a text message and said to give them a call at [protected] which was also a different number from Abstone and Mab815. They also asked me questions about school durning the application but they did not ask about work history or a question assesment. It didnt seem right to me so I Gooled the company and nothing came up except J&J Fruniture, "how odd"! People please do not bye into this and thanks everyone else for the heads up before I called.

Should have done my homework, before I called Elite Staffing Network as it's yet another Johnson and Arnel company SCAM. I saw a job online from this company that I thought was from an actual job agency in my area, as I've already duped before by one another J and A company called JOBNAB.COM, which weirdly sends you text messages too. Once I submitted my resume online, their website asked me to select a date and time, so that I could receive a telephone interview. Today I foolishly returned their call and spoke to a reqruiters whom was very nice gentleman, that asked me the same questions others said, telling me that based on my experience he'll recommend me for the job after he fished out of my that I was interested in possibly going back to school. He then gave me another phone number and asked me to promise to call an Education Advisor that would supposidly help me find a school with 100% financing (yeah right), I hesitantly said yes. Then this requiter immediately forwarded a text to me confirming the Advisor's phone number and gave me an ID#. I started to call out of despiration of wanting a job from Elite Staffing Network (as I've been out of work for nearly three years) due to being over 55 years of age, but then changed my mind, thinking I can't afford to go any highly expensive online school, so I never called them back. Then I decided to do some research on them, which lead me to Complaints Board.com, whom have numerous complaints from others, although many are from other company names associated with J and A, and boy am I glad I did so. All I can say is, "Buyer Beware" so do your homework about any company your intersted in working for especially if it's an online business, and mostly if companies won't help you unless you sign up for schools. It's so sad how corrupt companies (Scammers), will do anything for their financial gain, by gaining our confidence and leaving us unemployed persons behind.

OH MY GOD! THIS HAPPENED TO ME TO, SOMEONE HAS GOT TO STOP THESE DAMN SCHOOLS OR WHAT EVER IT IS, I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A JOB FOR OVER A YEAR NOW APPLYING TO AT LEAST 2 TO 3 JOBS A DAY. THIS WAS THE FIRST ONE THAT SCHEDULE A CALL BACK THE NEXT DAY. SO I WAS SO EXCITED AND I WAITED ALL DAY. THE ONLY CALLS I GOT ALL DAY LONG WERE FROM THESE ^%r$$% SCHOOLS FROM EVERY OTHER STATE BUT THE ONE I LIVE IN. NOT ONE CALL ABOUT THE JOB. SO AT THE END OF THE NIGHT I GOT ON LINE TO LOOK UP JOHNSON AND ARMEL AND HERE I AM! THIS IS SO $%^$## WRONG ON SO MANY LEVELS. I AM ABOUT TO LOSS EVERY THING IF I DON'T FIND A JOB AND GETTING MY HOPES UP LIKE THIS COMPANY DID IN THE BEGINNING AND THEN FINDING OUT THE TRUTH ABOUT IT ALL. I WAS RAPPED OF ALL MY HOPES TO FINALLY PULLING MYSELF OUT OF THIS JOBLESS HELL ONLY TO BE LIED TO AND DECEIVED. TALK ABOUT MAKING SOMEONE SO MAD THAT IF I COULD FIND THESE PEOPLE THAT DO THIS AND GIVING THEM A FIRST CLASS TICKET STRAIGHT TO HELL IN PIECES. THE PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD ARE GOING THREW A LOT, WITH THE LACK OF JOBS AND UNEMPLOYMENT STOPPING OR NOT STOPPING, WHO REALLY KNOW WHATS REALLY GOING ON THERE THESE DAYS. SO YOU SEE, THAT HAVING TO GO THREW THIS WHEN ALL I'M TRYING TO DO IS FIND A GOOD JOB IN MY FIELD GIVING BACK A WAY TO LIVE IN THIS BAD JOBLESS SO CALLED COUNTRY AND GIVING ME FAITH IN WHAT WE THE USA AND LIFE. BUT THEN I GET RAPED OF WHAT LITTLE FAITH I HAVE IN ON LINE JOB HUNTING WHICH NOW THESE DAYS HAS BECOMES 95% OF APPLYING TO JOB SITES. FOR ME ITS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND NOT ONE HAS BEEN RESPONSIVE EXCEPT FROM THIS %$$^^$# J AND A STAFFING THAT IS NOT REAL! IF ANYONE KNOWS HOW OR WHERE I CAN FIND THESES PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS OUTRAGE, JUST LET ME AT THEM! I WOULD LIKE TO THANK HEYSALLY13 FOR POSTING THIS ABOUT THIS COMPANY AND FINDING OUT THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS SO CALLED Johnson & Armel Staffing Services.
DEEPLY DEVASTATED AND OUTRAGED,
STEVEBDEMENTEDLT@AOL.COM

got j and a first then got email form job nab today you can click on job nab to not recieve any more emails so I have done that about 100 times it says you wont get any more emails after 24 hours so I am gonna see how may hundred times I can click that response in the next 24 hours since I dont have a job anyway

called domonic at scheduled time on 12-1-10 started a spill about career institute pure b s this was on indeed so if you see j and a or johnson and armel don't give your information or you will be fed a line of crap and no telling what kind of promotions coming my way

Anyway, I suggest we all spam them with fake applications and resumes. Could keep them busy for a while.
Any other suggestions?

Ok, I kind of fell for this one, as well. It sounded strange, but I rang anyway, and noticed several suspicious things: for one, why would they bother to verify contact information? Personnel costs would be too high. Secondly, when I was speaking with "Desiree", she questioned me about further ed. opportunities and whether or not I would be interested in availing of counseling. When I said I would, she just happened to have a direct line to this counseling service, which somehow notified her that they were available for a discussion with me in 5 minutes, if only I would promise to ring them. She then gave me the number to call, with a confirmation number, which she had me repeat back to her, and she even wanted to follow up with me afterwards.
I found this all a bit much and googled J&A afterwards.

Ditto.
Just got off the phone with "Desiree", who spoke to me for a maximum of 5 minutes about myself, before giving me the Spiel about how important education is in this economy, as if I didn't know that already. I was skeptical when I saw that I have to call them, but thought I would give it a try. Then she gave me a number to call with a confirmation number for some career and education guidance. I think I will stop wasting my time...

i sure thought is was weird how they didn't know nothing about the job. the lady kept asking me about stupid schooling like well if i tell her i want to go to school is that gonna keep me from getting the job since they would know i want to go to school for something else? so i said not for a few years after that she said oh okay and tried to hurry and get off the phone like i was wasting her time but really i guess i was just wasteing mine. sadly but true

I decided to "check up" on J&A before going too far because I had already encountered the "continuing education" scam on Beyond.com. I applied for a job at that site and received a very encouraging email with a phone number to call for "interview". The only thing that happened was an attempt to "push" more schooling on me and finally I blew him off. That job scammer had a slick website too, but when I tested the "links" they were all dead.

Their (J&A) website was immediately suspicious because a bona fide staffing business will (1) have physical address (2) and not advertise their pricing online. The 888 number given on the homepage was a message only and violated a basic for-profit business principle: it told employers, who pay the bills, to contact J & A through their email only...bad, bad business.
Craig's List is a huge, massive conspiracy to defraud, deceive and divest people of money, hope and opportunity. Stay away.

I am so sorry that so many of you have been so hurt by these cruel opportunists. But, you have learned how to start sniffing out the scams. Just use common sense when you visit the website or are asked to give irrelevant information. They really are smarter than you only ONE time!

Thanks guys, I got two texts from them telling me to call back. After reading these reports, I'm not even going to bother calling now. God bless

Ugh! Just another scam taking advantage of people trying to find jobs. I make it a habit now to research any and all companies where I am sending my resume. I don't need anyone contacting me unless they have a serious job offer. This is not right to do to people in this economy.

Stay away from Elite Staffing also. Same situation. Do you want to go back to school? Interview was suppose to be up 25 minutes, shot down to less than 5 minutes, probably because I did not want to go back to school. "I wish you well in you job search" they said. Also any job application that wants your cell phone "provider" to continue with the application is not legit. Try test information, use fake name on apps that want weird info (including cigarette brands if I smoke) that have nothing to do with employment. I tested one app and it went on for 10 pages of irrelavant information requests and then went to a junk page of jobs. Think twice before you press enter.

Hi All, I too have to post my grievance. I had been following up with them since a week now and waited patiently every day for someone other than the recording to respond. It is painful that we are faced with such scam. Can somebody suggest a real staffing company that can be trusted?

Once I applied, I started receiving 20-30 junk emails per day. What a scam, this has to be stopped!

i can't believe that I had my husband do this. I am sitting here looking at the comments as he is talking to them and its just like ya said a straight scam.