Optima Consulting Group review: Employment Scam 25

This just upsets me! I have been sitting her by computer and by my landline phone waiting to call them hoping that this would be an opportunity for a job. I have always been wary of online jobs sites -ALWAYS! My mom and my sister told me that I was stupid for not looking online for a job at a place like indeed and jobs .com ... well, now I know why. How sad that I feel into this and didn't do my homework first. You would think that I would have learned my lesson -I just graduated from college -goining into debt for awhile. I don't need more college debt to be added on. Great, now I am going to be pumped with all that disgusting spam and all those nasty phone calls. Thank you for all the great info. Altough it was too little too late since I did not take the time to do my homework..

Just applied for a job that I found on Job.com. It was listed first under OptiGroup, and then when I went to apply said it was for Optima Consulting Group. I made it through the first page fine, but on the second page of the application they want you to schedule a time to call them. I thought this was VERY strange and as I was typing into google "Optima Consulting Group" listings with "scam" following the name came up and I knew I was SOL. The pay rate should have been a tip off too, but I was optimistic I guess. Since I filled out the first page they have my email and phone number, so I guess I should expect telemarketing calls and spam email from now on.

They also call themselves OCGroup or OptiGroup.

Wow! Wished I had seen this complaint page 1st. Just applied for a job through Job.com via Optima and all of the above happened to me as well but not before I spent $5.00 on a 'resume builder" as I couldn't download my existent resume in PDF form. I was pressured in regards to furthering my education which immediately raised a red flag. I asked if I would get an email confirmation that they had actually submitted my application to the desired company and they said that they do not do that but the company I applied to "might" Red flags all over the place here.

I too applied for the Mail Clerk position. I was scammed yesterday by a different company, I didn't call them back, I did my homework. I received a text this morning from Optima asking me to call them. I was suspicious because of what went on yesterday. I had to dig around a while, but I'm so glad this site exists! It is truly criminal to prey on the unemployed. I couldn't agree more. Optima has several other "job openings" in my area and I foolishly applied for all of them, but now I know. I'll be checking here and the BBB for any job offers I receive. Maybe I should revert and just go to places that say they are hiring with a sign on the door. The innocent people that are impacted by job scams is truly a travesty. I speak from all too much experience with this lately. Good luck to all, self included.

Hey Sally13-Thanks so much for the info. I have seen several job from this organization. One thing that bothered me was that when you go to the application, it deos not show that that it's secure. I won't waste my time checking on further postiions through this comapny. Thanks again

Hello I JUST found this website while on the phone with "Charles" from OCG. Here I am, staying up night and day completing job applications, some of which take up to an hour, only to realize that my time has been wasted on a complete scam. I could've been applying to REAL, LEGIT companies! I was referred to Indeed.com by many of my friends, and I am unsure how the website is willing to risk their reputation by allowing this type of predatory behavior. Of course, OCG doesn't care because they have their, deceitful, shameful, low class jobs. Anyway, I know that they have profiles of FB and LinkedIn, I'll be sure to post my BEWARE signs all over, as well as with the BBB. This is discouraging in so many ways...Here's to hoping they get exactly what's coming to them. Lesson learned, stay positive everyone.

yes there are a scam someone need to do something about this, we are looking for a job not an education.It is a shame u can't go on line anymore for a job because everyone is trying to get u to go to school school is not going to pay your bills.

I fell for it too. Its hard enough to find real jobs that I am interested in and feel I could do well, let alone to deal with companies like this. There is always someone out there to try and hit up on people when they are having a hard time. I got hit from Jobungo, I won't use them again.

I applied to a job listing from indeed.com for the O.C. Group and once my application was sent, the Optima Consulting Group page popped up wanting me to pick a time in the following 3 days to call [protected]. On the second ring, a man who said his name was Joe asked me a few basic interview type questions, said i was qualified for the position and that my resume would be fowarded for review and then asked if i would like to further my education. Of course I do, so I I was asked to call [protected] and spoke to another man who was trying to pitch Colorado Tech and Everest University online courses to me. He also asked that I look at www.classesandcarears.com and being suspicious of the high wages offered and my being overqualified for the position and having no call back yet... here I am! SCAM I am very upset!

I am very disappointed. The Optima Consulting listing was on Indeed.com. I'll never use Indeed.com again. Optima did not even try to sell me education. (I was looking for a job in a new career path because I had just completed education and certification in a new field.) However, I got tons and tons of spam, and of course no new job. Shame, shame on Optima. Shame, shame on Indeed.co for promoting these scoundrels!
Someone downsized and looking to start a second career

Through job.com, I was getting ready to apply at the Optima Consulting Group website. Then as I almost always do prior to applying, I google the company and city, state to acquire a physical address. In this case, they posted O.C. Group in Oakland, California. Usually, I get a company with an address with a google search, but no listings. Then I came across the scams lookout website. Thankfully, each and everyone on the online job search community looks out for others and are able to post their experiences and comments. For me, it gets me very upset and thinking negative about these scams, but on the upside, it's a big positive for us to have a voice in the matter.
Scam Watch Associate

Good morning I too became suspicious about this company when I applied on Wednesday and at 9:03 am Thursday morning I got a text to call a 877 number regarding my application and interest in an Office Mail Clerk position. The first time I called the number it was busy. For some reason my intuition radar went up and I decided to research on the internet and found these complaints. I called the number back and got a lady when I asked her were they a Job Agency she said that they do verifications for companies and get you pre-qualified. I then asked her does this have anything to do with me having to further my education and she stated that she can do that if i'm interested. She then asked me if I had about 15-35 minutes and I told her I didn't so she told me to called back when I did. I hung up and went to my cell phone and instantly reply to their text the word "STOP" and pushed send. Thank all of you for posting these comments as it was very helpful for me not to get caught up with them.

YES THAT HAPPEN TO ME I KNEW IT SEEMED STRANGE WHEN THEY TEXT ME ON MY PHONE BECAUSE JOBS CALL YOU THEY DO NOT TEXT YOU.THEY KNOW WHEN THEY CALL MY HOUSE I HANG UP ON THEM SO THEY TEXT ME I KNEW THEY WAS FULL OF ###, LIKE YOU SAY ONCE YOU ARE NOT TRYING TO GO TO SCHOOL THEY ARE READY TO HANG UP.

Thank you for posting on here and letting me know about this before I completely fell for the scam. I called them back this morning and was informed that the pre-qualification phone call would last up to 45 minutes. Thank God I didn't have the time to do it. I have been unemployed for almost 2 years and my money ran out for good yesterday. There is a special place in hell for companies like this.

well, I fell for the trick.. i applied for a job and was texted early this morning to call. when i called a man named TERRY answered the phone.. he started immediately into my education.. I told him ... I am looking for a job not more bills and if that is what this is about we can stop RIGHT NOW.. he said i will forward your application and hung up on me.

THIS IS ###ED UP. MY JOB IS SEASONAL AND I BEEN APPLYING WITH OPTIMA FOR TWO WEEKS. NO WONDER I GET ALL THESE STRANGE NUMBERS CALLING MY PHONE. I JUST HIT DECLINE CALL AND NO MSG IS LEFT. WISH I HAD KNEW THIS TWO WEEKS AGO. THEY WILL BE PUNISHED DEEPLY FOR PREYING ON THE UNEMPLOYED AND DECENT PEOPLE IN SEARCH OF GREAT JOBS.

I bet you ### are nothing but commie obamanites, and just laze around at home in your basements waiting for your government welfare check.

I just posted a complaint to the BBB of Philadelphia where this company is supposedly located, as I also got scammed and applied for one of their fake jobs. Anyone else should do the same so that maybe something will be done to stop them from preying on the unemployed. that just want a legitimate job.

Here is the BBB website:
http://dc-easternpa.bbb.org/

Ok I just fell for this scam. Last night I answered an ad on Job.com (now I find out is another scam site) of course the job sounded too good to be true but I fell for it and called the phone number I was supposed to call, of course by the morning I had checked out job.com and optima consulting group and saw all the complaints so I was prepared for nothing to come of it and of course nothing did. I asked the guy (Jason) why was the point of me calling since all he did was confirm my phone number and email and he said that was the prescreening that if the company was interested they would call me...sure I'll be waiting... I agree with other posts... its terrible to prey on the unemployed... people that really do need jobs. I remind myself that what goes around comes around and they'll get there's eventually. I am going to post on the BBB though and anyone else should too, that's one way to get to them.

I actually just got off the phone with the school advisor. i wish i knew about this before I wasted my valuable time applying for this job. What they are doing is deceitful and i hope they get what they deserve.

I have applied for file clerk for Optima Consulting Group in the Sarasota area, and I will like to get a local phone number of the company to call. I really interested in the position; please e-mail at brizzett59@yahoo.com

Well I'll be damned if I didn't do this again. Preying on the unemployed is sinful. Must I check every single company before I waste my time? I need a job and I find this scam thing extremely frustrating. I suppose I cannot withdraw my resume and stuff from these people. Very irritating!

I also believe that this Optima Consulting Group may not be exactly legit. I was notified by an agent (prescreener) to call and do a phone interview to see if the employer was interested. I found the advertisement for a Call Center Representative on Job.usa and applied. I was told that the interview could take up to 15 minutes. I was asked if I could work full time and if I had computer access. Also wanted to know if I was a U.S. citizen and over the age of 18. Then the big question, what was the most education I had received and was I planning to continue my education. When I said "not at this time", they said thank you and you will be contacted if the company is interested and what times would be better and then they hung up. Didn't even give you a chance to ask any questions. As soon as they found out I wasn't interested in going to school, they abruptley ended the interview. I wasn't even on the phone with them 5 minutes.

As of October, 2010, Optima Consulting has now expanded their operations to CraigsList.org. Not only that, they appear to sell your phone number to any number of factions who will call you about furthering your education, stating that you submitted your interest in such futher education -- however, they conveniently "don't know which website" you allegedly submitted to.