Business ProfileforConsularis Investments

On September 10, 2015, BBB has verified that the company is not registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State nor registered with Pennsylvania Department of Banking & Securities as required by Pennsylvania law.  Also, the address used by the company at  201 Penn Center Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15235, is a virtual office and BBB cannot confirm that it is a good address for company.

These “companies” target individuals who are having trouble finding viable employment. Consumers are lured by advertisements promising high wages, and little or no education or experience.  Consumers are asked to give personal information (social security number, bank account information etc.) to the company before or during the hiring process which can be used for identity theft.  Consumers are never actually hired by the company.   Attempts to contact company after identities have been given usually are ignored.

Job Placement Schemes

Better Business Bureau is warning students and job seekers to be wary of employment scams. Employment ads are posted everyday in a variety of sources with newspapers and the Internet being preferred by potential employees - and scammers too. 

Many students seeking summer jobs may have little to no previous work experience, and are tempted to apply for jobs that require limited work experience but offer high salaries. However, the reality is that these offers may be scams rather than legitimate work opportunities. 

BBB has ten tips to help consumers determine whether a job is real or just too good to be true:

1. Full time pay for part time work. If the job promises to pay a lot of money but doesn't require experience, it might be a scam. 

2. Job offers from strangers. If you post a resume on an online job board and are offered a job immediately - without filling out an application or having an interview - it's probably a scam. Never give out personal information, especially your Social Security number or bank account information.

3. Advance payments. If someone wants you to pay a fee for a job, it could be a scam.

4. Wire transfers. If a supposed employer asks you to pay an advance fee for a job via a wire transfer, it's definitely a scam. When you wire money, it's gone. 

5. High-pressure sales tactics. Don't take a job before you have thoroughly researched the business. 

6. No written job description. Ask for information about the job in writing. Look carefully at any documentation to make sure it answers all of your questions. If a business does not respond to your questions, move on. 

7. Suspicious references. Real businesses can give you professional references. Ask for them and check them out yourself.

8. Questionable business address. Be very cautious if a business lacks an established physical location with a real street address. A cell phone number and website are not enough contact information.

9. Purchase required. Be cautious about an employer that requires you to buy equipment, software or inventory. You might pay for the materials but never receive them. 

10. BBB ratings. Victims of job scams often file complaints with the BBB. It only takes minutes to check out a business at www.bbb.org . 

For more advice you can trust from your local BBB on avoiding scams and fraud, go to www.bbb.org

Legitimate companies offering employment will only request personal information from a new hire after they have been hired.

BBB suggests that if you have a problem, please file a complaint online at www.bbb.org.