Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is alerting job seekers to Government Careers, Inc.(GCI), a Tucson-based company that helps “government job seekers assert themselves into the government workforce,” according to its Website, www.governmentcareersinc.com.

Since June 2, BBB has received 32 complaints against GCI. Complaints have come from 18 states, including Arizona, Texas, Michigan, Alaska, New Jersey, Colorado, Illinois, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Maryland, Connecticut, Washington, Florida, New York, Iowa, Missouri, Nevada, and California.

Complainants tell BBB they were unaware they were signing up for GCI’s services when they responded to what they thought were job postings for government positions with the U.S. Postal Service, Border Patrol, and National Park Service at CareerBuilder.com and other job listing sites.

Employment advertisements posted online indicate several government positions are available across the country, but complainants say that once they’ve signed up for GCI services – which costs between $114 and $965 – they learned there were no such government positions available in their area.

According to a consumer from Florida, he was told by a telephone representative with GCI that there were plenty of postal jobs in his area and the study materials provided by the company would help him pass the postal exam. In his complaint filed with BBB he writes, “After giving her my [credit card] number and hanging up I had a bad feeling and started to look around for the postal jobs on the USPS web page.  The only job that came up in the state of Florida was 350 miles away from my house.”

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Over the next 18 months, 1.4 million U.S. Census workers will be surveying the population of the country to gather demographic information about everyone living here.  As the 2010 census process begins, Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona advises citizens to cooperate carefully in order to avoid becoming a victim of census-related scams.

Citizens are required by law to respond to the U.S. Census Bureau’s requests for information. Census data will be used in allocation of more than $300 billion in federal funds as well as in determining the number of Congressional representatives that each state is allowed.

Most people are understandably cautious about giving out personal information to unsolicited phone callers or visitors, but the Census is an exception to the rule.  Scammers know that the public is more willing to share personal data when participating in the Census, so they take advantage of this opportunity by posing as government workers to get access to personal financial information.

Helpful information may also be found on the Census Bureau’s website by clicking here.

BBB offers the following advice to help distinguish between bona fide Census workers and con artists:

• U.S. Census workers will have identification, a handheld device and a confidentiality notice. Caution: never invite strangers into your home.
• U.S. Census workers will not ask for your Social Security number or any information about bank or credit card accounts.
• U.S. Census workers will not ask you for money or say that you owe money.
• U.S. Census workers will not harass or intimidate you.
• U.S. Census workers will not contact you by email – only by phone, by mail or in person.

For more information regarding the 2010 Census, visit the U.S. Census Bureau online at www.census.gov.

For the third time since March, a Tucson automotive repair facility has notified BBB that they were contacted by a scammer using a relay service intended to assist persons who are hearing impaired.

Since this scam seems to keep popping up around Southern Arizona, we thought we would run down the slightly different forms it can take.

- In early September, BBB received a call from Jimmy’s Broadway Automotive Service after they received a call via Telecommunication Relay Service (TRS) from someone who said they wanted to have their car shipped to the shop for repairs. Using TRS, the scammer offered to pay Jimmy’s over the phone with a credit card.

However, there was catch: Jimmy’s was to forward the money from the credit card transaction to the shipping company to pay for transportation of the car. Jimmy’s told BBB that although the scammer “tried diligently” to lure them in for about 15 minutes, ultimately the call raised too many red flags and they refused the offer.

- On June 30, BBB received a call from Canyon RV Center, in Tucson, saying they had been contacted by someone using a relay service to inquire about buying $4,000 worth of parts. The caller used the name “Lisa Marie” and claimed a Yuma address.

She emailed the business a credit card number and attempted to make arrangements for someone to pick the parts up when the order arrived. The business owner became suspicious when he noticed that a passport provided as identification by the scammer was tampered with, and refrained from ordering the parts. Several days later the bank notified him that the credit card the scammer provided was stolen.

- In March, BBB reported a man had contacted a different Tucson auto repair facility via a relay service and told them he was going to have his car towed to their facility and he wanted to wire money directly into the business’ account. When the business owner started asking questions the caller hung up.

Recently, KVOA News in Tucson aired a segment on relay scams, specific to Canyon State RV. You can also check out this BBB video giving the rundown on relay scams.

If you receive a similar call don’t provide account information to the caller, don’t order any supplies, and be wary of any of payment the caller offers. Do try to get as much information as possible and contact your BBB at 520-888-5353 or info@tucson.bbb.org.