Dear Charlie,
I responded to an ad online hoping to make some extra cash. It was a small startup company looking to hire people part time. Despite the fact that this business was located 5 hours from where I live, they claimed they were trying to expand in my area. I wanted to give it a chance, so I emailed back and forth with the owner of the company. I soon learned that this company was a scam, and that part of getting hired required you to pay them for training. I thought this was ridiculous, so I stopped pursuing this “great money making opportunity”. A few months later, a friend of mine came across the same website. She informed me that they had me listed as one of their employees. I couldn’t believe it, so I immediately contacted them and asked that they remove my name immediately. This prompted an incredibly unprofessional, bantering response from the owner. I don’t even know this guy, yet he wrote me a long email that was totally out of line about how I'm never going to get any work in the future. I told him to comply with my request, remove my name, and stop emailing me or else it will be considered harassment. He finally removed my name from his site, but said it was only because of my attitude and that I am no longer welcome to work for him. Then he continued to email me personal insults, and we don't even know each other! I asked him to stop harassing me, and told him he was unprofessional. He replied with a whole paragraph about how I am unprofessional, and I am the one who is harassing him! It was the most immature email conversation I think I’ve ever had! I really want to report him in some way, but I don’t know what to do. He keeps emailing me!
-This is Nuts
Dear This is Nuts,
Yes, it is nuts. Thanks for no longer welcoming me to work somewhere I want nothing to do with in the first place?!?!? I’ve heard some pretty bad online job hunt horror stories, but this is a good one. It sounds like you’re arguing with a 5 year old who has to have the last word. You’ve never even met nor talked to this guy, so who knows who he really is? He could be a 12 year old kid hiding behind his computer for all you know. As I mentioned in a previous letter, some online job sites have really gone south. Many people have relied on them during job hunts in the past, but they have become oversaturated with garbage. The problem is in the filter system. Since anybody and everybody with an email can post on sites like this, it doesn’t filter out the abundance of scams and con artists. In fact, it opens the door to them. The truth is that a lot of these sites are flooded with garbage. Therefore, it’s no surprise that when you ventured into this treacherous territory, you discovered an amateur with criminal intent (to say the least). This guy gives a new meaning to being neurotic. Not only is what he did illegal, but you should know that any attempt to deal with him rationally after that will be wasted. In dealing with the criminal minded, there’s no level as to how low or far they can go. People like this disrespect and go out of their way to avenge you because they have no boundaries. In his mind, he is somehow justified. This person sounds like he’s going to dig his own grave eventually. By definition, harassment constitutes as persistent tormenting or threatening behavior, but building a legal case out of it is no easy task. I’m not trying to discourage you from going there; I’m just saying that it’s also very difficult to prove harassment in court. If the harassment is legally acknowledged, you may be able to get a restraining order, but it might not be worth the trouble. The law says that harassment is "repeated, intrusive or unwanted acts, words or gestures that are intended to adversely affect the safety, security or privacy of another, regardless of the relationship between the actor and the intended target." Although it's hard to legally press charges on harassment, you may want to consult with an attorney if he continues being belligerent or threatening you. Unwanted emails and spam are common issues that most attorneys can’t be bothered with. A lawyer will ask you what you want him to do, and will most likely just tell you to stop all contact. Certain email providers like Hotmail have a block list option. Try to block him from sending you anything further, and feel free to call the Better Business Bureau on him if it makes you feel better. However, given his conduct and lack of legitimacy, you may find that his business doesn’t really exist. Definitely stop responding to his emails. If you don’t respond, I think he will stop emailing and find someone else to harass. In responding, you add fuel to his fire. Who knows what he is capable of, because he sounds like a psycho. Good thing this “business” is 5 hours away from you! Ultimately, you can’t stop idiots from being idiots and they are everywhere, not just online. Don’t let this upset you too much or take it personally, because it’s just plain ridiculous. You don’t know who you're dealing with here. You have never even met face to face so as far as I’m concerned, he could be a fugitive living in Iceland. It’s absurd that anyone would have that much to say to someone they don’t even know. He has issues. To think that you had to request that he not fraudulently use your name to endorse himself or gain business without your consent, is illegal activity on his part. Good thing he did obey, or else you would have a case on your hands, in which you could take legal action. Think nothing more of this and try to laugh it off because he really is a joke. Be very cautious when it comes to online job sites. You have to be careful who you share your information with. Sometimes it’s hard to avoid getting involved with garbage like this when it comes to those sites. Beware of the dangers in going there. You could also notify the job search website you found him on of his conduct.
