Oakland County Teens Report Rash Of Unsolicited Job Offers Raising Concerns Of Legitimacy, Safety

BIRMINGHAM (WWJ) - How would you like a job where you make your own hours and starting pay is $17 an hour?

It's an offer that could be tempting -- and several Seaholm high school teens in Birmingham say they've received unsolicited calls from a company wanting to hire them. One student telling police the calls seemed suspicious.

Police, parents and the school district said the teen did the right thing when they told a parent -- who then contacted police.

The company wanted to meet them in Pontiac and offered pay of $17 an hour.

The police investigated and found that it's a legitimate company that hires teenagers for door to door sales. While the company is legitimate, they are a type of pyramid business and have received complaints of not paying their employees correctly. They obtain students' contact information from other students stated authorities.

The school district reached out to parents as a reminder to keep asking questions and keep the dialogue open with their kids. The district also stressing the need to encourage our young people to continue to be aware of the possibility of an unsolicited job offer being something that needs adult investigation.

Please encourage your teen to do the following:

• Always report to a parent and/or the school if someone approaches you about a job offer. While this may be a legitimate offer, it needs to be vetted by an adult
• Use caution if you receive any unsolicited phone calls, emails, texts, etc. from someone offering you a job (volunteer or paid). Never provide your personal information OR that of another student if you are asked. Do not engage in any conversation with an unsolicited caller. Politely advise them you are not interested and hang up the phone. It is not necessary for you to listen to their sales pitch
• Never meet anyone regarding a job offer or volunteer opportunity until your parent has investigated the legitimacy of the offer
• Continue to question anything suspicious and keep the conversation open and ongoing with your parents about these issues