For some years now we’ve been alerting you to attempts to scam truck driving job applicants. We spread the word about one scam being perpetrated just to have another pop up.

Scamming has gotten so serious that the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration have issued a scam alert, as follows:

FMCSA would like to make you aware of attempts to defraud CDL drivers seeking employment and CDL Training schools who are attempting to help students find jobs. The fraudster promises employment in return for monetary payments to fraudulent “recruiters.”

The way it works: A caller represents himself or herself as being a recruiter for a known and legitimate motor carrier to a representative of a truck driving school or driver. The caller has an air of urgency and “must hire” several CDL holders immediately or as soon as a student graduates from Driver Training and receives his or her CDL. The fraudster is also known to solicit truck driving school instructors to provide his or her call back number to trainees or recent graduates from truck driving schools.

When a driver seeking employment calls the “recruiter” he or she is offered an immediate position with higher than industry norms pay and benefits for a new driver and is often told there will be a “waiver” for previous criminal or DUI convictions older than three to five years.

The caller then tells the driver candidate he or she must prove financial solvency to the carrier by sending a wire transfer of $350 or more to the “recruiter.” Recently the “wire transfer” instructions were to procure a Walmart money transfer purchased at the closest Walmart store and sent to the “recruiter” for pick-up at another Walmart store, usually in another State. Past fraudulent “recruiters” have directed money transfers through other common money transfer services such as Western Union.

Victims are directed to travel to a location, often in another state than his or her residence, to be picked up by a company trainer and the pick-up does not occur.

FMCSA suggets the following “Risk Mitigation for Driver / Driver Training Schools“:  Telephone the PUBLICLY LISTED telephone number of the motor carrier offering employment and verify the recruiter is a duly authorized representative of the Carrier.

While we’re on the subject of fraud, another round of fraudulent USDOT Letters dated March 12, 2013 are being distributed, largely by fax, to motor carrier officials. The letters appear to be from the U.S. Department of Transportation Procurement Office and are signed by a fictitious name Julie Weynel – Senior Procurement Officer who is NOT an employee of USDOT.

The letters are an attempt to obtain banking information from the targeted carriers.  Motor Carrier officials and their employees – as well as government and law enforcement officials, should be vigilant and on the lookout for fraudulent attempts to gather financial (or other personal identifiable Information – PII) data by fax, e-mail, or telephone. Requestors should be verified and authenticated before such data is provided!

You may find additional information on the USDOT Office of Inspector General Websites here.