Thanks to Jeff Bauza, MTC, for Bringing the following to our attention:

US. Department Federal Motor Carrier of Transportation Safety Administration

FMCSA ALERT 040513.2 Hiring Fraud perpetuated on Drivers and CDL Training Schools

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". Please read below for more details about this "scam".

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.

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.

Fraudulent Letters to Motor Carriers Requesting Banking Information
FMCSA Security Bulletin # 032813.01

This bulletin is for use by FMCSA Industry, Government, and Law Enforcement Partners.
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 below:  

http://www.oig.dot.gov/fraud-alert

 

From: Cathryn Greene
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:05:56 -0800
Subject: Another Scam in progress

We received a call today from a guy calling himself David Jenkins, from Marten Transport.  It is the same old scam on the new graduates.  He does not work for Marten Transport nor does Marten Transport hire without at least 1 year OTR experience.

I have spoke with Jill Larson at Marten and she has received other calls today from schools.  Her contact information is:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(800) 395-3000 ext# 2404

Cathy Greene,
Director of Operations & Job Development,
Truck Driving Academy, TDA Educational Systems, Inc.  

Thanks for the Heads up!

We received a call today from Kathy at Truck Driving Academy in California. There is a gentleman using the name Michael Diangelo.  He is identifying himself as a representative of Martin Transport.  He is asking for 3 students and is especially in need of one woman. His reason is that he has a female trainer that needs to someone to ride with her.   

He also indicates that he will need 14 drivers by the end of next week. They will be paid $550 for 4 weeks and 33 cents per mile after they complete the 4 weeks. He says he will take students with felonies over 5 years and DUI over 3 years old.

Jo Larson, Recruiting Manager, Martin Transport has been fielding calls all day and assures us this is not the case. They have no one working for them by that name.

Once Mr. Diangelo gets the student, he tells them that they need to send $400 to show they can afford to go out on the road. He assures them he will return the money when they arrive in San Diego where he will put them up at a Motel 6 in San Diego.  The number he is using is a Tennessee Number.   

Thank you Kathy for the Heads up!

PLEASE DO NOT WIRE MONEY TO ANYONE SAYING THEY ARE A CON-WAY RECRUITER.

It has come to our attention that there is scamer out there looking for your money! We have received several calls today regarding this and want to inform ALL DRIVERS out there, especially students and those new to driving.

Here is what we have been learning:

Going by the name of Michael Hayes. He is stating that he is a recruiter for Con-way.

Offering to send in return:

• Airline tickets
• Hotel rooms
• Other things that relate to orientation/training transportation

Amounts requested are usually $150, $200 or $250.

Con-way Truckload, or any other Con-way entity (or any other carrier) would NEVER ask for drivers, especially students, to send money.

If this person contacts you, please hang up.

Please spread the word to other drivers out there.

Gretchen Jackson
Recruiting Manager
Con-way  Truckload
Never Settle for Less.

From: Richard Hidalgo
Subject: Scam Alert
To: "Larry Hobgood", "Gary Strube"
Date: Wednesday, December 5, 2012, 10:11 AM
 
Just got a call from a Michael Hayes 615 268-4393 who claimed to be from Covenant Transport. He said he was in need of drivers so I started to ask him a bit about himself. He hung up on me when I asked who his supervisor was. Now I ask you was he a scammer?

Rick
 
Thanks for the Heads up Rick! Mr. Hayes is back please, make your schools aware.

From: Nona McDonough
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 3:11 PM
To: RECRUITING
Subject: Scam
 
FYI:
I just received a phone call from Dorothy Campbell of Wichita Truck Driving School.  She advised that her students are receiving phone calls from a "fake" recruiter named, Wayne Bishop from phone # 615-284-4332.
 
Wayne is charging people large amounts of money telling them he can get them jobs especially if they have had a DUI, felony, or misdemeanor.  He is telling them that he can get felonies/misdemeanors approved within 5 years and DUI's within 3 years.  Then, he promises them that they are only out 14 days and home 4 days.
 
Dorothy stated that he has called some students and advised that he worked for Prime.  Now, he is saying that he works for Covenant Transport.  After he collects their money, he calls them back and says, "You've just been scammed."
 
Dorothy wanted to make everyone aware of the situation.  She also advised that anyone can call her at 316-838-3336 or her cell # @ 316-579-3379 if they hear anything from "Wayne Bishop".  She is trying to track as many of the calls as possible.
 
Thanks!
 
Nona McDonough, Covenant Transport.
 
Thanks for the Heads up!

We received the following alert from Jerry Thurman, Oklahoma Truck Driving School.

There is a gentleman named Steve Brand, Circle B Transport going to schools in the mid-west, he has a partner hitting schools in the South East. The con is he promises the graduates a $5,000 signing bonus $2,500 up front and then $2,500 after 90 days to help pay for the tuition. They never receive the bonus. He has no jobs.

According to Jerry he is targeting female graduates and does have a website set up but there is no longer a Circle B Transport Company in business. Jerry is working with police and wanted to share with the membership. Hopefully they will shut it down soon.
 
Please tell your graduates to be very cautious.

We received the following email from NAPFTDS
 
ROEHL Phone Call Scam
 
ALERT!

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College received a phone call this morning from a gentleman named Michael Brown. He said he was a recruiter with ROEHL and needed 4 drivers. He gave his phone number as 256-265-8430. The message received from the college recruiter was 'health care AUT' in Alabama.

Mike White of Wiregrass stated that they had a 2006 graduate by the name of Michael Brown that worked for ROEHL until 2011. Mr. White called the number and the individual answered the phone as Michael Brown and it was not their student.

After confirmation with ROEHL, it was indeed a SCAM.
 
Thanks for the heads up Crissie

CVTA received the following email from Teresa Miller at Covenant Transport:
 
I just received a call from Kirk Vance with United States Truck Driving School in Denver CO. A man going by Michael Hayes has called him saying he is with Covenant Transport and asking form student information. The phone number Michael Hayes gave him was 423-855-5755. I advised Mr. Vance with USTDS this is a scam and not to give him the requested information.
 
Thanks for the heads up Teresa.

From Joanie Barber at Georgia Driving Academy
 
A scam with a twist  

I just wanted to let you know that we received a call today that I think is probably a scam.  A man called and said he needed 4 drivers immediately for Roehl, said his name was Jerry Ellis and that he had more flexibility to bring someone on board than our normal recruiter.  After I hung up I tried to verify with Roehl that he was in fact an employee and was told he does not work for them.  He called me back and I asked where he was located and he said "Peachtree St., NW," I then told him that Roehl did not have him as an employee, he then said "well let me call them and have them call you."  His phone number is 404-686-6117.

Thanks for the heads up Joanie