RSS FeedHow To Spot a Scam On Craigslist
Now, I know most people are thinking, "How to spot a scam? On Craigslist? This isn't 1995, you know. I'm hep to the whole, Nigerian Prince thing. I barely sent him any money last time!"
I thought myself pretty good at spotting scams, and really, haven't been taken in by anyone, but in my quest for a new job I've found that there is a lot of freaking crap on craigslist. I believe a real job can be found there (my last job was found there as well as a a few interviews recently), but in my desperation I've started replying to ads that look almost legit; they aren't "OMG TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE", and seem like, well, it could be a real posting. Most aren't. I don't think it's too big of a deal - my resume is out there on a few job boards, what more are they getting from me? But it gets annoying. So here are a few techniques I've been using to detect the scams.
I thought myself pretty good at spotting scams, and really, haven't been taken in by anyone, but in my quest for a new job I've found that there is a lot of freaking crap on craigslist. I believe a real job can be found there (my last job was found there as well as a a few interviews recently), but in my desperation I've started replying to ads that look almost legit; they aren't "OMG TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE", and seem like, well, it could be a real posting. Most aren't. I don't think it's too big of a deal - my resume is out there on a few job boards, what more are they getting from me? But it gets annoying. So here are a few techniques I've been using to detect the scams.
When I Get A Job...
It seems like I never buy the things I need (or rather, really, really want) when I have the chance. Hopefully when I get a new job, I can change that.
Flaws of Traditional Radio
Let me begin by saying that Kid Rock should be dead. Flat out dead. I don't care how, but by now it should have happened. John Lennon gets assassinated and Kid Rock gets to make a new song (something about summer and rhyming things with things and sampling good songs). Why is he alive.
My job has Sirius satellite radio, which might be cool except it's the same inane crap that's annoyed me about conventional radio since high school. We hear 5 stations, a different genre/era each day.
Monday is Classic Rock (pop style), Tuesday is 90's to Today, Wed is 80's Pop, Thur is Classic Rock (Rock Style), Fri is Country. Thursday is the best, since there is just a lot of great music from the the classic rock time frame. We always get Zepplin and Creedance and all the great stuff, most of which I like. Tuesday is ok when good 90's alternative gets in (like today, we started with Pumpkins, Counting Crows, a few others I can't remember), but it always gets around to the crappy Kid Rock song and some other song about a girl wanting to start a fight (VERY ANNOYING SONG).
I don't know if there is good music on this Sirius thing, but I've decided that it would probably still annoy the hell out of me, because it comes with most of the inherit flaws of traditional radio (from what I've heard).
1) Repetitiveness
I don't know how often new songs are mixed in, but every day we hear pretty much the same songs, and most times, two or three times, and it's usually the really annoying songs that get the most playtime. Kid Rock and the Girl Fighting song with the Na Nahs comes on at least once an hour it seems to me. A good playlist should have great songs, everytime, and not repeat them. Hardly at all they should be repeated. Because, if you are doing it right, there is a LOT of good music to listen to. Radio is not doing it right.
2)Breaks for Talking
There aren't any commercials since Sirius is paid radio, but there are still DJ's annoyingly talking about whatever thing their being told to say, and little sounds and clips and crap that tells you what you are listening to, in case "music" isn't a good enough definition. And then some girl comes on and sings the Simpsons theme song in such a way that sullies Elfman's tune forever.
On Friday, hicks get to call in and request country songs by SINGING THEM.
WHAT. THE. FUCK.
3) There really ought to be three things but I think two will do it.
So there you have it. Kid Rock needs to die and I need to be able to listen to Pandora at work. Or throw an indie station in on Mon. We don't need another classic rock day, and one that isn't that great to begin with.
My job has Sirius satellite radio, which might be cool except it's the same inane crap that's annoyed me about conventional radio since high school. We hear 5 stations, a different genre/era each day.
Monday is Classic Rock (pop style), Tuesday is 90's to Today, Wed is 80's Pop, Thur is Classic Rock (Rock Style), Fri is Country. Thursday is the best, since there is just a lot of great music from the the classic rock time frame. We always get Zepplin and Creedance and all the great stuff, most of which I like. Tuesday is ok when good 90's alternative gets in (like today, we started with Pumpkins, Counting Crows, a few others I can't remember), but it always gets around to the crappy Kid Rock song and some other song about a girl wanting to start a fight (VERY ANNOYING SONG).
I don't know if there is good music on this Sirius thing, but I've decided that it would probably still annoy the hell out of me, because it comes with most of the inherit flaws of traditional radio (from what I've heard).
1) Repetitiveness
I don't know how often new songs are mixed in, but every day we hear pretty much the same songs, and most times, two or three times, and it's usually the really annoying songs that get the most playtime. Kid Rock and the Girl Fighting song with the Na Nahs comes on at least once an hour it seems to me. A good playlist should have great songs, everytime, and not repeat them. Hardly at all they should be repeated. Because, if you are doing it right, there is a LOT of good music to listen to. Radio is not doing it right.
2)Breaks for Talking
There aren't any commercials since Sirius is paid radio, but there are still DJ's annoyingly talking about whatever thing their being told to say, and little sounds and clips and crap that tells you what you are listening to, in case "music" isn't a good enough definition. And then some girl comes on and sings the Simpsons theme song in such a way that sullies Elfman's tune forever.
On Friday, hicks get to call in and request country songs by SINGING THEM.
WHAT. THE. FUCK.
Sirius Suits: We need something that'll make people wanna listen to this country station and keep paying for something that is free already.
DJ: Hmm. Well country is inherintly annoying, so that must be the aspect that draws people to it. What can make it moreso?
SS: Let drunken hicks call in and request songs?
DJ: No. Even better: let them SING the requests. All off-key and badly. People will love it.
DJ: Hmm. Well country is inherintly annoying, so that must be the aspect that draws people to it. What can make it moreso?
SS: Let drunken hicks call in and request songs?
DJ: No. Even better: let them SING the requests. All off-key and badly. People will love it.
3) There really ought to be three things but I think two will do it.
So there you have it. Kid Rock needs to die and I need to be able to listen to Pandora at work. Or throw an indie station in on Mon. We don't need another classic rock day, and one that isn't that great to begin with.
New Jobs For All!
Or at least for me. I've been out of work for about 2 months, and finally got a job, and it's a great one to boot! Data Entry, $9/hr, full-time, benefits after 90 days. Start Friday morning. Off to watch Chobits.