No name Security Company Scams Brother and Sister out of Money

One of my viewers sent me this email about a common scam in the security industry. She answered this ad on Craigslist that said:

FRONT DESK SECURITY
 front desk duties, Answering phones, Signing in packages, Signing Guests IN/Out, Monitoring Surveillance Cameras
MORNING / OVERNIGHT Shifts open
Security training will be available upon acceptance, Mandatory !
NO HIGH SCHOOL/GED -OKNO EXPERIENCE -OKN
O GREEN CARD -OK
NO FELONIES ( will not be accepted !)Must be 18 years and over Male/Female.
pay is up to $16.72
Call for an INTERVIEW : 212 470 1862
reply by email: msrivera10222@gmail.com

She writes:

A few weeks ago my brother and I saw this ad on the internet, we really wanted a job, so we decided to give them a call. We called them the very same day, and spoke to a  Ms. Rivera. Ms. Rivera told us about the job, the work hours, and how they pay. Ms. Rivera even gave us the schedule of the shifts they had available. Ms. Rivera said that all we need to get started is only $80. Ms. Rivera said that if we have the $80 we can come in the next day. 
When we went there the following day and met with a man that works with  Ms. Rivera his name was Mr. Rosa. Mr. Rosa spoke to my brother and I, saying that because my brother didn't have a security license he would have to apply for one, take an 8 hours course, a16 hours course and a fire guard class. For this the cost would be $500. Mr. Rosa said because I already had a Security Guard license, and my 8 hours certificate. I just needed to do the 16 hours course, and the fire guard class that will cost me $300. We didn't have all the money so Mr. Rosa said we could pay part and then we could finish paying once we started working. 
Mr. Rosa told my brother that as soon as we pay down part of the money he could start his classes and it's only for three days, and he told me that because I got my licence I would start working by the Wednesday when I pay my part of the money. My brother and I borrowed $300 from our mother and went to pay Mr Rosa so that we could get started. We went and payed him and he told us that we should call him the next day so he could schedule my brother for classes and put me at a work site. The next day we called him and Mr. Rosa said that we should call back he is busy. I tried calling him on many occasions yet he didn't want to answer.

Let me break this down so you will recognize this.

1. What is the name and address of the business? where are they located? no where in the ad. Any reputable business will have this information.
2. Where is a website? In 2014 there should be a website?
3. Up front costs. Always ask what the upfront costs are for? Most Security Guard companies and schools do not charge an entrance fee.
4. If they are pressuring you leave. Never give your money to someone pushy there are legit schools out there.
5. Upselling. Making it seem you need to take extra classes that are not required by law to be able to charge more is shadey. 
6. Always google the phone number and check for reviews. No Reviews or Bad Reviews Never do business with them.

What you should be paying for security courses as posted by REMS security training school http://www.securitytraining.com/

8 hour security class - $45

16 hour Security class- $90 I have seen it lower for $70 else where.

For information about getting your fire guard license read my blog post here How do I get a Fireguard License in NYC

In closing if it doesnt feel right back out. Because as soon as you give up the money getting it back might be close to impossible.

Security Guard Horror Stories: Getting Stuck

In the next installment of my "security Guard Horror Stories" I bring you the example of getting stuck on site. Getting stuck on site means when it is time for you to go home and your relief doesn't show up. So you call your supervisor but either they do not answer or they give you a rude comment saying "Well we have no one to relieve you", so you end up doing a double. In this experience it was far worse.

I worked for a small security company called Sovereign Security. I was working for them for about a month at the time and the turn over at the site I was at was very frequent. At the time my shift was the 6pm till 2am shift. So on this particular night it was friday into saturday. It was already 1:53am I am looking at the clock wondering where is my relief. 2am comes and goes it is now 3am. I tried calling my supervisor but she was asleep for the night and not picking up the phone for nothing.

I realize I am now stuck and have to pull a double. which is the 2am till 10am shift. I do it at least it was a sit down post and it was dead. I could also go on the internet and watch movies so I was fine for now. 10am comes the staff has arrived for the day yet still no relief has showed up. I called my supervisor she picks up and tells me that two people decided to quit at the same time. My two reliefs. I was already fading fast. My eyes were really heavy.

At 11:30am my supervisor finally calls saying she herself will relive me at 2pm. 2pm!!!! At this point I have been on site for 17 1/2 hours straight. Now I have to wait till 2! that will make it 20 hours straight.

2 o'clock rolls around my supervisor hasnt shown up yet. she doesn't come until 3pm with some excuse about having to pick up her grand child from school or some bullshit. I have been there 21 hours straight! Mind you there was a zero tolerance policy for falling a sleep on post.

In security there is no respect for your health or time. You are expect to be a spartan able to endure superhuman stresses on your body. The kicker was I was only paid 9 dollars an hour! At the time I had 8 years experience. No respect.

Well stay tuned and subscribe for more Security Guard Horror Stories.

Security Guard Horror Stories: Refusing To Show I.D.

I have had many conflicts when dealing with the public in my job as a security guard. Since Security is viewed as a job for lazy people. Some people believe that we can be abused and just pushed aside.

In this one occasion I was posted in this small office building in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. This woman came in wanting to go upstairs to the Buddhist temple for the meditation. I told her that she would need to show identification and sign in the guest book before she would be granted access to the temple. She got irate immediately.

The argument went like this:

Her: This is ridiculous. I never had to do that before.

Me: That is why they are no longer here. I do not make the rules.

Her: Well I am already running late I do not have time for this.

Me: (suppressing my rage) I am sorry for the delay but I can not allow you access until you sign in.

Her: I don't have to show you anything.

Me: As a condition of entry you must show Id or you will have to leave.

Her: I am going upstairs.

Me: Then please show me Id and sign in the guest book.

Her: I do not have time for you.

She proceeded to walk past me and get on the elevator. I then put my foot to prevent the doors from closing and keeping the elevator from going up.

Her: Are you really going to keep me from going upstairs?

Me: Yes Please sign in and you will be allowed access ma'am.

Her: You are an @$$hole.

Me: Thank you for the compliment. I am sorry for the inconvenience.

Her: I will have you arrested for kidnapping.

Me: You can leave at anytime I am not keeping you from leaving. You are just not granted access into the building because you refuse to comply to the conditions of entering this building. In fact you are trespassing and I am doing my job preventing you from going up.

Her: I want to speaking to your *&()ing supervisor.

Me: Yes Ma'am please get out of the elevator and I will call him.

She gets out. Cursing me out. I called my supervisor and tell him the situation and put him on the phone with her.

Her: I don't want to show him my ID. He might be a criminal. (seriously holding my rage from this racist lovely lady) I come here all the time and I never had to sign in. He never showed me his id. (my id badge is on my shirt. I show it to her) No I do not want to see your id you @$$hole! I am already late and this fat %^&* is making me later. (seriously wanting to unleash on her but kept my composure)

At this point my Supervisor tells her she will not be allowed access until she shows id. That she is the making herself later and that she could be arrested if she tries to come onto the property unless she signs in. That we do this in case of an emergency to know who is in the building to coordinate efforts with emergency personnel.

She was like okay I will just show him my credit card it has my name on it. She takes out her debit card but since it doesn't have a photo I refuse it as proper identification. My supervisor backs me up. Impressed that after her verbal abuse I am firm and polite despite her talking to me like an animal. She takes out her state id and signs in after 15 minutes calls me an @$$hole one more time. I say thank you and please have a blessed day. She goes up annoyed but no further conflict.

My supervisor came to the site to commend me on keeping my cool and professionalism. Also to laugh when I showed her my Id when she asked for it immediately. And that is how I dealt with conflict. I stayed calm and firm and contacted a supervisor to back me up.