The Job Looked Legit...Until the Interview

Job scams are evolving and here’s one you might not see coming. 

Most of us know the usual suspects: Text messages from shady recruiters, work-from-home setups that require upfront payments, and too-good-to-be-true offers. But recently, one of my clients encountered a new twist, one that looked legitimate on the surface. An insurance company on LinkedIn advertising a job for “Customer Support Specialist.” Some of their postings may say Customer Service Representative. 

Here’s the description of duties:

Handles remote, inbound customer inquiries regarding insurance policies and benefits, provides support, and facilitates sales processes by explaining products and connecting clients to agents. Key responsibilities include providing personalized solutions, maintaining client relationships, and working within a remote, goal-driven team environment. 

And it goes on about providing customer support, relationship building, etc.

Key Qualifications: 

Communication Skills:  Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential for interacting with clients. Customer Service Focus:  A professional, friendly, and proactive attitude, with a passion for delivering exceptional service. Technical Proficiency: Basic computer proficiency and familiarity with tools like Microsoft Office Suite. Teamwork: The ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team environment. Professionalism: 

The company recruiter reached out inviting the candidate to interview and sent a welcome video.

We did our homework:

✅ Watched their video (polished, promising)

✅ Reviewed Glassdoor, Indeed and a host of other sites (plenty of positive reviews)

✅ Cross-checked Reddit and Quora (some red flags—MLM accusations, others disagreed) ✅Consulted an industry insider (confirmed: MLM, high-pressure sales)

I know what you’re thinking, people said MLM right? Twice in fact, so I was skeptical, but does that job description read like an MLM or pyramid scheme? And the ones who claimed it was complained of working hard, while others claimed it paid off. The other industry insider was a competitor. The company website looked professional, with a clean, modern design and branded videos that never mentioned tiers or anything remotely tied to an MLM.

That’s what makes these setups so tricky: they’re not the obvious scams we’ve all learned to spot. They’re dressed up in professionalism, targeting eager job seekers who are willing to work hard and get a foot in the door.

But legitimacy isn’t just about appearance. It’s about transparency, ethics, and how they treat candidates. 

Now, they “claimed” in their introductory video annual trips, high commissions, etc. so we knew it was commissions-based. My client decided to do the interview, just to see, figuring they would ask all pertinent questions including if it was a W-2 or 1099 role. The main goal was to get some hands-on sales experience. 

The interview revealed the truth.

🏴 There were 60+ candidates on a video call

🏴 Many, including the interviewers were in pajamas and tank tops; some laying in bed

🏴 One so-called interviewer was in his car, wearing the tank top and shorts

🏴 No mention of customer support, customer service or anything from the job description🏴 The only interview question was “why should we hire you?” everything else was just hype about earnings from selling insurance

🏴 “Selected” candidates were asked immediately to pay $100 for a license 

I explained to my client that most insurance companies pay for your license. Unless, you’re an independent agent. Needless to say, with all of the above, my client walked away.

Here are 5 signs a “job” might be a disguised MLM or high-pressure sales grind:  

1. Job titles like “Customer Support” or “Consultant” that don’t match the actual duties

2. Group interviews focused on income potential, not service or skills

3. Upfront costs for training, licensing, or onboarding

4. Overly youthful leadership with titles that don’t match experience

5. Pressure to commit quickly without clarity on compensation structure

Remember, the abovementioned company’s website did look legit. The video was polished. The reviews were mixed but not alarming. Even the job title and description sounded plausible.

You can conduct plenty of research, yet some roles only reveal their true nature during the interview. That’s why I coach my clients to trust their instincts, ask hard questions, and walk away when something feels off.

I did some more digging. If you’d like to know more about this company, send me an email or a LinkedIn message.

Have you seen similar tactics lately? Drop a comment or share your experience. The more we talk, the harder it is for these schemes to thrive. #CareerTips #JobSearch #MLMAlert #JobScams #CareerCoach #JobSeekers#LinkedInCommunity