Border Patrol warns of job applicant scam

By Angelica Martinez (Contact) Union-Tribune Staff Writer
2:35 p.m. March 26, 2009

Job applicants have one more thing to worry about besides competing candidates and meeting qualifications – they need to watch out for scams and frauds.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials in Washington, D.C., on Thursday released a statement warning agency job seekers of a recent scam involving a person applying for a job with the department.

A job applicant in Edinburg, Texas, reported that he was told by telephone that in order to be hired with the Border Patrol he had to pay $1,000.

There are no fees associated with any of the agency's jobs, officials said.
Customs and Border Protection is sponsoring recruiting events throughout the country in order to hire about 11,000 people this year, officials said.

Interested applicants should report to authorities any fraudulent requests, such as payments or fees associated with job listings.

Local and federal officials said they are still investigating the report made in Texas.

Angelica Martinez: (619) 293-1317; (Contact)

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