August 2, 2006 - --THE SCAM: Hotel jobs in Canada

HOW IT WORKS: Scams come in all shapes and sizes, but a new one may be the first aimed at would-be hotel workers. The scam comes by e-mail and is purportedly from the Omni Hotel Canada. The e-mail says the hotel -- no city given -- needs workers and will pay the "air ticket and visa fee" for prospective employees. The e-mail also has a picture of the "hotel director," an attractive woman who appears to be in her 20s.

Omni Hotels operate a hotel in Montreal, but officials with Omni said the e-mail was not sent by their company. Fraud experts believe such e-mails are meant to lure job seekers into parting with money or personal information to get the job. The hotel is no more real than the Hotel California, and identity theft is not such a lovely place.

WHAT'S AT STAKE: Money, financial information or personal information, depending on where the scam goes if you reply to the e-mail

HOW TO BEAT IT: Hotels, like most businesses, aren't in the habit of soliciting help through random e-mail messages. Don't reply to the e-mail; delete it. If you want to work at a hotel, check the chain's Web site for job opportunities.

Bee staff writer Ben van der Meer can be reached at 578-2331 or [email protected].

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Modesto Bee, Calif.

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