Job hunting? Be careful if it sounds too good to be true

We'd all like to make big bucks.  But be careful what you're signing up for.  The 2NEWS Investigators found when it comes to job hunting... if it sounds too good to be true it may just be.

This is the video pitch investigators say Jay Vincent made to try and recruit employees for his business:

"Hi my name is Jay Vincent… from Foreclosure Bank Inspecting Company we are a trademark company with the federal government."

U.S. Postal Inspector Erin Leipold says,  "A former NBA player and hometown hero used the notoriety and reputation that he had to illicit trust from individuals who applied for positions with his company."

Vincent sent ads all over the country looking for people to work for his foreclosure inspection business.

"When they responded they were told they needed to obtain a background check. They could either obtain the check through his company for $89 or they could obtain it on their own, which was more difficult."

But the background checks were never done.  No inspectors were ever hired and the business had no contracts.  Investigators say Vincent was just taking the fee money.

"We estimated 18-thousand victims in this investigation and we calculated the loss at 1.4 million dollars that we could document however we think that the loss was closer to two million dollars."

Sheilita Griffin says she worked for Vincent answering phones.  She says she heard many complaints from applicants.

"I don't believe in scamming people, in our economy and the way that our economy is going right now - people are working very hard for the money they have - so to scam people out of $89 - I don't really think that is fair."

Postal Inspectors say job seekers need to be weary of online ads.

Leipold says, "Jobs that promise high earnings with minimal effort are most likely NOT a legitimate offer."

Vincent was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay more than $100-thousand dollars to the IRS for his part in the case.