Buying Fake Job References Is Actually a Thing — Here's the Company That Sells Them

Applying for a job but lack sufficient references? Don't fret it.

Career Excuse, an online company founded in 2009, allows individuals to purchase fake job references for as low as $150.00 — and the service may be more elaborate than you think.

A "premium plan" lets customers choose a fake company name and URL for a website.

"We then create a professional website and virtual office with ONE business day!" the company says on their website. In some cases, Career Excuse will even pin a location for the fake business on Google Maps.

[sharequote align="center"]"We then create a professional website and virtual office with ONE business day!"[/sharequote]

Further, the "professional reference provider" will provide a phony phone number, promising that "all calls are answered by a VM greeting system with extension numbers to your supervisor(s), HR, or customer service operators."

Career Excuse sells fake job references, starting at $150. (Image source: Shutterstock)

"If your reference provider is at the phone, he will pick up live!  If away from his desk, he will leave a personal vm greeting saying he currently away from his desk and will return the call," the website says.

-- Click here to see an example website created by Career Excuse --

Company founder William Schmidt told The Daily Dot he started the service after realizing there was a high demand for fake job references.

[sharequote align="center"]"..I realized that this is some there’s a pretty big demand for."[/sharequote]

“While we were all unemployed, a couple of my former coworkers asked me to act as their reference for job interviews,” he reportedly said. “I did it for free for my friends, but then I realized that this is some there’s a pretty big demand for. It was something I could take to the public.”

Schmidt acknowledges that the service he provides others may pose a moral dilemma, but told The Daily Dot that's not his problem.

“Yes, there’s a moral issue in fibbing on your résumé to land a job, but that’s for people to deal with themselves,” he reportedly said. “In today’s environment with rampant unemployment, everyone’s looking for an edge. Our service just gets them the interview.”

According to The Daily Dot, however, there are some lines Career Excuse won't cross. For instance, they won't lend their services to allow someone to land a job in a field that would put the lives of others at stake, such as positions in the medical field or emergency services.

(H/T: The Daily Dot)

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Follow Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) on Twitter

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