Con Artist Who Masterminded Bogus Security Guard Job Scam Has Been Captured and Is Behind Bars

Austin, Texas, November 10, 2008 - Antonio Silliano made thousands of dollars by tricking job applicants into paying fees for background checks with promises of security guard positions that didn't exist. Now he's behind bars. Members of the Memphis Police Department's Economic Crimes Unit arrested Silliano on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 and charged him with identity theft.

Memphis Police say Silliano conned hundreds of people all over the country out of thousands of dollars by promising to give them jobs. Instead he took their money and their personal information - then took off!

BBB serving Central, Coastal and Southwest Texas first began investigating Silliano in February of 2007, when complaints started coming in about a company in Leander, Texas called Janovsky and Associates. The complaints alleged the company marketed security guard jobs paying $18-$28 per hour on several internet employment sites. Applicants were asked to pay an up-front fee ranging from $89-$150. Consumers reported to BBB that after they paid the fee, they received letters saying this company's Human Resources department would contact them, but that never happened and consumers say no offers of employment ever materialized. Consumers also complained that their money was never refunded to them and that additional money was withdrawn from their accounts without their authorization.

BBB processed 6 complaints against Janovsky and Associates during a six month period in 2007. BBB files also include a compliment letter from someone claiming to work for the company. However, attempts to reach this person to verify his statements were unsuccessful as he did not provide BBB with a phone number and listed an incorrect address.

Ironically, when BBB updated the company's reliability report with information about the complaints, someone claiming to be the owner of the company called to complain to us. He said his name was Ryan Janovsky. BBB staff told him he had unanswered complaints and invited him to try and resolve them. However, the complaints remained unanswered and unresolved. Memphis police believe the names Ryan Janovsky and Michael Cioffi are two of several aliases Antonio Silliano used to perpetrate his crimes. He also operated his scheme under other company names, including First American Scan, Nation Protection, Sendora Security, Silliano and Associates and National Commercial Cleaning. A police sergeant we spoke with would not disclose any further details, as more charges are still pending.

Silliano was finally brought down in Memphis after setting up a new job scam there. Police say Silliano posted ads for jobs as window washers that paid $21 and required a $69 processing fee for a background check and drug test.

With job security not so secure, some people have become desperate to find a job. And websites like Monster, Hot Jobs and Career Builder receive lots of hits. BBB warns that some fraudulent job postings can look very legitimate and that's why victims who apply for them become easy targets for con artists.

"The crooks post jobs there and they also contact people who have posted their resumes there," says Carrie A. Hurt, President and CEO of BBB serving Central, Coastal and Southwest Texas. "So you cannot assume just because it's on one of these websites, that it's a legitimate offer.

BBB advises when applying for a job, you should never have to pay any fees for things like drug tests or background checks. The employer should always foot the bill. If you think you are a victim of a job scam, BBB encourages you to contact the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and Trans Union). Also contact your credit card companies so they can be on the lookout for fraud. For more job searching tips, visit www.bbb.org.