Woman Charged With Scamming Jobseekers at Phila. International Airport
By Kim Glovas
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A woman who had been working out of Philadelphia International Airport has been arrested on fraud charges.
Philadelphia police say Karen Benitez, also known as Karen Garcia, claimed she was a job recruiter for US Airways, and guaranteed jobs to prospective employees, many of them new immigrants with limited English skills.
Police say she would charge the potential employees $200 each, which she claimed would be used for fingerprinting, background checks, badges, and uniforms.
Police were tipped off to the scam when people began arriving at the US Airways office asking to be fingerprinted.
Benitz was arrested on November 7th on theft by deception and related charges.
According to investigators, about 50 people fell for Benitez and her story. And they are looking for anyone else who may have been duped by the scam.
Anyone who was a victim should contact police at the airport at 215-937-6927. They remind job applicants that US Airways does not charge any fees for employment.