Why I won’t work for AT&T… June 16
The brunt of my recent headaches has been with an AT&T policy that seems not only intrusive, but simply appalling.
Want a job with AT&T? You’ll have to give them your Social Security Number before even being considered for an interview.
I receive emails from headhunters almost daily. In some of these emails I have responded with interest to an AT&T opportunity, but an interest that quickly evaporated. This happened when several head hunters from different agencies (that shall remain unnamed) requested that I *email* them my social security number. This was a requirement and one that was neither waived nor circumvented.
Upon questioning this method one head hunter sent me the confidential letter from AT&T to the Enterprise Contractor Acquisition and Management (eCAM) group, which manages the eTEMP system. The eTEMP system is what vendors (the head hunter agencies) use to input candidates.
Here is the letter in its entirety:
February 20, 2008
AT&T eCAM Preferred Vendor:
eTEMP (Temporary Engagement & Management Program) is a web-enabled system which automates the contractor requisitioning and recruiting process. It is owned and supported by the Enterprise Contractor Acquisition and Management (eCAM) group. Social security numbers for each submitted candidate are required to be input into eTEMP for tracking purposes. There are no exceptions to this requirement.
The social security numbers provided for all candidates are kept confidential and secure within the eCAM organization and are not released to other areas of AT&T or outside the company.
If you have further questions on this requirement, please send an email to: etemp@att.com
Thank you.
[name removed]
eCAM Vendor Liaison
675 West Peachtree Street
39M30
Atlanta, Georgia 30375
[phone number removed]
*I removed the name and phone number of the employee out of respect and privacy of that individual.*
** It is my position that any change in this policy is above the head of this employee, and complaining directly to the liaison would not be productive nor fruitful. A change of this magnitude would only come from management or executive influence. I can provide the phone number if needed - just leave a comment (use your real email) asking for it.**
I have two questions for AT&T representatives and their Vendors.
#1. “What the hell are you thinking?”
#2 “Who is actually stupid enough to email ANYONE their Social Security Number?”
Lets take a look at some of the more important questions. Who really needs your social security number? According to this article employers need it to pay you. But wait! Paying you means you have already been hired and are employed. This is after the interview process and by common logic, certainly does not imply that its required only to be considered for an interview, let alone a prerequisite during the actual interview process.
How is your social security number to be stored (if its even secured and encrypted) and how long will they keep it on file? AT&T has already had one ugly incident of losing UNENCRYPTED Social Security Numbers of its own employees! Why arent the details of storage and encryption techniques released to those who choose to submit their Social Security Number to AT&T? Why does AT&T need your Social at this point anyway and what are they doing with it? Are they running credit checks without permission? Secretly data mining? Selling your information to third party agencies?
Who’s got your Social Security Number anyway? There are only a few places that are required by law to have them. Surprisingly not even credit card issuers need your Social, they can run your credit by other means of information.
Aside from this issue, AT&Ts ethical behavior in the telecommunications industry is in my opinion, a bit abhorred. Apparently their hiring practices aren’t too dissimilar. These behaviors include but are not limited to: consumer rights violations which has moved in to class action status, suppression of Internet based Civil Rights, “illegal” cell phone locking which is still very controversial, the huge whammy of illegal involvement in the NSA domestic wiretap campaign - of which Wired Blog Network had a huge contribution in publicizing, and Im sure a myriad of other things I have neither the time nor patience to keep up with.
This is why I refuse to work for AT&T.
Joseph Rheaume Jun 17
I too got this today from a headhunter today. He seamed a bit confused as to why I would not give my SSN to him. I told him well if I tell you mine you tell me yours. I don’t know that guy from a hole in the wall, why the hell would I give my that. I told him to contact ATT and have them contact me and then we could talk. I did a Google search and found your article, I also did a Google search on Mrs Webb and did not find any results. So who is to say if this is a scam or for real. Regardless you would have to be out of work for some time to willingly give out your information like that. Just Nuts, Guess ATT don’t want good people working for them any way. That is how they keep there costs down….
ramram Jun 20
F*CK ATT!! who needs them!
MSC_Geek Jun 24
I got a cold call from someone with this same thing this morning. He had some great sounding pay, and then he hit me with this bombshell. I told him not on a cold call, and not before an offer letter. He emailed me a copy of the same thing you put up on your page, but my letter didn’t have any contact name or telephone number for the Vendor Liaison.
Raj Jul 9
I am also goign through the same problem. I was not willign to give my SSN in the phone and they send me the exact email above with the same address etc.
First thing i did was pasted the company name in Google and got into this web site.
This is too rubbish.
VK Jul 14
I landed with the same issue. I have no problem providing it to AT&T but not to the recruiter.
Luan Jul 16
Mistype a couple of numbers
Who are there to say you couldn’t write email half drunk?
ScottyB Jul 16
This happened to me twice! AT&T doesnt know the way Identity theft is today?? If you ask me, a corp that big I would think does. Come ON!! its gotta be a scam!!! We are told today to never give your SS# to anyone.. These people are out of there minds!
JR Jul 22
I just had a call from a recruiter as well. There should be a law preventing a company from requiring you ss number involving third parties in the application process.
It should be between you and your employer, not a guy working out of India or some other third world country.
eCam Scammed Jul 23
I just received a an email this week from some bloke in TX who said he had a great job lined up - right in the middle of my expected pay range, too! Everything looks perfect. Expect the SSN. As an IT Security practitioner, this looks like a great way for data leakage. I put in the call to the lady on Peach Tree street, phone no. pulled from my letter, like everyone else and received and her VM. Only it states that I have to provide my SSN as a requirement. Unless this lady calls me back and explains the security controls in place, I won’t be doing business with this company.
Oh, and the recruiter asked for one of my certification numbers so that he could verify it. NO ONE has ever done that before. So, I may have to pass on this one … if it sounds too good, it just may be.
Scammed in VA
recruited Jul 25
I just received a similar cold call, with follow-up email. Requiring certification numbers is good due diligence, requiring SS# is some HR bureaucrat who thinks they want IT people willing to email their SS#’s to run their security. Not smart… but typical. It doesn’t appear to be a scam, just idiocy on their part. Anyone ever get a response on this from ATT?
Beware Jul 25
Yep,I was pulled into the same scenario. I had to email the head hunter to check the status after the phone interview( I hope was AT&T). They emailed me that I was rejected because of skills. (Which I really have to question considering my background)
But, I thought I’d email the head hunter back with a thank you and a short followup. Sent two emails - both bounced back as spam.
Nothing like a double slam - rejected for the job and blocked by the head hunter.
Now I have the worry is my SS # safe or was I scammed.
Monday, I’ll contact the Attorney Generals office and see what they have to say.
I would advised anyone never apply or go through the process of trying to work for AT&T as a contractor. Its a filthy process!