David Goldstein Reports

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (CBS) ― With unemployment in the double-digits here in California, many of the newly unemployed are exhausting all leads looking for new jobs. One company that appears to be hiring may just be taking advantage of those that may be in need of work. CBS 2 Investigative Reporter David Goldstein went undercover to expose what's really going on.

The offices are packed with the unemployed. People inside and waiting outside. Answering an ad like this for forklift operator jobs, promising good pay in hard times.

David Goldstein: "Did you think you were going to get a job when you came here?"

Job Seeker: "Yeah, that's what I hope for."

Their doors are open to the unemployed but when we showed up…

David Goldstein: "Why are you hiding in here? Come out and talk to me."

They slammed shut.

David Goldstein: "What have you got to hide?"

They wanted us out so bad, they even called the police. What does a company hiring forklift operators got to hide? Riverside Forklift isn't hiring and paying out money. In fact, they're taking money for forklift training jobs that may or may not exist.

Judy Ledford: "I thought I was coming to get a job."

Judy Ledford answered the ad last fall.

Judy Ledford: "I said, 'this sounds great. This sounds like they're going to put me to work.'"

They put her on a forklift. But only after she paid $60 for their training course, which they say is OSHA certified and promised to get her hired.

Judy Ledford: "He says we guarantee you these jobs. We can place you into these jobs 99 percent of the time."

They gave her a list of jobs -- openings which were supposed to be found no where else. But when she called, some were filled. Others wanted more experience. Then she decided to complain to someone named Armando.

Judy Ledford: "That's when I questioned him on it. Well where are you getting these? And he says, 'we actually get them through the Greensheet or the Pennysaver.'"

So we sent in an undercover producer to answer the ad.

Employee: "We have right now another special."

She was hit with a training course and the price."

Employee: "That'll be $40."

She paid the money like most of the others there. First she had to watch the video, and then she took a written test followed by hands on experience. Afterwards, she was given her certificate. A list of jobs and the same promise -- this time from a man named Gabriel.

Gabriel: "The position is 98 percent guaranteed. We're letting you know the position is available for you."

But when we called the names on the list, most of the companies never heard of Riverside Forklift. Many didn't have openings or didn't have any for people with no experience. One company, Benchmark Staffing, even went so far as to tell us, "We do not work with Riverside Forklift and have asked them to remove our name and job postings from their materials."

We caught up with Gabriel outside the training site.

David Goldstein: "You're not hiring forklift operators, are you?"

Gabriel: "We're not."

David Goldstein: "Isn't this misleading saying money and benefits? People think they're coming here to get jobs."

Gabriel: "One second… you would have to talk with my boss."

He said his boss was going to show up, but he never did. It turns out OSHA doesn't certify training courses like this, although it's not against the law. Riverside Forklift also claims to be a member of the Better Business Bureau, but that's not true. In fact, they have an "F" rating with the BBB.

David Goldstein: "You claim to be a member of the Better Business Bureau, are you? The Better Business Bureau has tons of complaints against you guys. You're not a member, but you're on the list though. Hey don't close the door on me."

With that, he had nothing more to say, hiding inside the room.

David Goldstein: "You're a good talker when you say it's 98 percent guaranteed."

But the unemployed -- looking for work in this tough economy -- feel like they've been victimized.

Judy Ledford: "It hurt me. Deep in my heart, that there are actually people that can take your money like this and not help you out."

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