A Michigan family is desperately searching for answers after a 57-year-old Detroit woman disappeared following what appeared to be a fraudulent job interview arranged through an online posting.
According to reports shared by Dax News on Instagram and TikTok, Ivory Thompson left home one Friday, excited about interviewing for a cashier position she allegedly found on the employment website Indeed.
But what was expected to be a hopeful new opportunity quickly turned into a frightening mystery.
Thompson’s daughter said her mother called shortly after arriving at a Toys “R” Us location in Pontiac, Michigan, telling her that “something felt wrong.” The store, she reportedly explained, appeared abandoned and permanently closed.
The daughter said Thompson believed there must have been a mistake with the interview location. Moments later, the call abruptly disconnected.
What happened next has only intensified fears surrounding the case.
According to the report, the daughter immediately tried calling her mother back, but the first call would not connect. During a second attempt, she reportedly received a message saying the number had been disconnected. On a third call, a strange man allegedly answered from what sounded like a crowded call center before the line suddenly went dead again.
Thompson has not been seen or heard from since.
Investigators later discovered the job listing connected to the supposed interview had already been removed from Indeed, prompting growing concerns that the posting may have been part of an elaborate scam or setup targeting job seekers.
The case has also reignited broader conversations about the dangers associated with fake online job postings, particularly as scammers increasingly use legitimate employment platforms to lure victims into unsafe situations. Consumer protection experts have warned that fraudulent listings can be used for identity theft, financial scams, human trafficking schemes, or violent crimes.
Police also reportedly examined Thompson’s estranged ex-husband, whom she had divorced following alleged domestic violence incidents.
Suspicion intensified after investigators discovered a social media post he allegedly made the same day Thompson vanished that read: “I don’t wanna grow up, I’m a Toys ‘R’ Us kid.”
Despite the unsettling timing of the post, authorities said the man had a confirmed alibi and did not leave work during the timeframe surrounding Thompson’s disappearance.
Law enforcement officials continue to search for Thompson and are urging anyone with information about her whereabouts to contact the Detroit Police Department.
The case has sparked alarm online, with many social media users warning others to carefully verify interview locations, research employers independently, and avoid attending unfamiliar meetings alone, especially at vacant or isolated properties.
Ivory Thompson’s disappearance underscores growing fears about how easily online employment opportunities can be manipulated to exploit unsuspecting applicants.
