>I have also heard that sometimes recruiters will post “fake” job listings in order to get your resume into their database.>

I've come across the same thing in my job searches. There are a number of body shops which can't afford to maintain the kind of bench staffing to react quickly to new requirements. As you note, they'll fill up their database with lots of names in the hope that one of them will be available on short notice.

I've responded to online postings to be told that the job had been filled over three months ago.

I had one company in Omaha actually give me a start date - subject to confirmation from the client. Silly me. I actually thought I had a job and stopped my active search. When they contacted me three months later to see if I was interested in something else my response was sort of profane.

This wasn't necessarily true several years ago, but in today's climate I would say that if you do hook up with RHIC (or an equivalent), consider them your "contractor du jour" and NOT your employer. Ignore virtually anything they say about long term careers. (To be fair, there are some companies out there who are honest about what happens when the first assignment ends.) Plan to be there only as long as your current assignment remains active. Even though it is in their best interests to find you a next assignment - that doesn't mean they will. If they don't ......... you need to be prepared for that.