Internet Fraud....Poor Guy was just looking for a job

[Thrifty Ray]

I'll call him Joe.

Joe was down on his luck. He had lost his job and his wife was not real happy that he wasn't 'bringing home any bacon'. Joe applied for jobs...but just wasn't finding the right fit. So Joe decided to put his resume' on an online job site. Then he waited to see what happened.

It wasn't long before Joe got a hit. He received an email from someone who had an international business, but was looking to expand into the US. Joe was just the kindof person the business was looking for.

Through the many emails back and forth, Joe learned that he would be getting his foot in the door with a company that made little tracking chips that could go into packages and track the location of a package anytime, day or night anywhere in the world. Joe was to be the 'first US agent' for the company, which meant a larger share of the pie down the road if Joe was willing to help the company get going in the US.

You see, the company did not have a bank account established in the US yet. Would Joe be willing to accept a 'cashier's check" from one of their US creditors...for THREE months salary and a bonus...and just wire transfer the balance of the check (almost $20000) back to the company. In the meantime, Joe would be receiveing a list of accounts that Joe could start calling (only 4-5 a week) and the US business could finally get off the ground!

Joe jumped...He couldn't lose! Sure enough, the 'cashiers' check arrived two days later via overnight delivery. Joe deposited the check into his account and wired the 'extra' money as instructed.....

And then, about 10 days later, the 'cashier's check' came back "COUNTERFEIT"...Joe was out $20,000...he eventually filed bankruptcy and his marriage did not survive the financial devistation.

I wished I could say this was a unique story, but it is one I saw many times...the stories varied, but there was always a 'cashiers check' and a request to wire money out of the country.... BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS with any request like this....the methods/stories can be very convincing...but very likely, it is fraud and you could be out alot of money.

[PRICEPLUS]

If the job is asking you for money then it is a bad thing. Don't send money to anyone for a job. They are supposed to pay you not the other wayaround!

[Bluezy]

Yet some people are innocent enough to be taken by these thieves. I feel sorry for Joe.

[Tree0164]

This is happening more and more. These people are being more sneaky.

They will say I want to buy the car and give you a check to $5k more and send the difference.

I have heard of several cases where tellers say the check looks good when the person is going to cash it and then boom 2-3 weeks later the check is a fraud.

Be aware be smart and my motto if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

[Thrifty Ray]

Originally Posted by Tree0164

This is happening more and more. These people are being more sneaky.

They will say I want to buy the car and give you a check to $5k more and send the difference.

I have heard of several cases where tellers say the check looks good when the person is going to cash it and then boom 2-3 weeks later the check is a fraud.

Be aware be smart and my motto if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Yes...selling a car, a horse, jewelry....taking a hotel reservation....starting a business...

The key points are: CASHIERS CHECK FOR MORE MONEY and the 'EXTRA' is to be wired out of the country.

One situation I encountered....a guy was selling his car and the 'secretary sent him the wrong amount (almost $50,000 too much)...The secretary was going to 'lose her job' unless the money was wired back immediately....yikes...luckily, his story got to the fraud department before any money was sent and we put a big HALT on the whole transaction.