WAHM Forums

I applied for a job as an assistant. I received and email back where they asked for some information and explained my job would be to cash checks take my percent out and then western union the money to someone oversees (in London to be exact). This seems like a scheme to me, while the pay would be good I have read about people being arrested doing this, I have a 13 year old daughter who doesn't need her mom in jail, since I am her only parernt. Is this scheme? Can I believe this is legit? Any advice would be super helpful.

By the way, I am new here and HI!! :)

Edited by: smtisme

Don't do it. It's probably a big scam or a front for a terrorist or drug organization. They do it this so when someone is caught, it's not them.

Stay far, far away.

Uuugghh - why oh why do people even think for a second that its legit ?
NO ONE is going to pay you for cashing a check that they could cash themselves*
Why would they ?
If it doesnt seem right to you in your gut - then i say trust your gut

End of story

Thanks, I sent an email, asking him where else he would like me to send the check. Such a bummer, I could use $200 right now. Those people make me angry!!!smileys/smiley7.gif

OK, sorry that I am a moron.smileys/smiley19.gif

Definitely sounds like a scam - RUN!!

OK, sorry that I am a moron.smileys/smiley19.gif


You are not a moron. Try not to let the insensitively worded answers of others get you down. You were smart enough to ask if it was a scam because you were in doubt (I've been there, done that). Keep your head up; you'll find something legit smileys/smiley1.gif.


Edited by: Exotic

Exotic
Thank you!! I appreciate you kind words. Honestly, I had no idea these kinds of scams existed. Then this guy "hires" me and before I received the check this morning, I had read a couple articles about people being arrested for not knowing this stuff. I know it seemed like a redundant question but I have put my resume all over this earth looking for WAH job and have had no luck. So, sitting here with a $2500 check which I get about $200 from sounds really good about now,if it was real. :(
Trying to keep my head and confidence up.
Thanks.

smtisme
You're very welcome. Yeah, it's easier to fall for a scam when we're in a tight spot; and it's harder now to get an at-home job or any job. Was so much easier a couple years ago.

I've put some links below that I know are already here on this forum, and you may have applied with them already, but if not, I'd suggest applying for all of them as some are hiring now but have no available jobs so you have to wait for something to become available, some have states that they don't hire in, etc. I know there are more links around here too.

Alpine Access - https://www1.alpineaccess.com/external/index.html
LiveOPs - http://www.liveops.com/
West at Home - http://apply.westathome.com/
ACD Direct - http://www.acddirect.com/jobs/
Cloud 10 - http://www.cloud10corp.com/careercenter/
1800 Flowers - http://www.fursthire.com/jobportal/jobportal.swf?CLID=KAZFPNZH&JobID=IXZADWYR
Westat - http://www.westat.com/atHome/index.cfm
Teletech - http://www.teletech.com/en-US/careers/
OnPoint - http://www.onpointathome.com/

here is another similar list:

http://www.telecommutejobslist.com/work-at-home-call-center-jobs.html
Edited by: theladyboo

don't feel bad, I almost fell for a cute little puppy scam that was along the same lines of this scam you're dealing with!! people are heartless!!! I take that back.....scam artists are heartless!!

OK, sorry that I am a moron.smileys/smiley19.gif

You aren't a moron, hey you were smart enough to ask before you got into it! You just need to educate yourself so that you don't get duped and this is a great place to do that. You should start by reading the stickies at the top of any folder you are looking into because there will be tons of great information.

It's a scam. They will send you checks to deposit and then have you write checks against them. By the time you find out the checks they sent you are worthless, your money is gone. Don't do it!!

There was something on tv a while back about this - some journalist investigated it and it's a big scam.

My attorney's wife (also an attorney) got this same thing in her email and I know she was really angry about it and wanted to find these scammers. But I think they are overseas or something. Anway, definitely stay clear of it.

we all here to help u so don'tsmileys/smiley1.gif worry but do ur homework as well looking for real jobs

Exotic
Thank you!! I appreciate you kind words. Honestly, I had no idea these kinds of scams existed. Then this guy "hires" me and before I received the check this morning, I had read a couple articles about people being arrested for not knowing this stuff. I know it seemed like a redundant question but I have put my resume all over this earth looking for WAH job and have had no luck. So, sitting here with a $2500 check which I get about $200 from sounds really good about now,if it was real. :(
Trying to keep my head and confidence up.
Thanks.



A few years ago, before these sorts of scams were so popular, I had something similar happen to me. If you have the check/money order in hand right now, you honestly should bring it to a police station, or call your local police department's non-emergency number and tell them what's going on. There is an excellent chance these scammers have conned other honest, hard-working people out of LOTS of money, and will continue to until they are caught. If the police get the check from you, you are taking a step to prevent others from falling victim to this.

Also, please, please, PLEASE do not deposit the check they sent you, no matter how tempted you are. People can - and DO - go to jail for these sorts of things, and it will NOT clear your bank. No matter how real looking it is, it will eventually be found out and returned.

One more thing - what sorts of information did you give these "employers?" If you gave them any personal information, make sure to tell the police about that as well, asap. Better yet, show them any email communication you have had with the scammers.

What kind of jobs are you looking for? I have a membership to a site that find jobs for telecommuters and I have already found some very good prospects! PM me and let me know what you need. I will send u a few links. :)

The same thing happened to me. Luckily I vaguely remembered hearing something about a scam like this so I called the bank that the check was written on and they told me it was a scam. You cash the check, then you use WU to send the money out of your bank account to the people. A few weeks later your bank finds out that the check was a forgery, but you are held responsible for the money. So you've basically sent all of your money to the scam artists.

Sorry that happened to you. Don't give up hope. You will find a legitimate work-at-home job. It just takes patience. And you have to be skeptical. Research a company here and online before you apply. And never, ever give anyone your financial information. Good luck! Keep your chin up!

Everyone here has the right idea about staying far away from this. If they are asking you to cash the check for them it is because they are hiding from something and don't want to get caught. You don't need to be involved with those kinds of people. Keep your head up and you will find something that suits you. Good luck!smileys/smiley31.gif

When I read about these scams I always remember my Economics 101 professor in college. On the first and last day of class he told us that the best way to avoid being cheated or scammed is to live by the following mottos: "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."and "There is no such thing as a free lunch." I try to analyze everything according to those principles. I also added one of my own from the X Files show and that is "Trust No One."

Yea, its a scam. I was hit with this when I was new and didn't know about it. Thankfully I didn't fall for it.
It goes with the saying, "if it sounds too good to be true, it is".
It sounds fishy...why can't the person placing the listing cash the check? Is it a bad check perhaps?
Stay away, and you may want to report them to the site or forum you found the job on so others won't get caught up in it.

Yup, I have applied with all of them. Westat denied me already.

amy11077

Yes they are!!! I have sent this guy numerous emails telling him to find another sap. He keeps insisting this is my first assignment and to do it.

Exotic
Thank you!! I appreciate you kind words. Honestly, I had no idea these kinds of scams existed. Then this guy "hires" me and before I received the check this morning, I had read a couple articles about people being arrested for not knowing this stuff. I know it seemed like a redundant question but I have put my resume all over this earth looking for WAH job and have had no luck. So, sitting here with a $2500 check which I get about $200 from sounds really good about now,if it was real. :(
Trying to keep my head and confidence up.
Thanks.



A few years ago, before these sorts of scams were so popular, I had something similar happen to me. If you have the check/money order in hand right now, you honestly should bring it to a police station, or call your local police department's non-emergency number and tell them what's going on. There is an excellent chance these scammers have conned other honest, hard-working people out of LOTS of money, and will continue to until they are caught. If the police get the check from you, you are taking a step to prevent others from falling victim to this.

Also, please, please, PLEASE do not deposit the check they sent you, no matter how tempted you are. People can - and DO - go to jail for these sorts of things, and it will NOT clear your bank. No matter how real looking it is, it will eventually be found out and returned.

One more thing - what sorts of information did you give these "employers?" If you gave them any personal information, make sure to tell the police about that as well, asap. Better yet, show them any email communication you have had with the scammers.




Thanks I will!!!!

Sorry that happened to you. Don't give up hope. You will find a legitimate work-at-home job. It just takes patience. And you have to be skeptical. Research a company here and online before you apply. And never, ever give anyone your financial information. Good luck! Keep your chin up!


That is one part I am glad about, I didn't give up any financial info or my social security #.

Yea, its a scam. I was hit with this when I was new and didn't know about it. Thankfully I didn't fall for it.
It goes with the saying, "if it sounds too good to be true, it is".
It sounds fishy...why can't the person placing the listing cash the check? Is it a bad check perhaps?
Stay away, and you may want to report them to the site or forum you found the job on so others won't get caught up in it.



It was Craig's List where I see there are a lot of scams...

Just wanted to say sorry it took a day to get back with you all. Guess i got depressed and didn't want anything to do with my computer or job search after being scammed and then told by three companies "no." It's definitely frustrating, but I'll get that "thick skin" pretty quickly.

Hi,

Please don't trust them. They are really fraud.

Rah

I don't and I won't, If I can't make it to police before I have to go to my 3 hour a week job then I will do it Monday!

What I don't understand is why does it seem like nothing is ever done to find and catch these people? You always hear about us, the unknowing victim, getting arrested, but never the master minds behind it.smileys/smiley7.gif

Geek Girl,
I agree. All law people complain about the law breakers but none are being caught and stopped. Since I have gotten this email scam, I have gotten at least one more a day. Pathetic. smileys/smiley11.gif and really sad for people that don't know any better, like me... 1 week ago. I say, it doesn't take long to learn your lesson though, but we shouldn't have to.

I've seen all different varieties of this scam contests, jobs, inheritances-they are almost always from foriegn countries. There was even one listed in our local paper, complete with the poor written english and description of cashing checks/taking cut and sending balance.

When I tried to sell a truck on Craigslist I got a few emails saying they wanted me to ship the truck overseas...lol...you'd laugh if you saw the truck.

They also place ads giving away expensive birds or pets. And all they want is for you to pay the shipping. yeah right, all they have is a picture of a pet and a bogus story.

I had a bird cage listed for sale and This lady emailed me and said she was having a bird shipped from Africa and wanted to buy the cage for it....

Well I emailed her right back, not wanting to sound rude I asked her nicely if she was crazy, you do not send money to africa. period. We emailed back and forth about six times...at first she was convinced it was legit. he had emailed her ID ..he was some big hot shot...lol...

FinallyI just gave up and figured she was going to learn the hard way. I think she got taken, but she didn't admit it. She said she backed out of the deal.

Yea, she probably got taken. Man, it's so sad the lengths these poopy people will go to. Ever since I told that guy I wouldn't cash his check, I get daily emails from the "soldiers" in Iraq who want me to 'store' millions they found (that of course belong to Al-Quida and Sadam) for them in turn I get a cut. I have been sending emails back just saying, yup send me your money, I'll watch it for you!! LOL.

I can't even believe people fall for this nonsense!

Yea, she probably got taken. Man, it's so sad the lengths these poopy people will go to. Ever since I told that guy I wouldn't cash his check, I get daily emails from the "soldiers" in Iraq who want me to 'store' millions they found (that of course belong to Al-Quida and Sadam) for them in turn I get a cut. I have been sending emails back just saying, yup send me your money, I'll watch it for you!! LOL.

While I think the responses to your post that say things like how could anyone fall for this scam is a bit harsh I do think you need to disengage and stop responding to them. Quit talking to people who are trying to scam you and use that time to read up and learn about actual opportunities.

I never said that, and I do plenty of reading, sorry if I like to have fun. Breaks of the monotony of all of the reading. Geez.

aw smtisme, I know there's been a lot of posts on this already but I wanted to say, too, that you're not a moron. So many otherwise intelligent people get so desperate they fall for this and all other scams, because they so *want* it to be true.

But do please be careful! Before you go doing anything, including responding to offers (because then someone knows "they have a live one on the line") just give yourself a moment to pause and reflect. Think about it. Ask yourself if that sounds reasonable in real life. A way that works for me is I put myself in place of the 'employer' and ask if I'd pay that much or if I'd pay 'that way' or whatever. In this case the answer to my own question would be, "yes I'd do that...If I was a crook." Why else would I have someone cash checks for me? Why is it I don't/can't have my own checking account?" And then why would I have someone wire it overseas???"

Taking anywhere from a few minutes to a half a day to mull it over isn't going to hurt. And if they pressure you to respond quickly for any reason, that's telling you it *is* a scam.

So just take a little bit of time with offers and think them over. I can't tell you how many times I've heard, "Darn it, I knew it was a scam but I sent my money anyway hoping that just this once it was true."

Btw, this particular scam has been around for eons and it's called Advanced Fee Fraud. As some have pointed out there are many, many variations of it and I'm sure as soon as we see and recognize one, two new variations will come down the pike. So just keep in mind, NEVER deal with wiring or cashier or money ordering funds on to someone.


Edited by: Mornin

As irritating as it is it's almost impossible to try to find these people. They can be gone in a relative instant. And really you're giving them too much credit calling them 'masterminds.' They can just be any old Joe Blow sitting in a basement or in a computer cafe somewhere on the other side of the world.

For sheer gratification though, there are some sites on the web that are taking matters into their own hands and fooling around with these people by egging them on, making them think they have a patsy, but putting them through hoops by making them do stupid things if they still want to get their money, stringing them along and then posting it on the web for all to see and look at (and laugh at.)

I wouldn't recommend trying that at home though. Some of these people could be dangerous.