How does this scam work?

[Donal]

So, my girlfriend and I are both actively looking for jobs. Me because I was laid of, her because she hates her present one. While looking on Craig's List, she found an ad for a personal assistant. When she emailed her resume, this is what came back:

Hello,

Its nice to read from you that you are interested in knowing more about the part time job offer.I am looking for someone who can handle my personal and business errands at his/her spare time. Someone who can offer me these services:Mail services: Receive my mails and drop them off at FedEx,Dhl,Ups(nothing illegal).Shop for Gifts,Sit for delivery( at your home) or pick items up at nearby post office at your convenience.I would love to meet up with you to talk about this job if you will like to work full time.But i am currently away to see my family. I am in Australia so there will be no interview. I will prepay you in advance to do my shopping. I will also have my mails and packages forwarded to your address. If you will be unable to stay at your house to get my mails, I can have it shipped to a post office near you and then you can pick it up at your convenience. When you get my mails/packages; you are required to mail them to where I want them mailed to. You don't have to put money out of your pocket, all you have to do is have packages shipped to your house and do my shopping. You are allowed to open the packages to reveal its content.The content of the packages are computer and electronics, clothings business and personal letters. All expenses and taxes will be covered by me.You will work between 15 and 20hrs a month. How much will you charge per month? I will pay $500. That is not a bad offer is it? I need your service because I am constantly out of town. I work in real estate and I also own an Art Gallery,Clothing and Electronics Store in Australia. I will be back to states on Dec 20th to set-up a store,so this process will be going on till then. If you don't mind, I will meet up with you when I return and then we can talk about the possibility of making this long term. Well, let me know if you are able to handle the position..If you are able to handle it.

I will email you the list and pictures of what to shop for when I am ready. No heavy packages is involved! You can do the shopping at Sears, Walmart,Bestbuy,Circuicity,Oldnavy and other stores. You will be shopping for Electronics and clothings.I will provide you my UPS,DHL,FEDEX account number for Shipping. All you have to do is provide my account number to UPS,DHL,FEDEX and shipping charges will be applied into the account. I will provide clear set of instructions for each task I need done as well the funds to cover them. If i were to mail you money order to do my shopping plus upfront payment for your service, where would you want it mailed to? How should your name appear on the money order?I will need the information below,

Full Name...

Full Address.. (No P o Box)

Phone Number..

I will be expecting your mail soon.

NB: Payment will made out to you by Money Order Check


It doesn't seem to be looking for any personal info like bank account or anything, but it just doesn't feel right. The way it was written feels stiff and the arrangement just seems odd.

Any idea as to what is going on with this?

I can usually spot where the scam is, but this one has me stumped.

[jsiv]

I would imagine it works by them sending you fake checks (ones that will bounce) that you go cash in and buy stuff with, and then send the stuff back to the criminals. Since you're cashing the checks, you are liable.

It could also involve stolen checks and credit cards, and using your address as a drop point for goods ordered with stolen cards.

Stay far away.

[dtugg]

1) They want you to reship items purchased with stolen or fake credit cards/checks/money orders.

2) They will send you fake money orders, you deposit them into your bank account and purchase the items they want and send it to them. When the bank finds out that the money orders are fake, you are **** out of luck and out the money you spent on the items.

[Donal]

Thanks. I knew it was a scam. Just didn't know how.

ETA: Just saw the email Monster.com sent out to its users warning about exactly this type of thing.

[Wudang]

My first thought is money laundering.
The "buy things, deliver local then you forward" is also used by people ripping off stolen credit cards etc.
Google "money laundering" "mules" for some stories

eg http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/01/25/ST2008012501460.html

[Ocelot]

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Reshipping+Scam

[richardm]

So, my girlfriend and I are both actively looking for jobs. Me because I was laid of, her because she hates her present one. While looking on Craig's List, she found an ad for a personal assistant. When she emailed her resume, this is what came back:



It doesn't seem to be looking for any personal info like bank account or anything, but it just doesn't feel right. The way it was written feels stiff and the arrangement just seems odd.

Any idea as to what is going on with this?

I can usually spot where the scam is, but this one has me stumped.

I'd suspect a variation on this (http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/reshipper.asp) type of scam.

In other words, you get sent a cheque to cover costs, pay the bill at Sears out of your own money and ship the goods out. Then the cheque they gave you bounces and you've lost the goods and the money. Or something along those lines, anyway.

It's a scam, I'm sure.

Edit: Must learn to finish replies more rapidly :D

[Professor Yaffle]

Or even a version of - I have sent you lots more than you will need, please send me the difference back. then cheque found to be bad etc.

[CelticRose]

1) They want you to reship items purchased with stolen or fake credit cards/checks/money orders.

2) They will send you fake money orders, you deposit them into your bank account and purchase the items they want and send it to them. When the bank finds out that the money orders are fake, you are **** out of luck and out the money you spent on the items.
This. Someone in my area was featured in the news because he was a victim of scam #1 -- the items turned out to be stolen goods.

Or even a version of - I have sent you lots more than you will need, please send me the difference back. then cheque found to be bad etc.
I saw a version of this one today. It looked like a legit mystery shopper position except for 3 details:

1. The ad I applied to was not for a mystery shopper position.

2. As above, they wanted me to purchase goods and refund the difference.

3. They said, "I hope you have a Wal-Mart in your area." I'm in one of the biggest metro areas in the country; I have a plethora of Wal-Marts to choose from.

Email deleted and blocked.

[lionking]

I'm interested in where his store is in Australia. I would love to check it out.

[wuschel]

I'm interested in where his store is in Australia. I would love to check it out.
Dear Sir,

I need your urgent assistance in an important financial matter for you have
been recommended by a close associate as a reliable and honest partner in
delicate matters like this one.

I am the business partner of the late Mr. A.B., owner of a successful multi-
national mail order business in Australia, who recently had been eaten by a
giant domestic animal covered in green slime while on fire and too big to fit
into any honest GOD loving picture frame (the animal, not MR. B.)

Sadly, I am now left with $40.000.000 (FORTY MILLION) in unclaimed funds
and I need your urgent assistance relieving me of that terrible legacy!

[jayman]

I responded to two personal assistant ads on Craigslist.

I got this response first,


Dear Applicant,

I got your resume and your application for the job as posted on Craigslist Website for Personal Assistant\Representative who can run errands for me, I am Fred Nahhuss i am very thankful you found an interest in the Vacant post, i am pleased to read from you I have gone through your resume and due to some certain factors you have been picked as my Personal Assistant.

I should probably tell you more about the job.... This job is flexible so you can do it wherever you are provided that there is a post office in the area. In addition to that, I don't mind you doing all of the tasks during your spare time outside of work or school. I wish I could ,meet up with you to talk about this job in person but I am currently away on business I am in USVI so there will be no interview. I will prepay you in advance to do my shopping and have my mails/packages forwarded to your address. If you will be unable to stay at home to get the mails, I can have them shipped to a post office near you and then you can pick them up at your convenience.

All errands will be in your city/town so It is not a must that you have a car for the job, you can go places by bus or taxi. When you get my mails/packages; you are required to mail them to where I want them mailed to. You won't have to put money out of your pocket, all you have to do is have packages shipped to your house and do my shopping. You are allowed to open the packages to reveal the content. The content of the packages will be business and personal mails. All expenses and taxes will be covered by me. You will work between 15 and 20hrs a month.

How much will you charge per month? I will pay $500. That is not a bad offer is it? I need your service because I am constantly out of town... I am an Architect. I will return to America in February 28th so this process will be on going till then. If you don't mind, I will meet up with you when I return and then we can talk about the possibility of making this long term. Well, let me know if you are able to handle the position.

Kindly get back to me as soon as possible so that i can email you the Task for this week.

Thank You!
Fred Nahhuss,
9551 Estate Cottage Christiansted
St Croix
USVI
Zip 00820


The red flag for me was "Dear Applicant". If you've just hired me for a job wouldn't you use my name? I mentioned it in the cover letter and my name is on my resume. I also found it suspicious that you would hire someone without interviewing them.


Here's the second e-mail I got,


Hello Applicant

Thanks for your response. My name is Dave Kerry. I live in US but presently in London on a business trip and I need a part time personal assistant urgently to run my errands until I return back to the US by third week in March. I own an electronics and clothing store in London, United Kingdom. Here below is the job description.

1. You will run errands for three times a week and two hours each day.
2. You will do my business shopping.
3. You will receive my packages which will be shipped to the nearest UPS office to you. You will go to the UPS office and pick up the packages. The content of the packages are electronics, clothes, my business and personal letters. You will open the packages and confirm the contents for record purpose.
4. You will ship out some of the packages where I want them to be shipped to. (You don't have to pay for the shipment. All expenses and taxes will be covered by me)
5. You will receive payments from my clients on my behalf which will be written payable to your name so you can cash them at your bank. The payments will be in either check or money order. The payments will be for the services you will be rendering and to do my business shopping.

Job Requirement
1. You must have good communicatin skill.
2. You must be efficient, reliable, responsible and trustworthy.
3. You mush be able to perform your tasks effectively
4. You should be able to work 3 times per week and 2 hours each day.


Payment and Work Duration
The Job will last for three months. I want to open another electronics and clothing store in the US when I return and If there is need to extend your services, an ammedment would be made to your wages and you will be notified accordingly. I will meet you in person by March when I return back to the US. I am willing to pay $300 per week. Your weekly payment will be deducted from the payments sent to you by my clients.

I need the service of a personal assistant because I am always out of town for business trips. The lists and pictures of what to shop will be sent to you via email when am ready. No heavy packages are involved! The shopping will be done at any nearest stores to you. You will be shopping for Electronics and clothes. My personal UPS account number will be provided for shipping. I will provide clear set of instructions for each task to be done and funds to cover them.

If interested, Please confirm the following details:
Your Full Name:
Your Full Address with apt # (Not P.O.Box)
Your Cell phone number
Your Home phone number
Age:
Present Occupation:

Hope to hear from you soon.

Regards,
Dave Kerry
Tel: +447563832175

This e-mail from a second individual confirmed to me that this is a scam! I got excited at first, because I thought my job searching was coming to an end. Then I read this e-mail and realized some scum bags were behind it. That's my impression anyway. What can we do about these scams?

[rjh01]

Your first letter is quoted in several places on the Internet. Samples
http://www.eurogamer.net/forum_thread_posts.php?thread_id=155269
http://unemployedbrooklyn.blogspot.com/2010/01/more-fun-with-craigslist.html
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090917122330AAjxOLz
http://tjshome.com/blog/211/scam/internet/business

Edit. Also the English is not very good. That is another red flag.

Edit2. I found this by googling an strange sequence of words in the letter. That way if it is a scam you find out fast.

[GlennB]

I too was wondering how the scam actually works, but scamwarners.com (http://www.scamwarners.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=2955) explain it as:

What will happen from here is that you will receive a fake cheque or money order, and a shopping list of high value goods to send on to the scammer or one of his accomplices. Sometime after you have cashed the cheque your bank will discover that it is bad and pursue you for the return of the full amount and press charges against you for fraud.

Although exactly how you would be guilty of fraud for banking a bad cheque I'm not sure. But if the scammer receives some free goods along the way they are ahead of the game.

[Ducky]

I too was wondering how the scam actually works, but scamwarners.com (http://www.scamwarners.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=2955) explain it as:

What will happen from here is that you will receive a fake cheque or money order, and a shopping list of high value goods to send on to the scammer or one of his accomplices. Sometime after you have cashed the cheque your bank will discover that it is bad and pursue you for the return of the full amount and press charges against you for fraud.

Although exactly how you would be guilty of fraud for banking a bad cheque I'm not sure. But if the scammer receives some free goods along the way they are ahead of the game.

The person who attempts to pass the bad check is the one prosecuted. Right or wrong, the scammers insulate themselves from that specific part of the scam (kind of. Should a cop want to pursue it farther, they can and probably will get a conviction, but it rarely happens.)