A Scammy "Job" Offer

Today I am thankful for gut instincts. 

Most of us should honor them.

It is no secret that I'm looking for steady 9-5 job in addition to my small business.  I do not receive the court ordered child support while the expenses are continuing to grow; that happens as kids learn to drive and enter college.  Rather than hassle my ex, I have decided that it is my duty to make as much money as I can.

Since I make 52% of what my ex makes, I have to work two jobs.

So....In addition to being a psychotherapist, I work as a licensed health agent in 37 states.  Right now, I'm a captive agent for my former employer. 

I'm working on getting my property and casualty license. I've recently interviewed with my auto insurer and was told to expect an offer letter this week.

I don't know if that means anything......a deal isn't a deal until you've signed on the dotted line.

The sad thing is that I make more money selling insurance than I could as a licensed Drug and Alcohol counselor.

I'd rather help people

-but-

you've got to do what you've got to do, right?

*******
I'm going to share two emails.  This is a reshipping scam.  The scammers send you a bad check or a stolen credit card number and then ask you to buy high end items and ship them back.  You use your money to buy these things and, if you're lucky, the check will bounce and that will be the end of it.

If you're unlucky, you'll be arrested for ID theft or stealing credit cards.

Here is the first email (which came from an address formatted like officialsoundingcompanyname@Gmail.Com.) Pay attention to the lack of formatting and grammatical errors.  This person is not a native speaker of English.

Dear Applicant ,

    I received your message to our job posted on [popular job board]. Please note that you are being hired only on a personal level. All correspondences would be made and promptly reported to me personally. The position is part time and home-based meaning you can work most times from your home as long as you have a regular internet access. I own a small shipping business and I tend to operate a high cost of operation and I want to cut down my expenses by employing shipping and receiving personnel in each state individuals who will be receiving mails in bulk and then dispatch them in units to there respective destinations. For example the cost of mailing a package by United Parcel Service is around $13 and if we want to send out 100 mails, that would be around $1,300 which is rather too costly, But we have a solution whereby, we ship the whole 100 mails in one package at the rate of $180 to you and when you receive it, you will open and mail out items through United States Postal Service which will be $3 to $4.50 each to there respective destinations. This would save a large amount of money. I hope this explains how much i need an honest and committed person for this  position. You will be paid $500 every week and this is a long term position. As the case may be, you will be provided with funds to pay freight forwarder weekly to help get goods from the manufacturer. I will provide or pay for cost of mailing goods/items by USPS or any other method so you do not have to spend on shipping and or postage. Remember that any money out of pocket expense made in respect to this task shall be duly reimbursed along with your weekly salary.You will be provided with up to $2,850 weekly, to deduct your weekly pay and any needed expense the forward remainder of the money to our forwarding agent so as to help organize shipment of our goods/items directly from the manufacturer.Most items you will receive range from letters, office material, electronics, art materials and some other general consumer goods as the case may be.I can assure you that you do not have to make any out of pocket expense and are not require to pay any job application form to get started. Task may take around 8-10 hours of your time per week and you can work at your convenience.The job is very simple but very important you have an address where you can store and or accept mails and packages, and also have the time to dispatch mails and packages through USPS,Once our package comes in weekly, you only have to present an ID either driver's license or any other personal ID to present delivery man when packages comes in for you. Integrity matters to me, please be sure to know this position requires your full commitment and honesty. I hope you create a good impression and work relationship.

Do get back to me with your Personal/Contact details if interested. such as:
FULL NAMES:
ADDRESS,Include Apt # If Available(No PO.BOX please):
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP CODE:
HOME PHONE #:
MOBILE PHONE#:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
SEX:
AGE:
PRESENT JOB:

Once i received your contact information i will get back to you with the task for this week, Understand you will also be paid as soon as you pass this first assignment, You will be paid ($500) at the end of the week. You are going to be employed as Shipping and Receiving Personnel and all tax will be taken care of by me, your first weekly salary is $500 and will be paid by check along with first assignment.

Thanks in anticipation of your prompt response
Yours Sincerely,

Un Huyng 

Never answer these emails with truthful information lest you be scammed again.

Upon answering this email you will receive another one. 

Hello,

I am using this medium to Congratulate you that you have been approved and assigned for the warehouse job position.Your first task assignment has been assigned out and will deliver to you tomorrow via USPS courier service .Here is the shipment tracking number(9405501X99X2009122xxxx)The Package contains a bank cashier's check of $2320.50

The funds are to purchase some African and native American arts and materials per customer request. Once you have the check, have it deposited in your account for clearance. (which shouldn't take more than few hours or the latest 24 hrs to clear in your account says by the bank.Once deposited send me the deposit slip for record.

You will be deducting your weekly pay of $500 and then make a withdrawal of the remainder amount and send to their branch accountant details i will be providing you for cash deposit. Since their factory is located in turkey so as to have our freight forwarder help organize our shipments from their local store in the states per their demand. I would like you to deduct $500 of your weekly pay and $50 for GAS. Once i receive the deposit slip i will let you know further instructions on how to forward the funds.I will call or text you as well .

I await your immediate response.

Best Regards

Un Huyng 

The scammer contacted via ZipRecruiter.  ZipRecruiter did a great job shutting the scam down before I could respond to their request to forward the emails. 

Hooray for ZipRecruiter. 

I've had several interviews and offers through this service, so I would recommend it.  Just understand that most of the jobs posted are on the low end of the pay scale.  It is a good way to get to know recruiters.  

Pro Tip - Always send a cover letter.  In that letter, add something like this to the final paragraph:

"I welcome the opportunity to interview for this position or any other position in which you feel I would be a good fit."

This is how my contacts for customer service positions turn into interviews for sales roles.  

If you happen to be the victim of one of these employment scams report it to the FBI by visiting this link: https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx   

If this is you, I sure hope your luck improves. 

Don't feel bad.  Some people get scammed online.  I tend to get scammed by shady auto mechanics and auto dealers.  One got me for $3,500 last summer. 

When I started buying from people who knew my family, my luck improved drastically.  

Scams happen to the best of us.


Wishing you the absolute best of success,

S.