There are affiliate links on this page.
Read our disclosure policy to learn more.

 

Translate this page to any language by choosing a language in the box below.

Jobs Scam: Dream House, LCC, Moscow, Russia - Andrey Kashtanov

Job and Recruiting Scams:
Payment Officer Scam
Dream House, LCC, Moscow, Russia
Andrey Kashtanov

Have you received an email from Andrey Kashtanov of "Dream House, LCC" in Moscow, Russia (or ANYWHERE else) offering you a job as a "Financial Manager", "Payment Officer", "local agent" or "local representative" in which you "receive payments", deduct your "Processing fee", deposit the checks and then wire most of the money to an overseas "company"?

It is an AFF / Money transfer Scam.  They'll send you counterfeit checks which you are supposed to deposit, take out some percentage (typically, 10%) for your work, and then MoneyGram or Western Union wire the remaining 90%. Notice that although you receive checks, they won't let you forward a check to them, only Western Union or Money Gram. There's a reason for this: Western Union and MoneyGrams are cashed immediately and are untraceable and irretrievable. Bank checks can take 1 or 2 weeks to clear!

Don't be fooled by a slick-looking website! They're recruiting you to be a "money-mule".

Of course, since the check is fake, it will bounce a week or so later after you deposit it.  But you have already moneygram'ed the scammers the 90% of the amount, and that is transacted almost instantly.  So you now owe the bank for the full amount. You may also face criminal charges for passing counterfeit checks. See this page for a step-by-step explanation of how the scam unfolds.

In the email below, there are some many red flags, we can't imagine any way it could be legitimate.  But you can try emailing "Andrey Kashtanov" back and asking: 

  • What is the value to the company of people like me receiving payments (checks, wires, etc.), cashing them and forwarding the money?
  • Can you cite the specific US law (using a Code of Federal Regulations citation, or other reference, as appropriate) that you say prohibits interbank transfers, or other forms of payment to business located in the Russian Federation.  I have been advised that there is no such prohibition unless the activity itself is illegal (drug payments, money laundering, scams, etc.) 
  • Why aren't the payment deposited directly into your own banking account, as any major bank can receive checks and wires drawn on any legitimate bank anywhere in the world, in any currency?

Try cutting and pasting those questions and emailing them back to the person offering the "job", "Andrey Kashtanov" in this case and see how he responds.  We'll bet it will be with hostility, like: 

"Why are you asking me these questions?  We are offering you a legitimate job, but you are treating us like we are scammers! If you are not interested we can find someone else; it is YOUR loss! Look at our professional website, would a scammer have such a good website?"

Which, of course, is how a scammer caught with questions that expose his scam, will reply!

Do you have a resume posted online? We'd like to hear from you about your experiences recruiting emails that turned out to be scams or misleading - click here to write us.

Notice the passages we have highlighted in the actual scam email below.  They illustrate some of the additional clues that it is a scam, such as the email comes from a free email account (such as Yahoo.com, Hotmail.com, Aim.com, Gmail, cox.net, etc.).  Wouldn't you expect a company to have its own website and email address (after all, it only costs about $200/year; every reputable company has its own website these days!) And don't be surprised if the scammers do put the names of real companies, real websites and events in their scams; it doesn't mean anything at all!


Sample "Payment officer" scam emails:

Dear Jessica

My name is Andrey Kashtanov.

As Dream House, LCC's top manager I am in charge of our performance control and further business development in the US. I am also involved in advising and attracting new employees. I have reviewed your resume and believe you have a good chance to receive the position of a Financial Manager.

Please, read below for more information on our company.

Our company deals in design activity.

We are engaged in project generation of buildings and design of rooms:

-        accommodations

-        premises

Dream House, LCC started its activity in 1998 and we have customers all over the world.

For more information please visit the official website of the company:

www.dreamhouselcc.com

Dream House, LCC is located in Moscow, Russia.

Dream House, LCC started its activity in the US market in 2008.

We waged a great advertising campaign and now we have a great number of American customers, who are ready to come into line with us.

We get the jump on American design companies:

1.       The cost of our service is much lower.

2.       Professionals of a wealth of experience work in our company.

That's why we fill the orders professionally and quickly.

But we faced the problem because the US law does not allow doing trade business in the USA for the following reasons:

The first problem:

All financial services have to take place only in the country.

The customer is not in a position to effect payments for the company that have no offices in the USA.

Our company is located in Russia that is why the customers are not able to transfer money directly to Russia.

Under the US law funds must be transferred on the account of the Financial Manager that is a citizen of the USA.

That is the Financial Manager who is entitled to transfer funds to Russia.

The second problem: solved

Our company has to be registered in the US tax administration. The company has already met this condition.

You can fully learn this information from our official website.

Therefore now the employee in the USA is necessary for us and now I want to offer you this post.

WE ACCEPT  WIRE TRANSFER FOR PAYMENT OF OUR SERVICES.

THEREFORE ONE OF THE DUTIES OF THE US FINANCIAL MANAGER IN THE USA.

Also I want to explain to you a situation concerning payment of taxes.

You should not worry concerning payment of taxes from your incomes.

Because you should not pay any taxes from your incomes as you will be submitted as " Independent Contractor " and according to the contract which you sign with our company, you will be exempted from all taxes.

1. JOB DESCRIPTION

We are looking for a Financial Manager. MAIN DUTIES INCLUDE RECEIVING PAYMENTS FROM CUSTOMERS.

2. COMPENSATION

Financial Manager will be entitled to 5% of all completed transaction.

The maximum turnover handled by a single manager is limited by company's policy and is set at $200,000.

Thus the maximum monthly pay will constitute $5,000-10,000.

3. TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT

Agreement 

4. TIME COMMITMENT

2-5 hours a week

IMPORTANT

We also have a business proposal for US company owners and managing directors.

Private US businesses can accept funds from our customers with no limitations with a monthly turnover of up to 1 million US dollars.

Their profit is set at 5% of the turnover and may constitute $200,000 monthly.

Please apply if you have a legal running business and interested in this offer.

A sample of your Employment Agreement will be enclosed in my next e-mail.

Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions.

 

Yours faithfully,

Personal Manager

Andrey Kashtanov

Work e-mail:  kashtanov@dreamhouselcc.com Personal e-mail: kashtanov.dreamhouse@gmail.com

 


Other Jobs Scams

There are a variety of sleazy scams that look, at first glance, like legitimate job offers.  Before you write back to them, pause a moment and read about the scams below!

Some of the more common job scams are