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!
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
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