Protect Yourself and Report the Latest Frauds, Scams, Spams, Fakes, Identify Theft Hacks and Hoaxes
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Have you received an email from Eduards Tomss of "TransBalt Int" offering you a job as a "Check 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!
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.
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 point out 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!
From: "Eduards Tomss" <manager@transbalt-int.com>
Subject: Vacancy avaible for Joe Gullible
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 17:19:10 +0400
Dear Joe Gullible!
My name is Eduards Tomss and I am Employment Manager of TransBalt Int. We have chosen you after finding your resume on www.Monster.com
We are glad to suggest to you a new vacancy - CHECK MANAGER.
Job Description:
The duties of the Manager is to process payments between our clients and our company,
to manage cash and funds movement, follow up on accounts, etc.
Every payment order will be accompanied with detailed instructions. It's a part time job
so even you if you currently employed you can earn some extra cash.
General requirements:
Willingness to work from home, take responsibility;
Honesty, responsibility and promptness in operations;
Familiarity to working online;
U.S.A. citizen;
The estimated salary range is $1000 - $2500 per week.
If you want to apply please click http://www.transbalt-int.com/register.html
If you interested in this opportunity and would like to know more about this position
please reply to this email( manager@transbalt-int.com /).
We will respond within 24 hours.
---
Eduards Tomss
Employment manager
TransBalt Int.
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