Job and Recruiting Scams:
Payment Officer Scam
Kevin Cole, Arini
Have you received an email from Kevin Cole of "ARINI" in Ireland offering you
a job as a "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"? Have you ever
seen a job listing that includes such personal information about the hiring
manager?
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.
Hello,
Please permit me to write you irrespective of the fact we have not
met before. I got your contact through your listed resume; hence I
decided to write you. I would be very interested in offering you a
part-time paying job in which you could earn a lot.
Before I go further, I’ll like to give you a brief profile about
myself. My name is Kelvin Cole. I’m 45 years of age man married with 3
kids (a lovely girl and 2 boys). Due to the nature of my work, I travel
a lot. But my Family resides in Dublin, Ireland. I just resigned my job
as a research scientist for ARINI (Agricultural Research Institute of
Northern Ireland (www.arini.ac.uk)
but I still work as a freelance consultant for the institute which gives
me very much time to do my own work which is basically being a freelance
researcher who could be employed by research institutes to do research
projects anywhere in the world.
Presently, I have just been granted a funding to head a research
project in the tropical regions of Europe regarding rare and vulnerable
plant species and this would be commencing very soon. This research
program will be funded and sponsored by some of my counterparts. But the
only set back is that my counterparts want to make payments for the
research informs of Funds via Money Order/ certified cashier's check,
and it’s a known fact that money in such forms can’t be cashed outside
the country of origin. Getting an accountant in the states or opening an
account would have been my best choice but I have a deadline to meet and
taking any of those choices would cost me time and a whole lot of other
requirements, which I am not ready to deal with. This is where i need
your assistant and service.
WHAT I NEED YOU FOR?
At this point, I will be glad if you could work with me as my
representative in your country. You will be working as my payment
assistant in charge of collecting and processing the payments from the
Associates. Since they will be making the payment via Money
Order/certified cashier's check, you will be collecting these payments
via Money Order/certified cashier's check that you can cash at your
bank, and then be forwarding them via Western Union or Money Gram. And
for this service, I agree to pay you 10% percent of each amount you
collect from the Associates.
JOB DESCRIPTION?
1. Receive payment (Via Money Order/certified cashier's check) from
My Clients/Associates. 2. Cash the Payments at your Bank 3. Deduct 10%,
which will be your percentage/pay on Payment processed. 4. You will then
forward the balance via Money Gram or Western Union Money Transfer
according to my instruction.
HOW MUCH WILL YOU EARN?
10% from each operation! For instance: you receive 6000 USD via Money
Order/certified cashier's check on my behalf. You will cash the payment
and keep 10% to yourself before forwarding the remaining. At the
beginning your commission will equal 10%, though later it will increase
up to 12% for the research, I am expecting about the sum of $40,000 in
total from the clients (though the money will be sent in bits). You
could make over $4000 for the little time we will be working together.
ADVANTAGES?
You don’t have to go out of your present daily activity in order to
engage in this Job (i.e. you can do this Work easily without leaving or
affecting your present Job). You will work as an independent contractor
right from your home /office. Your job is absolutely legal. You do not
need any capital to start (non of your personal funds is needed).
REQUIREMENTS?
18 years or older.
Legally capable.
Responsible, Reliable and Trustworthy
ready to work 3-4 hours per week.
Able to check and respond to emails often.
Easy telephone access.
IS THIS LEGAL?
Yes it is. As a matter of fact, my lawyer checked all legal
provisions to know if there is any domestic or international law against
job contracts or deals in this manner, and he said it is allowed by all
LAWS. So know that doing this work is safe and legitimate. I guess all
is well understood, I would be glad if you accept my proposal. Mail me
if you are interested. Please reply with the details stated below:
NAME:
ADDRESS:
PHONE NUMBER:
OCCUPATION:
AGE:
SEX:
Thank You & God Bless.
Kelvin Cole.
NOTE: ONLY SERIOUS AND INTERESTED APPLICANTS/WORKERS SHOULD PLEASE
REPLY.
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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