Consumer Fraud Reporting
EDS Mobile Home Supply
Reporting on the Latest Frauds, Scams, Fake Lotteries, Spams and Hoaxes

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Phony Check Scams
EDS Mobile Home Supply, Corporate Research
Job Offer with a check - and you must Money Gram $100 back

Have you received an email from EDS Mobile Home Supply or Corporate Research offering you a job and including a check? According to the report below, it is a scam.

The description is that of 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.

Notice the passages 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!


Sample phony check scam emails: report from an intended victim:

Today, April 21st, 08, I received a check from EDS Mobile Home Supply, 6600 Washington Blvd, Elkridge, MD 21075 for $3,950.00.  It appears like a ligitimate job offer from a company named Corporate Research P.O. Box 4442 Milford Ct. 06460.  If I cash this check it appears that I must at some point send a money gram for $100.00 to begin the employment process.  The Bank on the Check is Branch Bank and Trust-Maryland, 2501 Wooten Blvd, Wilson, N.C. 27893.  I called them to see how they got my name and they knew my e-mail and address at work and work phone #.  When I told them I didn't apply for any position, they said they would take my name off the list and they could not give me any information related to this position.  This sounds like a scam.  They could not tell me where they got my name but that they connected the address and phone # to my e-mail.  Who knows what would have happened if we had cashed this check.  Also, this came to my employer to be cashed and looks like I'm seeking other employment.  I could have lost my job over this.



Copyright CFR 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009  - Definition of scam, fraud, etc.Legal disclaimer / corrections / complaints  -  Privacy Policy
Names used by scammers in the examples on this page and others often belong to real people and businesses who often have no knowledge of nor connection to the scammer's use of their name and information.  Sample scam emails and other documents are copies of the scam to help potential victims recognize and avoid it.  You should presume that any names used and presented here in a scam are either fictitious or used without their legitimate owner's permission.
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