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WyldHrt -> RE: A different type of scam (5/2/2010 3:04:30 PM)
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quote:
What the hell is up with this? When did the "earn fast, easy money now" spammers invade CM? *gggrrrrrrr* I was quite happy with the "i wnt 2 serv U" type of spammers (at least those make sense). Even the breast/penis enlargement spammers would make more sense than that crap ...
They are the same scammers, SD. As fewer people fall for the love scam scripts (partially because people are wising up to that scam and partially because of the economy), the scammers will try new scripts. This one is actually very effective, esp with those who are desperate for work, and also very nasty.
For those who don't know how it works, here goes:
You are offered a position as a "local rep", "account management specialist", or "payment processor", usually for a company based overseas (no matter where you are). Good scammers will even make the victims fill out applications, send documentation, and even keep them waiting a bit before they are 'hired'. Some even send a "company handbook". The really good ones pay other scammers to create fake company websites, often ripped from real businesses, that show several open positions. All but one will be technical, engineers and like that, but one will be "local rep", "account management specialist" or "payment processing".
The victim is told that their job is to manage the accounts of local customers, sending invoices and collecting payments. Xhe is then given a list of "customers" to contact for payment. The victim is to collect the payments, deposit them into their own bank account (some scammers instruct their vics to start a dedicated bank account for this), wait for the checks to clear, and only then forward the money to the "main company rep" (via Western Union or Moneygram, of course). For their efforts, the vic is to receive 10% commission.
What happens next depends on the scammer, but is nasty either way. Scenario one is straight up check kiting. The vic receives several fake checks, usually forwarded by other vics. The checks are good enough to fool the teller at the bank, and the money will appear in the vic's account within a day or two. This scam works because most people think that seeing the money in their account means the check has cleared. The vic withdraws the money (many scammers require that this be done within 24 hours of the checks "clearing" the account), keeps the "commission", and forwards the rest. Days or weeks later, the checks come back fake, and the bank goes after the victim for the full amount. The money is gone, and the vic is up shit creek without a paddle. Depending on the number of checks, the vic may be arrested and prosecuted for check kiting.
Scenario two is a little uglier. In this one, the checks are real, but come from other scam victims or are stolen. When the whole thing flies apart (which it will, eventually), the vic who received the checks is the end of the paper trail for the police, and may well be arrested and prosecuted for money laundering. A variation of this scam includes phished Paypal accounts, and often ends with the same results.
The whole thing is pretty elaborate, but it boils down to the same deal as the love scam victim who gets talked into cashing their "lover's" paycheck, because xhe is working in Africa and can't access the funds yadda yadda.
For those who still think that all scammers are stupid, let me assure you that some are frighteningly intelligent.
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