Job scam quick guide: it's a scam if...

  • they want you to collect and forward money in any way (a "money mule" job). You'll wind up engaged in money laundering, personally defrauded via expertly forged cheques, money orders, etc, or defrauding someone else who pays for goods that never arrive.
  • they want you to receive packages and reship them somewhere else. The goods will have been obtained fraudulently, and they're just using you to make the shipping address appear local. You will be aiding fraud.
  • they want up-front payment (either to them or someone else) of any sort for anything before you can get the job. This is advance fee fraud: there is no job -- it's just a big con to extract money from you.
  • they want you to buy any kind of "membership" or "kit" in order to start. Forget it -- it's not a real job at all: they're trying to sell you something, and they're probably making a bunch of other false claims about it if they're pitching it as a "job".
  • it's a job offer, and it's spam. There are LOTS of these scams about, as you can see.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Iberia Business Union

I've decided to up the stakes a little, and put my resume up on CareerBuilder. Anyone who actually takes the time to read it won't contact me with a job offer, because I explain that it's there as spam-bait for job scams. Spammers tend to do things en masse, and harvest bulk data without care and attention to such details. (Some Nigerian 419ers are exceptions: they really have the personal touch to their scamming. But I digress.)

Here's some of the first pay-off I've had on this front. It comes as no surprise that I've been offered a money mule job. I think I'd rather be a crash test dummy.

   Domain Name: IBERIA-BUSINESS.COM <-- scam
   Registrar: DIRECT INFORMATION PVT LTD D/B/A PUBLICDOMAINREGISTRY.COM
   Whois Server: whois.PublicDomainRegistry.com
   Referral URL: http://www.PublicDomainRegistry.com
   Name Server: NS1.IBERIABU.COM
   Name Server: NS2.IBERIABU.COM
   Updated Date: 29-jan-2007
   Creation Date: 29-jan-2007 <-- freshly minted
   Expiration Date: 29-jan-2008

   Domain Name: IBERIABUSINESS.COM <-- same scam
   Registrar: DIRECT INFORMATION PVT LTD D/B/A PUBLICDOMAINREGISTRY.COM
   Whois Server: whois.PublicDomainRegistry.com
   Referral URL: http://www.PublicDomainRegistry.com
   Name Server: NS1.IBERIABU.COM
   Name Server: NS2.IBERIABU.COM
   Updated Date: 10-jan-2007
   Creation Date: 10-jan-2007 <-- slightly less fresh
   Expiration Date: 10-jan-2008


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Loving D. Appleseed <hamid[@]elturista.com>
Date: 31-Jan-2007 00:15
Subject: Position available in your city...
To: Deception Spotter <ideceive@gmail.com>

Hello, Deception Spotter ,
 
We've reviewed your resume on CareerBuilder and we are pleased to inform you that our Company is currently hiring.
We found that you fit our basic requirements to become our Financial Agent.
 
 
This position provides support in the daily operation of benefits administration.
We are looking forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.
 
Responsibilities:
Money transfers processing, prompt reacting to incoming information, smart operations in strict compliance with assignments.
 
    * Higher education (is a preference)
    * Internet skills
    * Knowledge of the main payment systems (WU, E-Gold, bank transfers)
    * Basic knowledge of English (for non-native English speakers)
    * Sufficient free time for the job.
 
What We Offer:
 
    * Generous payment system
    * Possibility to combine with the main job
    * Possibility to work at home
    * Training courses available
    * Profound career opportunities
 
If you are interested in our offer please, contact visit our site for more information www.iberia-business.com
 
Sincerely, Iberia Business Union.
 

--------
"Loving D. Appleseed"

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