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.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

HERS DEVELOPMENT

"Payment processing" strikes again. We call them "money mules" here. I confidently predict that the job involves sending money via Western Union, and attracts unwanted attention from law enforcement officers.

   Domain Name: HERSDEVELOPMENT.COM <-- scammers
   Registrar: REGISTER.COM, INC.
   Whois Server: whois.register.com
   Referral URL: http://www.register.com
   Name Server: NS1.MY-PICT.COM
   Name Server: NS2.MY-PICT.COM
   Updated Date: 13-mar-2007
   Creation Date: 13-mar-2007 <-- recent
   Expiration Date: 13-mar-2008

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Michael Hammon <[redacted]@ agencyadvantage.com>
Date: 23-Mar-2007 03:13
Subject: Australian representative required
To: [redacted]

Hello.
My name is Michael Hammon, I represent HERS DEVELOPMENT company
located in Europe (offices in Finland and Latvia).
Our company is seekeing for a representatives in Australia for
full-time and part-time jobs. This is not spam and we will not ask
any money from you..
Your minimal income will be 4000 AUD a month in average. You
will be paid DAILY.
No relocation required, job duties include mail and payments
processing, standart office duties and everyday reporting.
All candidates have to be authorized to work in
Australia, with minimal computer knowlege. Both part-time (2-3
days a week) and full time (5 days a week) positions available.
Please, e-mail back to support@hersdevelopment.com if you are
interested.
Michael Hammon
HERS DEVELOPMENT

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just go this one myself. I wasn't about to sign up but I am intrigued as to how they knew I am Australian and am currently in the Baltic region. Anyway, thanks for the site, I'm sure you've saved quite a few people some money and some trouble.

Rod

CamG said...

Same here. Weird they knew I was Australian and have a Latvian background...
they haven't sucked me in...

Anonymous said...

I just got this one myself - I have had others over the last few months and guessed it was a scam. My guess is that they target email addys with au on the end and send them off.

I just ignore them.

Anonymous said...

Jessie said:

I got this email as well..haha as if i'm gonna fall into their trap.. i replied by saying that i'm interested and they replied with this:

Hello.
Thanks for your reply.
We are doing securely web databases for Australian companies and our
contractors pay us only with incountry bank transfers.
You have to receive the payment from our contractors, redeem your 10%
comission and resend the cash by western union cash transfer.
All the taxes are paid by us, we also pay all the fees connected with the
transfers.
You are paid daily, every time you do the transfer, the total month income
guaranteed not less than $4000.
The job is legal, and your bank will be provided all contracts and tax
papers at the end of each month.
I need your name, address, home and cell phone numbers if I need to
contact you.
You can open new account in any Australian bank or use your own you have
now, it doesn't matter for us.
For transfers we will need: Bank name, account name, account number, bank
branch (BSB) number
(these are usual details to do the wire transfers, we don't ask for any
secure details).
You are paid daily after each transfer. The job is mostly in the morning
and afternoon.
I'll e-mail you the details for western union transfer as soon as first
transfer to your account is done.
Thank you
Michael Hammon
HERS DEVELOPMENT

Anonymous said...

This site is fantastic, really did save alot of people who got tempted by this scam, i mean seriously.. Anyway thanks heaps for whoever that sets up this site...

Kelvin..

Anonymous said...

hey i got the email to unfortunately i was naive and fell for it iam still unsure of the truth of if it is a scam because who ever it is has given personal details and left me with a paper trail.so if anyone knows for sure that this is a scam please post a reply. i would be curious to know.

Spotter said...

Oh yes, this is definitely a scam. What sort of paper trail have you been given? If you haven't yet sent any money via Western Union, then don't. Whatever money you have received is fraudulent in one way or another.

Anonymous said...

yes well went to bank and police today and started an investigation i really hope they can catch these losers that are doing this and luckily the person that it was stolen from has gotten some of their money back by me getting it reversed at the bank today.but wherever a warning can be posted please people post one bacause the more we get it out there the better.

Anonymous said...

I fell for this one I did one transfer and it was unsuccessful because the receiver is on a government watchlist,and western union would not process,luckily they told me why and obviously realized it was a scam.Ive closed my bank account and have notified Charmilles That I know that they are a scam and I do not want anything more to do with them.Do you have any advise for me ? do I need to report this and get a lawyer?

Anonymous said...

charmilles sales money transfer scam do not fall for this one.they put money in your acount and it is stolen from another innocent persons bank account.The job description is transfer operator and the money will be taken back out of your account after you have sent it via western union.It is disguised as a legitimate way for them to reduce taxes.Do NOT RESPOND TO AN EMAIL SOUNDING LIKE THIS!It is highly illegal and you will be left holding the bill and get wrapped up in an investigation as I am right now.