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.

Friday, May 04, 2007

MercadoLibre

This is an undistinguished money mule scam backed by no more than a Yahoo! freemail address. I gather that "MercadoLibre" is a real business of some sort which this scammer is impersonating.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: baker benson <bakerbenson_rep@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: 04-May-2007 12:42
Subject: MercadoLibre Network Marketing (Cashier /Sub-contractor Needed)
To: ideceive@gmail.com




Pleasant day,


If you have access to a computer, you can get paid.

Would you like to work online from home and get paid weekly? If yes, MercadoLibre Limited is glad to offer you a job position in our company, MercadoLibre Limited in conjuction with Ebay as part of our ongoing Multi Level Marketing Network,we seek capable individuals to work for us as our representative.


You can easily make $700-$2000 or more in a week by working for us as a Sub-contractor in your geographical location,you will be incharge of collecting payment on behalf of our affiliates and Small business organisations that are registered under us.

Does it sounds like your dream job? Well, it certainly for 10,000+ current members who are making $700- $2,000 weekly online with this system.Note that no form of investment is needed from you and this job will take only 1-3 hours of your time per week.

MercadoLibre Limited is a link between small scale business organisations and their customers.For now,we have upto 200 Small business Organisation and 400 individuals registered and placing their adverts with us.

Your tasks are:
===================

1. Receive payment from Customers.
2. Deduct 10% which will be your Commission/pay on Payment processed and remit our balance to us either via Western Union Money Transfer or Money Gramme

Note: This job takes only 3-7 hours per week. This job is very challenging and you should understand it. We are looking for capable, honest and open hearted individuals who satisfies our requirements and that this willing and capable of handling this job position as a sub-contractor in his or her Geographical location.

To get Started, please provide the details below

Full Names:
Full Contact Address:
Age:
City:
Zip Code:
State:
Home Phone:
Cell Phone:
Gender:
Marital Status:
Occupation:

Thanks for your Co-operation

Baker Benson
Merca doLibre Limited

Contact Email Address: bakerbenson_rep@yahoo.co.uk
El uso de este sitio web implica la aceptación de los Términos y Condiciones de MercadoLibre S.A.
Copyright © 1999-2007 MercadoLibre S.A.

30 comments:

leeslady said...

I got the same letter but mine came from Ann Hull. EXACT same letter

Anonymous said...

I just got this exact letter this morning. Unbelievable! These people need to get caught. It's ridiculous and sad that we cannot trust anyone online when it comes to job offers because of these types of fraud actions taking place. I would love to work online, but how? I am so glad you posted that letter on here.
Thank you!

Anonymous said...

I just got the exact same letter except it was from a Brian Mason.
Was worded exactly the same way!

Anonymous said...

I recieved the letter, and mixed in with all my job application replies I accidently filled it in.
So yesterday i recieved the cheque and went and cashed it in.

Then today i recievd an email asking if i had recieved the money and if so to forward their share.

I didn't know it was dodgy until a friend warned me about it.
What am i supposed to do now. I don't want to be involved in this. I'll obviously go to the bank and stop the cheque, but what ami supposed to tell these scammers when they have my details etc.

Spotter said...

There's not a lot you can do about information that they already have. They aren't likely to come after you personally, since this whole con is safer for them if they keep it international. You'd be well advised to keep a close eye on your credit rating in case they try to take out a credit card or bank loan in your name, though. The safest thing to do is not correspond with them at all -- give them the silence treatment.

Anonymous said...

I heard about scammers doing this kind of thing. The check will cash and you'll have the money in your account until the bank processing unit catches that the check is a fraud and they assess your account for the money. Did the bank cash the check you deposited?

Anonymous said...

i got the same mail in my college email and i received the cheque.. now the person keeps on calling me and says to collect it or mail the cheque back.. the cheque is with me onl and i am going to tear it...i dont want to get involved in this things.. what am i supposed to do?? th

Spotter said...

Tell them that you destroyed the check. Tell them that you tore it up and threw it in the trash. There's not a lot they can do about it. If the check is gone, there's not much point in them calling you again.

Anonymous said...

Lets say you gave these people fake information, and cashed the checks for a fee with a company you dont have an account with. Setup a bank account with false information, or some sort of offshore account, get a po box with false information, and then run their checks through that, someone could stand to make some money off of these morons.

Spotter said...

The anonymous party above has described a method of making money which involves a lot of illegal activity, and doesn't really hurt the scammers at all.

Anonymous said...

yes i wanted to say i got lured into it they sent me check luckly i was not home wife got it adviced me of it as scam. how can you stop getting this kind of email

Anonymous said...

This letter is still around * I got it from:

From: Smith (dhempson@discoverymail.co.za)

Anonymous said...

Christmas 2008 and its STILL going.
I just got the exact same email!

Anonymous said...

Just received it today now January 2008.

Even if it wasnt a scam why would I keep only 13% of work done?
Sounds like money laundering. And wouldnt want my bank details being popping up on any investigation.

Anonymous said...

Got this today...same message. Reply to merlib@yahoo.com.hk
Merca doLibre Limited
Condiciones de MercadoLibre E.S.
Copyright © 1999-2009 Mercado Libre E.S

Spotter said...

This scam continues after all this time.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Merca doLibre Limited <MercadoLibre[@]comcast.net> [unverified]
Reply-to: judeaddison@gmail.com
Date: 2009/3/26 UTC
Subject: Employment Offer
To: ideceive@gmail.com


Pleasant day,

If you have access to a computer, you can get paid.

Would you like to work online from home and get paid weekly? If yes,
MercadoLibre Limited is glad to offer you a job position in our
company,MercadoLibre Limited in conjunction with Ebay as part of our
ongoing Multi Level Marketing Network, we seek capable individuals to
work for us as our representative. You can easily make $700-$2000 or
more in a week by working for us as Sub-contractor in your geographical
location, you will be in charge of collecting payment on behalf of our
affiliates and Small business organizations that are registered under
us. Does it sound like your dream job? Well, it certainly for
10,000+current members who are making $700- $2,000 weekly online with
this system. Note that no form of investment is needed from you and
this job will take only 1-3 hours of your time per week.
MercadoLibre Limited is a link between small scale business
organizations and their customers. For now, we have up to 200 Small
business Organization and 400 individuals registered and placing their
adverts with us.

Your tasks are:
===================

1. Receive payment from our Customers.
2. Deduct 13% which will be your Commission/pay on Payment processed
and remit our balance to us either via Western Union Money Transfer or
Money Gram.

To get Started, please provide the details below
====================================
Full Names:
Full Address:

City:

Zip Code:

State:
Home Phone:
Cell Phone:
Age:
Gender:
Marital Status:
Occupation:
Name of Bank :
====================================

Thanks for your Co-operation
Mr.Jude Addison (judeaddison@gmail.com)
Merca doLibre Limited
Condiciones de MercadoLibre S.A.

Anonymous said...

I got the same letter but was dumb enough I guess to comnplete the first assignment, now what should I do???? I thought I was ok since I checked out Mercado Libre Inc and the company the check was from. HELP!!!

Spotter said...

If you've already sent them money, it's too late -- that money is unrecoverable (unless you can cancel the transfer before they withdraw it). The cheque will bounce, and you will be ripped off. Write it off as an expensive learning experience.

Anonymous said...

I got the same letter but mine came from Carolyn Hill, received a check ups this morning for 1970.50.
I am so glad I read these comments, I didn't think this was right, I ripped the check up. Emailed them back and said not to send me anymore.

Anonymous said...

I actually applied for the job on hotjobs.com, and was contacted by Carolyn Hill, who just emailed be saying a check for 1970.50. was in the mail. I decided to do some more research after reading about them online , the info didnt match. I googled there company name and her name and this site popped up. I sent her an email saying not to contact me. Bt she has all my info, should i reort this to the police?

Anonymous said...

This is indeed a SCAM involving Mercado Libre Inc and Carolyn Dawn Hill. I signed up for it but wasnt stupid enough just to cash the check and forward the money. I opened an account at my bank and deposited the check and it came back NSF. These people know what they are doing and its totally wrong and I hope they all get caught! They have this same job posted everywhere. I hope people realize before its too late that it is a SCAM!!!!!! beware everyone

Anonymous said...

They're listing on university career websites now!I applied through my alma mater's career center website, thinking that it would be a legitimate position because of that. After receiving a check for about $1,400 this morning, I dialed the school to enquire about their screening process on employers who post on their website. Turns out, there isn't one - anyone who pays the fee can post anything. So, I destroyed the check and that was that.

----

Here is part of the original email I received from Mercado:

Hello,

My name is Bill Chadwick from MERCADO LIBRE INC , I link suppliers who I have personally tested to buyers I can stand for 100%. I source for buyers and suppliers at the same time so I can link them to make mine and the company's profits. On every actual purchase made through administration's linking, I have a 20% profit .I source buyers and supplier within and outside the US. I am constantly on the move organising Seminars and Webinars to bring buyers and suppliers together. I need someone that can complete billings, invoicing and payments on my behalf and get them to the vendors as well as always be on deck to receive payments from my buyers, so the linking is effective and immediate.
The only way I am entitled to the 20% payment is if the actual deal is concluded through me. If the suppliers and buyers go head to head, I am at a loss as they can transact directly with one another without my knowledge. My hard work at sourcing, emailing, conducting webinars and seminars are left to a big loss and I know how difficult it is to source reputable and good suppliers, hardest to source are ready, willing and eager buyers. This position offers you 8%, you're offered a very good pay as transactions are steady, continuous and constant. An average transaction is for $3,000.00 and over and you can handle as many as 3 transactions in a week as most payment are made installmentally. [...] The modus operanda goes thus; you receive the payment from buyers directly from the individual buyer, in your mail, usually via ups and have them cashed. You send the payment to our suppliers/vendors when I need you to, or directly to the company and your pay is 8% of the amount sent to you. All charges during cashing, sending of payments and transaction completion will be deducted from the balance after you've gotten your pay and not deducted from your pay so your pay is fixed on the amount cashed per transaction. You can handle as many as 3 or more transactions per week, but you'll be handling one (1) initially to see how efficiently and how quickly you can carry out the completion.
On 3 transactions you're sure of nothing less than $600 weekly. The hours are flexible and you can decide when you want to work as you'll be doing initially is cashing the payments and completing the transaction to the supplier. I don't need you online 24/7, just to be online on a daily basis and to at least check your e-mail regularly. Working with me will also not disturb your other jobs, (If you have any) as I require that applicant only have easy access to the net, be reachable easily and respond/carry out instructions sent as soon as possible. [...]


Regards,
Bill Chadwick.
Administrative/Account Dept.
Mercado Libre Inc.

Anonymous said...

THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL POSTING THIS JOB ON ALL THE JOB SITES. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS IS A SCAM! I HOPE PEOPLE CHECK ON THIS BEFORE THEY BECOME A VICTIM.

Anonymous said...

i just recieved a check this morning. Now, I knew this might be a scam to begin with...BUT I wanna know if anyone has thought of a way to potentially make money off these assholes? Haven't done anything accept recieve the check.

Spotter said...

I can't think of any possible way to legally make money using a forged check.

Anonymous said...

I received the check for 2,360.00 and thought this may be a scam.The email came from ODESK, which is a job site type of thing. The company is Mercado Libre and the persons name was Carolyn Hill. I received the check via Fedex with no instructions. I then began researching just incase. True enough it was a scam. I copied the check and all the emails and am going to post them for others.

Anonymous said...

I CONTACTED SOME OF THE JOB SITES THAT HAVE THIS JOB LISTED AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS IS INDEED A SCAM! SOME OF THEM HAVE TAKEN THE JOB LISTING OFF THEIR SITE!!!!!!!!

Unknown said...

Got this same email this morning...lol from Michael Caldwell.
What a crock.

Anonymous said...

Hello,
  How are you ?,am emailing to let you know about a job that is available now on craigslist and I want you to read this email and get back to me to let me know if you need work at home and  make more than $1,200 monthly.You can easily make $200-$250 or more in a week by working for us as Sub-contractor in your geographical location,you will be in charge of sending payment on behalf of our affiliates and Small business organizations that are registered under us. Does it sounds like your  dream job? Well,it's certainly for 10,000+current members who are making $200-$250 weekly online with this system.Note that no form of investment is needed from you and this job will take only 1-2hrs twice in a week. MercadoLibre  Limited is a link between small scale business organizations and their customers.For now, we have up to 200 Small business Organization and 400 individuals registered and placing their adverts with us.
Regards

gemgrl said...

These scammers are still at it in 2012.... but it seems they have moved with the times. The email I received cites PayPal, not check:

Pleasant day,

If you have access to a computer, you can get paid.

Do you have a Verified PayPal Account? Would you like to work online from home and get paid weekly? If yes,
MercadoLibre Limited is glad to offer you a job position in our company,
MercadoLibre Limited in conjunction with EBay as part of our ongoing
Multi Level Marketing Network, we seek capable individuals to work for us
as our representative. You can easily make $700-$2000 or more in a week
by working for us as Sub- contractor in your geographical location, you
will be in charge of collecting PayPal payments on behalf of our affiliates and
Small business organizations that are registered under us.

Does it sounds like your dream job? Well, it certainly is for 10,000+
current members who are making $700- $2,000 weekly online with this
system. Note that no form of investment is needed from you and this job
will take only 1-3 hours of your time per week.

MercadoLibre Limited is a link between small scale business organizations
and their customers. For now, we have up to 200 Small business
Organizations and 400 individuals registered and placing their adverts
with us.

Your tasks are:

===================
1. Receive PayPal payments from our Customers into your paypal account.

2. Cashout payments from your paypal account and Deduct 10% which will be your Commission/pay on every payment received.

3. Process payment and remit our balance to us either via Western Union Money Transfer or Money Gram.

Note: This job takes only 3-7 hours per week. This job is very
challenging and you should understand it. We are looking for capable,
honest and open hearted individuals who satisfies our requirements and
that this willing and capable of handling this job position as a
sub-contractor in his or her Geographical location.

To get Started, please provide the details below:

PAYPAL EMAIL ADDRESS:
DO YOU HAVE A PAYPAL CREDIT/DEBIT CARD? YES/NO:

FIRST NAME:
LAST NAME:
ADDRESS:
COUNTRY:
HOME PHONE NUMBER:
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:
GENDER:
MARITAL STATUS:
AGE:
NATIONALITY:

NOTE: You can request for a new paypal credit or debit card from paypal incase if you do not have one to use in withdrawing payments.

Thanks for your Co-operation

Jim Williams,
Merca doLibre Limited

El uso de este sitio web implica la aceptaci?n de los

T?rminos y
Condiciones de MercadoLibre U.S.A.
Copyright © 1999-2012 MercadoLibre U.S.A.