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, July 31, 2007

"Very Rare" (we wish!)

To be honest, I'm not sure if these two spams are sent by the same scammer, or two scammers with a very similar modus operandi. The common factors are as follows.
  • Money mule scam, targeting Australians.
  • Phrase "very rare" used to describe the opportunity.
  • Gmail contact addresses.
  • Requirement to be 18+ and check email 3-4 times a day.
I have five of these spams in the account from which the following samples are quoted. The earliest is dated around 20th July, but the others are 30th July and later.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: [random name] <[random address]>
Date: 30-Jul-2007 18:32
Subject: Rare Job Opportunity! 1200-1400 AUD a Week! Easy.
To: [redacted]

Hello! Please take a look at this great "Easy to Start" position. And start Making Money!

You have an opportunity to make 1200-1400 AUD a Week spending only 1-2 hours a day, Monday-Thursday.

This position can be considered as an additional job or just as an extra income. Position called "Transaction Handling Agent".

Who Can Apply?

1. Not only Students, but even professional company Directors can express themselves as a "Transaction Handling Agent".
2. If you have access to internet and able to check e-mail 3-4 times a day - you can start right away.
3. Age: 18+ years old.
4. You have to be located in Australia and Australia Only please.
5. Responsibility and enthusiasm is a Must!

Very rare and great opportunity, do not miss out on this offer.
For full information on how to get started - e-mail to: NTT.salesgroup@gmail.com. Good Luck!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: [random name] <[random address]>
Date: 31-Jul-2007 01:38
Subject: Don't Miss This Offer! Make 10% comission.
To: [redacted]

Greetings!
This is very Rare Job opportunity Offer! Please read.
Do You want to make 900-1000 AUD a week, doing 10% comission? Very easy and fun way to make money, few main facts:
1. 900-1000 AUD a week!
2. 18+ y/o ONLY, you have to be able to check your e-mail 3-4 times a day
3. 1-2 hours of free time Monday-Thursday, preferably in the morning.
4. Daily Pay Out!

Successful company, located in UK, representing Sony Products, Hitachi computer hardware has an opportunity for you. Currently seeking for Australian residents. Very great opportunity and very easy to work with. For more info please contact: hardware.inc505@gmail.com

ATTENTION : This letter not spam, and the real offer for all comers to work and requiring in work. If to you there has come our letter to the wrong address remove the letter and we promise you that the letter to you will not come any more.

Geneva Finance

This isn't the first time I've seen a scam under the name of "Geneva Finance" or similar: see the following past instances for comparison.
At the moment this particular scammer is using contact addresses in the domain " mighty.co.za", and signing off with the name "Michael Maulder". This is a money mule scam, and the fact that it is targeting Australians strongly suggests that it involves receiving stolen money via direct bank transfer, then forwarding the majority of it to the scammer via Western Union.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: [random name] <[random address]>
Date: 25-Jul-2001 00:53
Subject: Place for you
To: [redacted]

Do you want to earn 800 AUD
per week spending only 2 hours a day? Due to company expansion we require
regional representatives in your country for
work in financial field.

If you:

•    Live in Australia;
•    Have a personal computer and basic accounting skills (we will provide FULL training);
•    Have e-mail box and ability to check it at least 2 times a day;
•    Are able to work Monday-Friday (9AM - 11AM);
•    Are a good team player;
•    Can work unsupervised.

Then YOU may suit us.

SEND your enquiry/resume here apply@mighty. co.za
Full training will be provided by us.
Good salary plus bonuses for right candidate.
______
Geneva Finance
Management Department
Michael Maulder


----
management@mighty.co. za

Colin Scowcroft

I've been slacking off a lot of late. This spam is anything but new -- it first arrived in my inbox around the 10th of July. At last count I have eighteen instances of it in that particular account's spam folder. The name "Colin Scowcroft" is undoubtedly fake, but it's consistently used as the sign-off in all the spams mentioned. Other than that, it's the usual money mule scam. This particular scammer churns through freemail addresses (mostly Gmail addresses of the form " FirstnameSurnameLetterLetter@gmail.com" at the moment) as contact points -- there is no website or dedicated domain name associated with the scam.

A representative sample of the spam follows.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: [random name] <[random address]>
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2007 15:32:22 -0180
Subject: International company is looking for talented persons for a respectable job. Infomation is attached.
To: [redacted]


Dear worker,
Our International  Corporation   is looking in search of new employees  on various  vacancies.
We suggest a ability for you to get financial Independence right now.
Only our Worldwide can suggest you to gather  a good earnings in a short period of time.
You do not need to spend any sum of money and
we do not ask you to give us with your bank account requisites!
We are occupied in absolutely official activity and working in our Worldwide
you can reach profession  growth  at a permanent  work.
We are in search of representatives from any point of the world globe .
Average earnings  of our employee  is 3450-4500$ per month, but you can earn get  more.

Here is the top 10 of our representatives  salaries:

Top 10 employees
----------------------
Per month:
1.45750 $
2.42185 $
3.38590 $
4.25808 euro
5.32000 $
6.15700 GBP
7.27200 $
8.24300 $
9.22750 $
10.18730 $

It is easy to be in ours Top 10!
Everything is simple  enough and it depends only of you.
We are waiting the creative  approach  and purposefulness  from our employee .
You can work full time or part time.
You settle on the timetable of you work at our International  .
We pay you for result . The best regional representative becomes
the chief of regional office of our company and grts a full social packet
and additional  at a rate of 50 % from his annual salary .
Many  of our worker have made excellent career, received full financial independence and
have embodied  all their dreams  in a reality less than in 2-3 years of working in our company.
The preference is given to employees with knowledge of foreign languages.

If you are interested in our offer please send us the following information:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Full name
2) Address of residing
3) Phone numbers
4) Languages
5) Part time job/Full time

Please send this information to our email: RoyGarzaKM@gmail.com

Please specify in the subject line:
Application for the local rep position. Number 100711

If you are not interested in our offer or you received this email by
mistake please reply with Unsubscribe in subject line and specify all
your emails addresses to JodiThorntonFD@gmail.com
We are sorry for inconvenience

Yours faithfully,
Colin Scowcroft

Sunday, July 08, 2007

Capital Securities

Scam type: money mule. Targets Australians, so the job almost certainly involves receiving stolen funds by direct bank transfer, then forwarding it (money laundering) via Western Union.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: [redacted]
Date: 07-Jul-2007 07:27
Subject: RE:Job
To: [redacted]

[image redacted]

Career opportunities with Capital Securities.


Dear friends,

Capital Securities. Company is proud to announce additional recruitment for Financial Representative positions.

Capital Securities Ltd has been servicing the financial markets for 3 years. We have achieved a notable level of success by hiring only the most ethical, the hardest working, experienced professionals. We are one of a select number of firms with an unblemished regulatory record. Protecting our clients' best interests is one of our highest priorities. And our financial success, and the reward for our team members, has been equally significant. If you are looking to work with successful team, please contact us by sending an email, with your resume attached, to capitsecurities@aol.com. Any submitted information or other communications will be kept in the strictest of confidence. We are currently looking for financial manager. If you are male or female, 21 years old and older, living in Australia, have any basic education... If you have 2-3 free hours per day (Monday - Friday)... If you are responsible and you want to earn good money... Let's work together! Your salary will make 8 % from each transaction during the trial period and 600 AUD per week + 8 % from each transaction if you will be employed. You will work in your city, no trips, no relocation. To get more details, send your CV and info according this email: capitsecurities@aol.com.

Are you ready to turn your life around and make it a success?

Send us your Resume at capitsecurities@aol.com and grab your chance to become a part of Capital Securities. Team!

 

Should you have any questions regarding career and business opportunities with Capital Securities. please feel free to contact us and we will do our best to answer all of them.

Looking forward to hearing from you.


Sincerely,

Mike Graham, Coordinator of Capital Securities Ltd.
E-mail: capitsecurities@aol.com

 

 

IP Communication Solution

I'm a bit late in reporting this one: the copy below is the most recent one I've seen. This is a basic money mule scam, almost certainly involving the receipt of direct bank transfers (stolen) and forwarding the proceeds via Western Union.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: staff department <[redacted]@verna.be>
Date: 30-Jun-2007 07:01
Subject: Employees urgently are required
To: [redacted]

The company " IP Communication Solution " is one of leading companies on granting IP-telephony services in Ukraine.
We search for regional representatives in Australia and other countries for expansion of base of
our clients.
Requirements:
- male or female;
- age 21 and older;
- education - any basic;
- location: Australia;
- period: 3 years and are more;
- demands: 2-3 hours per day (Monday - Friday).
Your salary will make 8 % from each transaction during the trial period and 600 AUD per week + 8 % from each transaction
if  you will be employed.
We provide to the employees constant promotion and worthy payment for intensive and qualitative work.
To get more details, send your CV and info according this email: ipcsolutioninc@aol.com
Regards Mark T. Nelson, Director of staff department

Fast Job Seek

This looks like a repeat of an earlier "fastjobseek" scam, but this time with its own domain name.

Domain Name:                                 FASTJOBSEEK.BIZ
Domain ID:                                   D18780878-BIZ
Sponsoring Registrar:                        MELBOURNE IT LTD
Registrant Email:                            zambia3321@yahoo.com
Name Server:                                 YNS1.YAHOO.COM
Name Server:                                 YNS2.YAHOO.COM
Domain Registration Date:                    Sat Jun 23 18:16:16 GMT 2007
Domain Expiration Date:                      Sun Jun 22 23:59:59 GMT 2008
Domain Last Updated Date:                    Mon Jun 25 04:54:36 GMT 2007

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Leona <[redacted]@usaplaza.com>
Date: 25-Jun-2007 08:57
Subject: Job Position Bank Courrier! 1-2 Hours a Day Only
To: [redacted]


Hello Everyone! If you are looking for an extra income - this is for you!
Successful foreign company - Fast Job Seek Company, is currently seeking for Australian residents for a Banking Courier position. Make 700-1000 AUD a week and enjoy the job itself.
If you are 18+ y/o, if you are able to check your e-mail 3-4 times a day, if you have 1-2 hours of free time Mon-Thu - this job is for you!
Very nice and rate opportunity for making extra income!  Please visit and register if interested : http://fastjobseek.biz