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

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

13 comments:

Spotter said...

I've received four more instances using "apply@mighty.co.za" and "billing@mighty.co.za" as contact addresses, but they no longer contain the distinctive names "Geneva Finance" and "Michael Maulder". Other than the missing signature block, the spam remains the same.

Anonymous said...

i got this one from "Duncan Stone":


From: Duncan Stone akstcvivendiuniversalmnsdgs@vivendiuniversal.com
Subject: self-employment

Do you want to make 800 dollars per week spending only 2 hours a day
without leaving your current job? We require regional representatives
in Australia for work in financial field.

If you:

* Live or study in Australia;
* Have NO CRIMINAL RECORDS;
* 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);
* Can work unsupervised.
* Are a good team player.

Please send your enquiry/resume apply@mighty.co.za. Full training will be
provided by us.
Good salary plus bonuses for right candidate. Thank you.

______
Geneva Finance
Management Department
Duncan Stone

Anonymous said...

this one is still happening - I'm an Australian office worker, and I just got it today (19 Sep 07), much the same text as in miciah's, but looking quite professional, and signed off as follows -
"please contact Markus Chandler on mailto:management@mighty.co.za
--
Markus Chandler,
Management Department,
Geneva Finance."

Spotter said...

Still ongoing.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: [redacted (false)]
Date: 18 Oct 2007 09:12
Subject: Financial field.
To: ideceive@gmail.com


HELLO: ideceive.

Regional Representatives urgently needed.
(This position is home based)

SUMMARY: This position will support the reporting, accounting, and financial information needs for world-wide
reporting and decision support requirements. This position requires an individual with multiple strengths in
financial accounting and reporting; current knowledge of the broad range of financial software tools; and a
range of activities including the items below. No experience is required. We will provide full training if you
suit our organization.

So, if you:
* Live in Australia or New Zealand (valid work permit is necessary, if you are nor resident or citizen)
* Are able to work 2 hours a day (09:00 AM - 11:00 AM local Australian time);
* Are able to work unsupervised;
* Have a personal computer and able to check your email box at least two times a day;
* Have no criminal records;
* Able to learn fast;
* Have an ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Fluent English. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret financial reports and data.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Must have a extensive knowledge of Microsoft Excel/Word and have the requisite skills to
properly analyze operational and financial data. You must also be able to operate Internet Banking.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Bachelors degree is desired. MBA is a plus. Some additional experience working
in a Corporate environment would be helpful but not required.
SALARY: Negotiable plus bonuses and commission.
HOW TO APPLY: Send your CV/resume/enquiry to mailto:apply.now@mighty.co.za and we will contact you within 72 hours period.

___
Best Regards,
Oliver McColo,
Management Department,
Geneva Finance


*If you have received this email by mistake and/or wish to unsubsribe from further mailing please send us an empty e-mail to [redacted (false)] (please include "UNSUBSCRIBE" in subject field) and you e-mail will be permanently removed from our database. Thank you.

Spotter said...

Well, they're not calling themselves "Geneva Finance" anymore -- or calling themselves anything for that matter -- but the email address has been used in this scam.

---------- Forwarded message ----------


Hello [redacted]



This highly recognized brand is going through a growth phase at the moment and therefore requires an
experienced Financial Accountant to support and facilitate this growth.


POSITION: Regional Representative

POSITIONS AVAILABLE: 15

REGION: Australia/New Zealand

EARNINGS: 2200-3500 AUD

Occupation: part-time (2-4 hours per day)

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Bachelor’s degree is desired. MBA is a plus. Some
additional experience working with finances would be helpful but not required.

SKILLS: Fluent English. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret financial
reports and data. Must have a extensive knowledge of Microsoft Excel/Word. You
must also be able to operate Internet Banking.

HOW TO APPLY: Please apply to Edgar Smallwood by email apply.now@mighty.co.za
We will get back to you within 5 working days.


* If you do not wish to receive further communications from simply ignore this message
and your address will be deleted from our mailing list within 48 hours period.

Spotter said...

Received another, same as above, but with a different contact address.

HOW TO APPLY: Please apply to Edgar Smallwood by email geneva@oued.org

Spotter said...

Another one: it seems that "oued.org" is the new "mighty.co.za" for the Geneva scammers.

HOW TO APPLY: Please apply to Edgar Smallwood by email geneva.finance@oued.org

Anonymous said...

-----Original Message-----
From: mcox@law.miami.edu [mailto:mcox@law.miami.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, 20 November 2007 10:44 p.m.
To:
Subject: Perth position.




GOOD DAY, (my name here).

International company, a good reputation, which deals with online investments and funds management,
is finally expanding and looking for new representatives in Australia!
And now we are looking for independent agents, who will represent our company in regions. Our work
a part-time position at this stage;

You will need to work only 1-2 hours per week, must live in Australia and be a good team player.

We DO appreciate the labor of our representatives and pay them properly. Your salary depends on your
activity and capacity for work. You will be paid a minimum of $1500, but if you complete all the duties
as assigned, your salary will go up to about $3000 AUD p/m.

If you are interested in our offer and would like to learn more, contact Lella Miller with Resume/Enquiry
on geneva.finance@oued.org

And our human resources managers will contact you within 48 hours.

____
*This email was brought to you by workzone.net Send an empty message to unsubscribe@workzone.com
to unsubscribe. Please also note that Your e-mail address was obtained from public sources.


{WORDS[words]>10<50#1}

Spotter said...

Now they're adding completely irrelevant UNESCO addresses, but still want you to contact them at the mighty.co.za address.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: j.rose[@]unesco.org <j.rose[@]unesco.org>
Date: 22 Nov 2007 02:10
Subject: Australia.
To: [redacted]




Hello, [redacted].

Tuesday, October 22, 2007, 07:15:36 AM:


International company which deals with on-line investments and funds management is finally expanding
and looking for candidates for the position of Regional Representative.

Opened positions: 12;
Location: Australia;
Requirements: PC, good communication skills, ability to work unsupervised;
Job Type: Part-time;
Time frame: 9:00 - 11:00 AM (Sydney time);
Salary: 400 AUD p/w;
Details: The position will be closed on 25/11/2007;
Additional information: Experience in accounting and finances is preferable;
Contact: Contact Lella Miller with Resume/Enquiry only on mailto:apply.now@mighty.co.za



--
Best regards,
j.rose j.rose[@]unesco.org

Unknown said...

i am a little puzzled i have received e-mails from geneva finance management but nothing like any of u have stated here and i didn't apply for a job with them till they contacted me when they saw my resume on a job board/

Spotter said...

If it involves receiving and forwarding money, it's a scam -- end of story. Please bear in mind that the scam artists will pose as legitimate employers and look for job-seekers on recruitment sites. After all, it's a good way to find victims, isn't it?

Unknown said...

i guess that's why I am so puzzled by this. they haven't asked me to send or receive money except my pay.

Spotter said...

So what are your job duties supposed to be? Keep us posted -- I'd lay 1000-to-1 odds that it's a scam, still.