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.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

EZ Transfer

Money mule scams show no particular signs of abating in 2008. As the year ticked over, I received three copies of this particular spam, using various Gmail contact addresses, all having the form <name>.ez.transfer@ gmail.com. They don't specify how payments are to be received: I'd guess that it's via (forged) cheques, but it could be PayPal or bank transfer. It's a safe bet that they want money forwarded via Western Union or similar.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: [redacted (false)]
Date: 31 Dec 2007 xx:xx
Subject: Be the representative for Spain based company in US. Work from home. Make no investments.
To: ideceive@gmail.com

Who are we:

EZ - Transfer was found in 1998 in Madrid, Spain. Since then main service was transferring money worldwide and exchange
the currency at the same time. Within 9 years of hard work the company acquired international standing and managed to
develop into a global financial holding having the staff of 3000 people and representative offices in more than 30
countries. Through these years we are keeping optimizing our services to the client's needs and update our technologies. We transfer money and exchange currencies in over 20 money units.

Who are we looking for:

"     Financial agent
Location: Worldwide
Employee Type: Part-Time

The major duty of the incumbent is to promptly receive and process payments/transfers and to forward them applying
specified method. Please enquire for detailed work scheme.

Requirements:
o Expert skill in managing payments and transfers between our company and clients.
o Knowledge of basic payment systems.
o Ability to schedule working hours effectively.
o Availability of spare time (3-4 hours per day).
o Advanced user ability to operate computer and to use Internet and e-mail.
o Legal age.
Payment basis: commissions in of 7% from each transaction instantly (to be raised after the 3 weeks trial period) plus
fixed monthly salary of $970 from start.

Benefits:
o Flexible work schedule.
o Possibility to combine the job with primary employment.
o Free training course.
Please, include at least 1 recommendation letter with the resume.

"     Regional Manager
Location: USA, Israel, Russia, Wales, Holland
Employee Type: Full-Time

We are looking for responsible individuals to open new regional offices. Please, contact us personally to discuss the
details.

There is NO start up or training fees. If you are interested in this vacancy please submit your resume and it will be
reviewed soon

james.ez.transfer@gmail.com

18 comments:

Spotter said...

The following contact addresses have also been seen in relation to this spam. There are probably many others.

jose.ez.transfer@gmail.com
ava.ez.transfer@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Well thanks! The first thing I did after receiving this mail was to Google it out for EZ Transfer Spain ; and guess what ; before I got the company's website; I got this page! And cool information the advice is simply awesome :-)) Happy New Year 2008 folks; let us save some more gullible (greedy :-(() people from getting into this trap.

JMG said...

Hi,

Another contact adress :
madison.ez.transfer@gmail.com

docal said...

another address email recvd 05/01/2008 02.48hrs from kearney sonja(Charles@strykercorp.com) signed off - hannax.ez.transfer@gmail.com

webkeeper said...

Here is the one I received.
Andrew Capaso [vacancy.ez.transfer@gmail.com]

Anonymous said...

Of course I googled to and came to this page.

I received it 1/12/2008 from this address:
ermin xiao [hplab@infoback.com]

Anonymous said...

another contact address:

natalie.ez.transfer@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I got one today from:
maxwell@my-deja.com

Anonymous said...

I also got one and being the inquisitive person I am I answered....Oh I know its a scam but I just love to play them along.. The Nigerians don't even bother me anymore lol :-)
Also new email addy: mia.ez.transfer@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

And an other one - this time from tristan.ez.transfer@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

1-25 must be hot. Mine came from alain dean (sidney@wsj.com)and said to reply to blake.ez.transfer@gmail.com. Its quite amusing because I think most intelligent people can spot a scam. At the very least, a reputable organization besides applying the buckshot solicitation method would use correct english. For example " Through these years we are keeping optimizing our services" give me a break.

Anonymous said...

Here is another name to add to the ongoing list of names addison.ez.transfer@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

jaden.ez.transfer@gmail.com is an address I just got one from.

I reported it right away to "abuse@gmail.com"

Anonymous said...

don't be fooled.

here's another fictitous contact address: william.ez.transfer@gmail.com
from a certain joseito adolphus with exactly the same text of what was said here.

go figure.

Anonymous said...

Add this to the list - Same message from "farlay taffy" - (felipe@4m-milano.com)

Yeah, I think I'll send my resume off to: jjack.ez.transfer@gmail.com

NOT!

Unknown said...

Here's one I rec'd today:

From: darren kendrick (mailto:erh-huan@ohiohills.com)
To:
CC:
Subject: Spain company is looking for responsible team to work from
home in USA. Great salary.
Date: Friday, January 25, 2008 2:57:40 AM
Attachments:
Who are we:
EZ - Transfer was found in 1998 in Madrid, Spain. Since then main service was
transferring money worldwide and exchange
the currency at the same time. Within 9 years of hard work the company acquired
international standing and managed to
develop into a global financial holding having the staff of 3000 people and representative
offices in more than 30
countries. Through these years we are keeping optimizing our services to the client's
needs and update our technologies. We transfer money and exchange currencies in over
20 money units.
Who are we looking for:
" Financial agent
Location: Worldwide
Employee Type: Part-Time
The major duty of the incumbent is to promptly receive and process payments/transfers
and to forward them applying
specified method. Please enquire for detailed work scheme.
Requirements:
o Expert skill in managing payments and transfers between our company and clients.
o Knowledge of basic payment systems.
o Ability to schedule working hours effectively.
o Availability of spare time (3-4 hours per day).
o Advanced user ability to operate computer and to use Internet and e-mail.
o Legal age.
Payment basis: commissions in of 7% from each transaction instantly (to be raised after
the 3 weeks trial period) plus
fixed monthly salary of $970 from start.
Benefits:
o Flexible work schedule.
o Possibility to combine the job with primary employment.
o Free training course.
Please, include at least 1 recommendation letter with the resume.
" Regional Manager
Location: USA, Israel, Russia, Wales, Holland
Employee Type: Full-Time
We are looking for responsible individuals to open new regional offices. Please, contact
us personally to discuss the
details.
There is NO start up or training fees. If you are interested in this vacancy please submit
your resume and it will be
reviewed soon
jose.ez.transfer@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

In going thru my emails, I spoted this one from alex.ez.transfer@gmail.com
Having gone thur the whole process of being a "mule" I was lucky in that I received thousands of dollars in an account but was smart enough NOT to transfer any of that money. Eventually the bank took ALL of the transferred cash back and closed my account.
BE SMART-DON'T FALL FOR THIS STUFF

Unknown said...

Andrew Capaso (ez.transfer.hr@gmail.com

this is the new guy on the block...
I gave him mu resume but after reading this ... i fell much better that i did not get scamed.