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, May 15, 2008

WestPoint Finances


This is a typical money mule job involving receipt of fraudulent bank transfers and sending cash via Western Union or similar. I've received several of these, all using the sender name "Diana Finchett", but a range of falsified email addresses. They are requesting responses to various addresses in the domain "hr-westpointfinances.com", about which WHOIS reports the following.

   Domain Name: HR-WESTPOINTFINANCES.COM
   Registrar: BIZCN.COM, INC.
   Whois Server: whois.bizcn.com
   Referral URL: http://www.bizcn.com
   Name Server: NS1.DLLEM.COM
   Name Server: NS2.DLLEM.COM
   Updated Date: 08-may-2008
   Creation Date: 26-mar-2008
   Expiration Date: 26-mar-2009

Don't confuse this scam with any other legitimate business called "WestPoint". The scam is best recognised by the fact that they are recruiting people to launder money, rather than by the name.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Diana Finchett <[redacted (false)]>
Date: 2008/5/14 UTC
Subject: Team Member Required!
To: [redacted (privacy)]


Hello there,
Would you be interested in a home based job with a dynamic global company that may reward you with up to AUD 2, 500-3, 500 per month? No "envelope stuffing" nonsense, no start up charges, this is a straightforward offer.
No need to give up your present career; it will only take a small part of your time. The only things you need to have to start running your business with our company are your decency and willingness to earn. The job is transaction handling. The job is pretty simple and you won't need any special knowledge to start, though we do require that you are able to act on a very short notice. We pay decent salary AND commissions because we keep our customers happy with our swiftness.
And if you are looking for career there's a chance of becoming a part of our team in the future (based on your performance), team in which you will be truly respected and honestly rewarded - just think about this! We hope to hear from you soon.
Please e-mail back [various]@hr-westpointfinances.com and we will be glad to provide more information.
Thank you,

Diana Finchett Placement Manager
HR Administrative Operations and Support Department
WestPoint Finances Ltd.

1 comment:

Spotter said...

I have received a couple more of these, with only slight changes to the wording. They are no longer using one single sender name, but they are still using the same domain name.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: [redacted (random, false)]
Date: 2008/5/21 UTC
Subject: Looking for a new career?
To: [redacted (privacy)]


Greetings!

Could you be interested in a home job that allows you to make a few thousand dollars extra per month? No start up fees, no "envelope stuffing" nonsense.
We proudly present Westpoint Finances, Ltd.

The job we offer will not affect your present career, it will only take a small part of your time. The only things you need to have to start running your business with our company are reliable Internet/E-mail access and checking/savings bank account. And of course your decency and willingness to earn.

And for those who look for career opportunities it's a chance of becoming a part of our team in the future (based on your performance), team in which you will be highly respected and decently rewarded - just think about this! We will be hoping to hear from you soon!


If you would like to get our application form or request more information please email us with your request. No fees are asked, just leave your contact details: "hr@hr-westpointfinances.com"
We would appreciate your continued patronage and get in touch with you soon. Thank you!