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, August 12, 2009

YOKOHAMA Trading Company

This is a scam. It's a money mule scam, or more specifically a check fraud scam. All job offers which involve "payment processing" of this sort are scams, and not actually offered by any legitimate company. The fraudsters want victims to bank forged checks on their behalf, or sometimes receive fraudulent money transfers of some other kind.

The idea that "Yokohama Trading Company" would be based out of China seems a little incongruous. I don't think these scammers are from Asia. (My guess is they're from Africa.)

This report is a month late. I've been busy.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ajin pimkilin <aj.pimk2000@gmail.com> [SPF verified]
Reply-to: robert.william35@yahoo.com
Date: 2009/7/11
Subject: JOB OFFER
To:


JOB OFFER
YOKOHAMA Trading Company
Payment Managers Wanted for 2008 Quarter Job Processing Unit     
 
Dear Candidate,   
We have a partime job offer available for you that will not disturb  your present occupation. We are an International trading company with  our corporate headquarters based in CHINA  Since establishment in 1988  we have done our business in Mainland Asia, and U.S, in 1990 we  extended our Region of supplies due to continuous demands to Northern  America and Europe at large.
 
We deal on raw factory materials and  finished personal care products including live long products. Due to  our competent records for treating customer demands and supplies,  customers have referred us to other possible clients and we have been  receiving orders from Northern America, Europe and Australia.   
 
This is one of many few important factors causing setbacks to our  organization to which we have been looking into possible ways of  solution and that is why I am contacting you today.
Most of our  customers would like to pay with their cashier check, Money order, or  wire transfer into a bank account but our organization is facing  serious problem in accepting any form of these payment and this is  what  has limited our sales and patronage to the statistics as given above. 
 
It is estimated that we have a multiple of the recorded statistics if  we can accept such customers willing to have such payments as it is  recorded now that we have more demands than supply.
 
We are in  desperate  need of representatives in your country who will be able to  receive  cash on our behalf and will at the end of the week send accumulated  cash to our depository account in the United Kingdom. And this is my  proposal to you, I would like to offer you an opportunity to  represent us and you will be a beneficiary of a whooping sum as cash flows  in. 
 
We have two options depending on how you wish to be paid.   
 
1. You could earn monthly, for which we will be paying you a fixed  sum of 10,000 US Dollars 
 
2. You could be earning as cash comes in, that means you will have a  percentage from every money that comes in, we will pay you 10 percent  of the total cash you send into our account at the end of every week  or fortnight as you choose to remit payment.
For informational purpose  we rake in between $2,000-10,000 weekly on the average provided our  products and services get to our customers according to schedule and  this is expected to increase in the next few months.   
 
I would like to know if you accept my proposal and if you would like  to take part so I could let you know how we are going to go about  this and I would tell you what to do. If you are interested in this  proposal, I will advice you to provide us the following information;   
 
(I)Your Full Names 
(II)Mailing address, city, State, Zip code 
(III)Phone and or fax numbers 
(IV)Present job(Optional) 
(V)Age: 
(VI)Mode of Identification (If Any) 
(VII)Bank name (If Any)   
 
All correspondence email should be email to the payment Job  Processing Unit. Time: 24 Hours daily by e-mail using the contact  information as  set below and we'll respond to you within 24-48 Hours with more  informations about our business and your duty as a payment officer. 
 
Notice:  
WE NEVER ASK YOU FOR ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT, NO BANK ACCOUNT  NUMBER, ROUTING NUMBER, CREDIT CARD, PASSWORDS, SSN # ETC.  IF ANYONE ASKS FOR THOSE ON OUR BEHALF PLEASE DO NOT GIVE OUT THIS.  THIS TO ENSURE YOUR SECURITY AND NON INVOLVEMENT IN CASES OF IDENTITY  THEFT.IF ANYONE ASK YOU FOR ANY OF THOSE INFO IN OUR NOTICE PLEASE  REPORT TO YOUR NEAREST LOCAL OR FEDERAL AUTHORITIES.   
 
Best Regards, 
JIM STEVEN
(Job Processing Unit) 
Payments lnstructor

3 comments:

Adam said...

Below is a similar email I receieved:

We looked through your resume at www.seek.com.au and we are interested in offering you position of Junior Accounts staff who will be responsible for all aspects of marketing - conceptualizing, writing and trafficking projects such as surveys, media kits, sell-sheets, presentations, funds transfers, and much more to keep your day busy. A "whatever it takes" attitude to get the task done will fit in this entrepreneurial environment, and we'd love to learn from your past experience and schooling to reach our goals.
The Bank of Yokohama, Ltd. is an Internet-based pre-paid ewallet that customers can use to transfer money in and out of accounts and to other users in near real-time. The bank is adding virtual currencies to the account to enable customers to conduct peer-to-peer funds transfers and loans with other users across a variety of monetary denominations.
We are looking for disciplined people, more than 18 years old, those having a computer or notebook with the permanent Internet access at anywhere.
Knowledge of MS Office also required. Any Wireless devices with internet access are welcome as well.
Like Iphone or Blackberry device
Please pay attention that the position offered only to residents of the Australia, located anywhere inside the country.
Our company is offering you a part time employment with a part time occupation.
Requirements for the candidate:
If you already have:
- experience in written and verbal communication
- ability of clearly expressing your minds and attentive listening during communication with supervisors
- enough qualification to keep your attention to details while working under the basic procedures of our agency
- positive perception of working in an environment of small team and an eptitude to adapt for working individually.
- sustainable motivation to stay in Company upon the completion of the test period.
Then you may learn more about the Administrative Agent's work conditions.
Salary:
Foremost, after the every successfully deal, you, as an Administrative Agent, earns an instant rate. Also, after the probationary
period you will earn stable salary every month.
In the issue, your monthly payment can go up to 3,000-4,000 AUD, and you will need to spend at least total of 15 - 25 hours weekly.
If it fit to you, please, learn the Main Responsibilities of the Administrative Agent:
- Servicing the clients on a high level to satisfy any request
- Daily contact with a manager
- Deals reports writing weekly, monthly and yearly
Junior Accounts staff's Goals:
- Qualified processing of the manager's sales enquires over the phone or e-mail, informing and selling all the assortment of presented items to regular and potential customers.
- Perform all the administrative procedures keeping an according with the basic company principles
- Punctual uphold a flow of clear reports and other documentation
- In the time of lone working or in inaccessibility of Supervisor, take the tasks of key holder.
For a trial period we sign with the applicant a Contract, which is valid within 1 month. You need not to make any additional payments!
If you really wish to raise up your stable income and get a better wage level - join us without any doubts!
Write to our Project Coordinator to get any clarifications about how to apply at garry.hulbert@hotmail.com
Thank you for your time,
The Bank of Yokohama, Ltd

IudyBeauty said...

Has anyone heard of Suzhou Victor (medical supply company)? My husband thinks it's legitimate because he was contacted by a "recruiter" through Linked In. I smell a SCAM!!
Anyone else??

Spotter said...

I suspect that you're right, but asking about the company name is the wrong approach. There might be such a company, and it might be legitimate, but the person on LinkedIn might still be a scammer pretending to be a representative of the company.