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Have you received an email from Ernest Spencer of "RK Jewelry Company / RK Gold Limited" in Wembley, UK (or ANYWHERE else) offering you a job as a "book-keeper/company representative"? But oddly, they require you to pay the "courier company" to send documents, visa's or other items, or cash a large advance check and send some of the money via Western Union?
At some point in the scam, you will either:
It is an AFF / Money transfer Scam. They'll send you counterfeit checks which you are supposed to deposit, take out some amount, and then MoneyGram or Western Union wire the remaining 90%. There's a reason for this: Western Union and MoneyGrams are cashed immediately and are untraceable and irretrievable. Bank checks can take 1 or 2 weeks to clear!
Of course, since the check is fake, it will bounce a week or so later after you deposit it. But you have already moneygram'ed the scammers the 90% of the amount, and that is transacted almost instantly. So you now owe the bank for the full amount. You may also face criminal charges for passing counterfeit checks. See this page for a step-by-step explanation of how the scam unfolds.
In the email below, there are some many red flags, we can't imagine any way it could be legitimate. Any time any potential employer asks you to send money via Western Union, IT MUST BE A SCAM. No legitimate company would transfer money this way. They will all have access to a more secure bank wire or direct deposit method.
Other clues that this is a scam are:
Do you have a resume posted online? We'd like to hear from you about your experiences recruiting emails that turned out to be scams or misleading - click here to write us.
Any highlighted passages in the actual scam email below are to draw your attention to clues (the highlighting itself was not present in the original email).
From: Ernest Spencer [mailto: rep4rkgoldcompanyltd@yahoo.co.uk ]
Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 10:52 PM
Subject: RK GOLD COMPANY JOB OFFER 2009R.K GOLD LIMITED
1 Aylesdone Court,
55 Ealing Road,
Wembley, HA10 4BL,
UK +44 7O3-196-953-9
Email: rep4rkgoldcompanyltd@yahoo.co.ukDear Sir/madam
I am Ernest Spencer, Human Resources Manager of RK Jewelry Company locate in UK. We deal in gold articles such as Jewelries assorted Necklaces, Pendants, Bracelets and gold costumes worldwide. Our website is www.rkgoldlimited.co.uk We are currently in search of a book-keeper/company representative who would assist us in receiving payment from our customers in America/Canada/Asia and other par of Europe. This offer is absolutely legal and you do no need any capital to start.
Your Job description is as follows:
(1) You would receive payment on our behalf from our various clients which would come in the form of cashiers checks, travelers checks and official checks.
(2) You then get the payments deposited/cashed at your bank.
(3) You then deduct a commission of 10% of each payment you would be receiving, as been our representative and then send the balance money via western union to any of our agent or offices that you would be instructed.
HOW MUCH WILL YOU EARN?
10% from each operation! For instance: you receive 7000 USD via checks on our behalf. You will cash the money and keep $700 (10% from $7000) for yourself! At the beginning your commission will equal 10%, though later it will increase up to 12%!
Our payments will be issued out in your name, as we would inform our clients to do so. If you are interested in this offer, kindly provide us with the below details.
1) FULL NAME:
2) FULL HOUSE ADDRESS: HOUSE NO, STREET/AVE, CITY, STATE AND ZIP CODE AND COUNTRY.
3) PHONE NUMBERS:
4) AGE & SEX:
5) PRESENT OCCUPATION:
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL REPLIES SHOULD BE SENT THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS: ( rep4rkgoldcompanyltd@yahoo.co.uk)
Thanks for your anticipated action. And we hope to hear back from you.
Ernest Spencer. (Human Resources Manager)
There are a variety of sleazy scams that look, at first glance, like legitimate job offers. Before you write back to them, pause a moment and read about the scams below!
Some of the more common job scams are