Protect Yourself and Report the Latest Frauds, Scams, Spams, Fakes, Identify Theft Hacks and Hoaxes
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Have you received an email from "Human resources department" of "Strootman Trading Bv (via Careerbuilder)" in Enschede Netherlands (or ANYWHERE else) offering you a job as a "intermediate for marketing transactions overseas", "Payment Officer", "local agent" or "local representative" in which you "receive payments", deduct your "Processing fee", deposit the checks and then wire most of the money to an overseas "company"?
It is an AFF / Money transfer Scam. They'll send you counterfeit checks which you are supposed to deposit, take out some percentage (typically, 10%) for your work, and then MoneyGram or Western Union wire the remaining 90%. Notice that although you receive checks, they won't let you forward a check to them, only Western Union or Money Gram. 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.
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.
Notice the passages we have highlighted in the actual scam email below. They point out some of the additional clues that it is a scam, such as the email comes from a free email account (such as Yahoo.com, Hotmail.com, Aim.com, Gmail, cox.net, etc.). Wouldn't you expect a company to have its own website and email address (after all, it only costs about $200/year; every reputable company has its own website these days!) And don't be surprised if the scammers do put the names of real companies, real websites and events in their scams; it doesn't mean anything at all!
We have a Job for you.
To a future employee,
In order to apply,you need to read the entire description and to reply this email with all the 4 questions answered.An European trading company,located in Enschede Netherlands,is looking for US personnel in order to intermediate marketing transactions overseas.
Due to a large period of time concerning the payment transactions accomplished between US and Europe,our company is searching for staff,part time or full time.
The most important aptitudes required are seriousness in keeping in strict confidence the identity of our clients(our company's errand,including your salary,depends on that so the buyer's identity cannot be acquainted with the seller's),also promptitude on carrying out the tasks or our demands required to the matter.
The earnings in return for work are various,between $2,000 and $5,000 per month for only 3 hours a day.Depending on your time implication,seriousness and correctness,the earnings can be increased up to 300% .
If you are interested on a possible collaboration then then read the entire job's description and answer to all 4 questions mentioned:Due to a high success of our company in trading fields(at least 800.000 satisfied clients),and also to some various complains concerning the large period of time to accomplish payment transactions between US and Europe,we have decided to draft US personnel in order to facilitate this process.
In order to be able to charge the client we have to keep the supplier's identity secret so we will redirect the client's payment to you.After you will receive the payment and keep our errand(15%),you have to send the rest of the money to the supplier by using his preferred payment method.We can attach,on your request,a picture which will provide you the business's steps :
1.Our company invested and invest in all the major trading markets.
2.The supplier contact us with a offer.
3.After a review is made we decide if we (or not) engage on promoting their products.
4.A contract is made between supplier and our company.
5.The clients contact us in order to purchase these products and after they'll sign an agreement contract,we'll start the transaction.
6.We redirect the client's payment to you and after you'll keep our(and yours) earnings,it is your obligation to transfer the rest (85%) .
All the transfer fees will be supported by the supplier. Our company will never ask you to support or to invest a penny from your own pocket.Requirements :
1. Elementary knowledge of payment transactions.
2. The possibility to accept both payment methods :a) Checks
b) Money orders
3. Promptitude in sending the payment to the supplier.
4. Due to the high taxes concerning the transfer of money between US and Netherland,you have to keep our fee until the amount will become more than $1000 .
5. Ability to send us our commission on request.Earnings :
1.Our company charges every transaction with 15% :
a) 10% is your earning to every transaction
b) 5% is our company fee
2.After you sign our contract,no matter how many transactions you will intermediate, our company will offer you a minimum income of $1,000.00 per month .Interdiction :
1.Not to fulfill the terms of confidentiality between our clients.
2.Delaying the payment to our suppliers,after you have already received the buyer's amount(in the most cases our company shall request you to transfer the payment in the same day after you will get your errand).
3.Impossibility of transferring our earnings on request.Note : If you don't respect one of the terms mentioned above,our collaboration will be over.
Top 5 earnings for the last month :
Theodor J. David,CA - $12,149.00
Timothy L. Fullerton,Fl - $11,021.00
Joseph Stanberry,CA - $11,003.00
Jennifer Houchens,WA - $10,714.00
Keith Kimbrough,WI - $10,242.00If you fulfill our demands and you want to become one of us then answer the following questions :
1.Are you interested on a Full time or Part time job?
2.If you work part time then let us know how many hours per day .
3.Are you older than 21 years ?
4.Did you have problems with the law ?
Kind regards
Human resources department
Strootman Trading Bv
__________________________________________________________________________________This email and its attachments, if any, are intended for the personal use of the named recipient(s) and may contain confidential, privileged, or proprietary information.
If you are not a named recipient, or an agent responsible for delivering it to a named recipient, you have received this email in error.
In that event, please (a) immediately notify me by reply email, (b) do not review, copy, save, forward, or print this email or any of its attachments, and (c) immediately delete and/or destroy this email and its attachments and all electronic and physical copies thereof.
Thank you.__________________________________________________________________________________
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