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Have you received an email from Kevin Cole of "ARINI" in Ireland offering you a job as a "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"? Have you ever seen a job listing that includes such personal information about the hiring manager?
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.
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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.
Hello,
Please permit me to write you irrespective of the fact we have not met before. I got your contact through your listed resume; hence I decided to write you. I would be very interested in offering you a part-time paying job in which you could earn a lot.
Before I go further, I'll like to give you a brief profile about myself. My name is Kelvin Cole. I'm 45 years of age man married with 3 kids (a lovely girl and 2 boys). Due to the nature of my work, I travel a lot. But my Family resides in Dublin, Ireland. I just resigned my job as a research scientist for ARINI (Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland (www.arini.ac.uk) but I still work as a freelance consultant for the institute which gives me very much time to do my own work which is basically being a freelance researcher who could be employed by research institutes to do research projects anywhere in the world.
Presently, I have just been granted a funding to head a research project in the tropical regions of Europe regarding rare and vulnerable plant species and this would be commencing very soon. This research program will be funded and sponsored by some of my counterparts. But the only set back is that my counterparts want to make payments for the research informs of Funds via Money Order/ certified cashier's check, and it's a known fact that money in such forms can't be cashed outside the country of origin. Getting an accountant in the states or opening an account would have been my best choice but I have a deadline to meet and taking any of those choices would cost me time and a whole lot of other requirements, which I am not ready to deal with. This is where i need your assistant and service.
WHAT I NEED YOU FOR?
At this point, I will be glad if you could work with me as my representative in your country. You will be working as my payment assistant in charge of collecting and processing the payments from the Associates. Since they will be making the payment via Money Order/certified cashier's check, you will be collecting these payments via Money Order/certified cashier's check that you can cash at your bank, and then be forwarding them via Western Union or Money Gram. And for this service, I agree to pay you 10% percent of each amount you collect from the Associates.
JOB DESCRIPTION?
1. Receive payment (Via Money Order/certified cashier's check) from My Clients/Associates. 2. Cash the Payments at your Bank 3. Deduct 10%, which will be your percentage/pay on Payment processed. 4. You will then forward the balance via Money Gram or Western Union Money Transfer according to my instruction.
HOW MUCH WILL YOU EARN?
10% from each operation! For instance: you receive 6000 USD via Money Order/certified cashier's check on my behalf. You will cash the payment and keep 10% to yourself before forwarding the remaining. At the beginning your commission will equal 10%, though later it will increase up to 12% for the research, I am expecting about the sum of $40,000 in total from the clients (though the money will be sent in bits). You could make over $4000 for the little time we will be working together.
ADVANTAGES?
You don't have to go out of your present daily activity in order to engage in this Job (i.e. you can do this Work easily without leaving or affecting your present Job). You will work as an independent contractor right from your home /office. Your job is absolutely legal. You do not need any capital to start (non of your personal funds is needed).
REQUIREMENTS?
18 years or older.
Legally capable.
Responsible, Reliable and Trustworthy
ready to work 3-4 hours per week.
Able to check and respond to emails often.
Easy telephone access.
IS THIS LEGAL?
Yes it is. As a matter of fact, my lawyer checked all legal provisions to know if there is any domestic or international law against job contracts or deals in this manner, and he said it is allowed by all LAWS. So know that doing this work is safe and legitimate. I guess all is well understood, I would be glad if you accept my proposal. Mail me if you are interested. Please reply with the details stated below:
NAME:
ADDRESS:
PHONE NUMBER:
OCCUPATION:
AGE:
SEX:
Thank You & God Bless.
Kelvin Cole.
NOTE: ONLY SERIOUS AND INTERESTED APPLICANTS/WORKERS SHOULD PLEASE REPLY.
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