Fake Check Scams -- via CareerBuilder.com

The Fake Check Scam By Ramona Kurylas Although the fake check scam is an old one and about 65% of the population are aware of it, scammers are constantly finding ways to improve their techniques and trap even the most computer/internet savvy of people. So as technology progresses along, so does the online crime. Heed my warnings to beware of any offer that you receive utilizing a "cashiers check" over the amount of what is being asked. The newest scam to date is the "phony job offer" coming through online job boards such as CareerBuilder.com, Monster.com, Dice.com, HotJobs.com etc. etc. How it Works You are notified via e-mail with a job offer to act as a "Donations Processor" or something similar. You are e-mailed a link to a (fake) contract and asked to sign and fax it back. Within a few days, you will receive a FedEx envelope containing a Cashiers Check in the amount if either $4500 or $7500. Your main contact will notify you via e-mail requesting the status of the funds. Once you have the funds available, which you likely will considering the banks will immediately release the monies of a cashiers check under $5000, you will be given instructions on how to and who to send the funds. You will likely be asked to wire the funds via Western Union but strongly instructed not to send the money as a "business" transaction but rather a "personal" transaction. Note: the needy somebody you are sending the funds to is always in Ukraine! You will also be strongly instructed to not send the funds online, but to walk in to a Western Union office. You are told to keep 10% of the cashiers check for your time and efforts and to pay for the wire transfer funds out of the cashiers check as well. It is also likely that your wire transfer will be sent in two (2) different transactions to two (2) different names. Within days, you will be notified by the bank that your account is being closed and that the check you deposited was a counterfeit. You will also be notified that you are possibly facing felony counterfeit charges for passing a fraudulent/counterfeit check. Your original contact will fall off the internet planet. Your e-mails will be rejected and the website will be long gone. Sound Stupid? Yes, while reading this article, it probably sounds obvious that this is a scam, but when you receive the job offer with the CareerBuilder.com logo and transaction numbers listed along the bottom, you are not apt to suspect anything fishy. This is the trap! Every victim of this scam fell for it because the original job offer came via e-mail shortly after submitting their resumes to CareerBuilder.com. About 90% of the job offers are using CareerBuilder.com as their primary form of contact, although a reported few have come from Monster.com and HotJobs.com. What to do if you are a victim? Every victim has filed complaints with the FBI, FTC, IFCC, Western Union, FedEx, their local General Attorneys and police department with no success or response. I spoke independently with a representative from the Secret Service that claimed in essence, this is the perfect crime. No representative of the United States will step forward to assist with prosecution or extradition because the neighboring countries won't assist. What does this mean? It means that so long as the public isn't aware of what to watch for with these internet scams, then basically the victim is victimized 10 times over. The victim has to foot the financial bill in addition to possibly facing jail time for passing a counterfeit cashiers check. This also means that money is being stolen from Americans and could very possibly be used to support terrorism. Sound a little far fetched? I don't think so, we don't know who is running this internet scam, the only fact known is that they have made millions, possibly even billions of dollars stealing from us, the Americans. Online organized crime continues to slip through the cracks making scammers and possibly terrorists rich. Efforts have been made to contact CareerBuilder.com asking for their assistance with notifying newly registered job seekers of the dangers that easily leak through their system. CareerBuilder.com steps aside from their responsibility by stating that a "fraud" link at the bottom of their pages provides warnings of what to watch for. They neglect to admit that this particular scam isn't listed on that page. They also neglect to admit that they don't inform you that your personal contact information including everything on your online resume is sold for profit. CareerBuilder.com has the funds and the means to assist with putting a halt to these types of scammers, however, they don't and they won't. If you are angered by the negligence of CareerBuilder.com, feel free to send written correspondence to the following: 1. Chairman -- Robert Montgomery - Robert.Montgomery@careerbuilder.com 2. CEO -- Matt Ferguson - matt.Ferguson@careerbuilder.com We Need Your Help I have begun a personal crusade to inform the public of this scam and others like it. I have also decided to ask for help from society to offer support to the victims of this scam. They are alone, nobody is stepping up to the plate to help. Why should they have to bare this cross alone? I am a single parent dedicating hours out of my day to publish what I know and effortlessly work to research what the scammers' next steps are going to be. If I had the finances to assist, believe me, I would. I have partnered with another victim of this scam who is footing finances barely available to work towards the same goal as I - stopping organized criminals from ripping off innocent hard working Americans. You may visit our website and offer your contributions toward out efforts at www.webnetpresence.com and www.peopleschronicle.com. A receipt is provided for your contribution in addition to contact information to verify the validity of the donation. Thank you in advance.