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.