Beware of Email Scams like These!

I have included some random emails for clarification purposes. I want readers to spread the word. Please beware of this company and similar ones that you receive emails from, which you did not request or invite. Recently, I have been receiving emails from different companies that have the same or similar requests from their "representatives". Please read on.

About two months ago I received an email from a company Benxi Steel Corporation. They were looking for US representatives to collect debts on their behalf. The collector would keep 10% of the bad debts they collected. I replied to this company and this is the response I received.

The email reads as follows:

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Benxi Steel Company

Website: www.bxsteel.com

Dear XXXXXX X XXXXXX,

This is to acknowledge the receipt of your mail; I am pleased to inform you that you have been newly appointed as our company representative covering the whole USA and Canada. Sequel to this approval, please note your contact details have been forwarded to all our USA and Canada clients to make payment through you to us, so be expecting calls from all our clients from hence forth. Our company have been into business for some years now and annually we organize 3 days general meeting were all our representatives are invited to share their experience with BSC, you shall be notify of the date when that time comes. Your toll and flow ticket, hotel reservation will be arranged by our company. We want to thank you once more for been part of our global vision.

In view of your new appointment, you are to inform us as soon as you are contacted by our customers.

Yours respectfully

Mr.Kazuya Asami

Director General BSC

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I was very excited that I had been accepted! Who wouldn't be with this kind of pay and I was on my way to the freedom of working from home. I did a web search for this company to make sure it was legitimate. I have never heard of this type of scam but now days you can never be too careful or to sure about cyberspace. My search revealed that, indeed, it was a real overseas company. It was written in a foreign language so I was unable to read their websites context.

So, I copied and pasted parts of the acceptance letter into search engines to see if something had been written or if there were complaints about the company. Nothing came up in my searches. So, I gladly accepted to be their US representative.

I soon received my first client and excited to work, I began my endeavor.
Since an email address was supplied, I figured, I would contact them by email first. My first email was kind but to the point. They owed a debt of $55,000.00 for services and I needed to collect on this account for Benxi Steel Company.

I received this correspondence:

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Attn: XXXXXX XXXXXX,

How are you today? My name is Levi Franco Carvalli. Mr. Kazuya Asami in regards to the funds we are suppose to send to them. Please get back to me asap with your full name that will be on the check, phone number and postal details so we can make payment .The Amount we owe them is $55,000 USD, Of which we will make the payment in two installments. The first installment is $25,000 USD.

Also find out from your bank how long it will take for the check to clear into your account in order for us to make available the balance payment. I will tell my partner to contact you to get more details from you, he will be making out the payment to you because am not around now but can always be reach via
email. Get back to me ASAP.
Have a nice day.

L.F. Carvalli.
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About two weeks later, I did receive a check in the amount of $25,000.00 USD. It was water marked and had two
signatures. I did a web search for the company that was printed on the check and it was the Parks and Recreation
Department in Canada. I also did a web search for the bank the check was drawn on and it was the fourth largest
bank in Canada. Everything was checking out and appeared to be legitimate on all ends of the spectrum.

My next step was to open a business account because I wanted to keep these transactions separated from my personal accounts for correct record keeping and tax purposes.

I went to the bank and asked about opening a business account. We discussed the different options available. The clerk then begins to process the check after I signed it. She had to get another clerk for clarification about the check since it was drawn on a Canadian bank account.

They come back and tell me the check will have to be placed on hold until it clears the Canadian Federal Reserves and the Canadian bank due to the check being international. No problem, I said. So I deposit the check into my personal savings account. The deposit would not reflect on my account until it cleared and then I could open the business account.

I figured this was probably a smart move anyhow because what happens if it comes back NSF and that would look bad on my newly opened business account. I was told at first it would take seven days. I corresponded with the company, Benxi Steel, giving them the status of payment received and an approximate date the funds would be released.

After seven days I checked on my account. Payment was not showing. I called the bank and was told it could take anywhere from fourteen to sixty days for the payment to clear. I asked to speak to a bank manager because the company I was doing the debt collecting for wanted their funds.

I discussed the check with the bank manager. She told me sometimes the checks are held up with the federal reserves. She inquired about the company that sent it to me. I told her all the details and asked her how I could check if a business is legitimate. She said that I had followed all the right steps by checking them out. While on the phone with her she also did some checking on the companies and they look legitimate to her as well.

I asked her if there was a way for people to protect them selves from scams. She had no idea what I should do. She told me she would call the Canadian bank and get back with me.

A week later, she called. The check was coming back as fraudulent. "Oh my God" I thought I was in big trouble because this would be a federal offense.

I got the returned check in the mail. It was fraud. I kept the original envelope it came in, since it came from Canada. I have saved all correspondences with the companies. I called our local FBI. I was given a web site to report the fraud and I was told to save all documents for further investigations, which I have done.

If you feel you have been a victim to fraud please visit the FBI website and file a formal complaint. The website is: http://www.ic3.gov/crimeschemes.aspx
I was lucky; I did not get ripped off like some people do. I did not send money or give out any account information. Not long after I filed my complaint, I had a new email: Please read as follows:
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JOB PROPOSITION FROM TERRY HOOKS GALLERY.

TERRY HOOKS GALLERY needs a book-keeper/ company representative in the states. This project has been developed in a way not to affect your present job nor bring you any form of stress but in order to help take care of those extra costs. Currently our company is expanding and we have a limited number of job opportunities available.
TERRY HOOKS GALLERY is a small company that's deals in the production of various clothing materials, batiks, assorted fabrics and traditional costumes. this is opportunity has risen to appoint several persons to join the financial managers' team, facilitating transfers of money between TERRY HOOKS GALLERY and our numerous clients in USA, this offer for a friendly, energetic person to provide superior customer service and process costumer transactions.

HOW MUCH WILL YOU EARN?
You can earn up to $2000-4000 weekly depending on time you will spend for this job WHAT YOU SHALL DO FOR US; we offer opportunity for advancement, excellent compensation and benefits, and a great work environment so you will Receive the correspondence from our company or clients to his/her residential address, answer project related e-mails, and perform a limited number of actions / phone calls we need some one who will be able to use money transfer/payment systems like money Gram, western union etc.. pc, email, Microsoft word confident user. Good team working skills, good adaptability, good verbal and written communication skills, ability to work to deadlines, good attention to details.

Also open a bank account or if you have one, upon receiving a notice from me about money transfer with your account, promptly apply to your sum in accordance with the details, specified in our notice. Log on to the internet and send us the details of the transfer, transfer fees will be deducted from the transfer sum.
SPECIAL OFFERS FOR BUSINESS OWNERS.....We have a very interesting proposition if you have your own company! HOW MUCH DOES IT COSTS? There is no start-up cost or any other fee to begin working with us. So you do not need any capital to start. ITS FREE!!!!HOW YOU CAN START?

Your confidential details will be used only within our company. Every employee, who suits our requirements, will be contacted by our company executive to carry out a basic phone or email interview. During the interview you will be able to ask any questions you might have If you are ready to start please fill in the form below and reply this mail. Just copy this form to your reply the form with the Ref number and Batch no. ITS FREE FOR YOU AND ITS 100% RISK FREE YOU DONT NEED TO PAY ANY FEE TO START!!!
Reference No:- LSLCA/2031/ 8161/05
Batch No:- R4/A313/2-60
EMPLOYMENT FORM
Full name:..........................
Address Line 1:..........................
Address Line 2:
City:.........................
State:..........................
Zip:..........................
Home Phone:..........................
Cell Phone:..........................
Gender:..........................
Email:..........................
Marital Status:..........................
Age:..........................
Nationality:..........................
Employed or not ???.........................
Additional information about yourself:
Thanks.
Till I read from you.
Terry Hooks
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This one I immediately reported! But I got a second email: Please read:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello,
Thanks for your interest and concern in helping me with my business and am also very happy to accept you as my rep so am granting you the chance to earn some extra funds with honesty and faith so I will appreciate you confirm your address to me again so that there will be no mistakes I don't want a situation where by payment will be send to a wrong hand so confirm your details again.

This are the Polices guiding this transactions which you must read and understand then you must also abide by the rules...

1 Note: as soon as you confirm the details to me I will forward it to my customers so that they will send payment to you.

2 Note: I also don't appreciate delay in business as soon as you receive payment from any customers you need to be fast in cashing as soon as
you cash deduct your 10% from the money then I will instruct you on where to send the rest to me via western union money transfer.

3 Note: Always get in touch with me via email so that I can always update you on any new development.

4 Note: I don't like a situation where a payment gets to you then you decide to change your mind that you can not do the transaction again it is against the policy.

5 Note: you are to keep this transaction as a secret no third party must know about it.

I hope you accept my terms and conditions? Let me know so that we can
start with the business.
Have a Nice Weekend
Terry

These are scams! Most of these scams come from other countries. Nigeria currently has a scam where a "supposed lawyer "contacts you on behalf of dead family members! This too is a scam and they will take your money! So if you get these emails please take the time to report them to the FBI website at: http://www.ic3.gov/crimeschemes.aspx

Taking the time to report these frauds and prevents someone else from falling victim. Please take the time to pass this article on to everyone you know, or at least spread the word. If you get a suspicious email or mail, check the FBI website. This is the best place I have found for resources.