Craigslist Work at Home Scam

Who would have thought twice in one week I would be a victim of a scam on Craig's list? I posted an article, where I was house hunting for a rental home. I found that it was a scam and someone in another country wanted me to send payment via Western Union. Well, the scamming did not stop there!

Not only have I been looking for a rental home for my family to live in, I also have been using Craig's list to look for potential employment.

I have applied and applied to numerous places. My resume, along with my husband's has been sent to thousands of companies. I never in a million years would have thought, scams would be in the category as well.

There is a company on Craig's list, looking for telecommuters. WOW, I can work at home and raise my children. Sounds like the perfect set up.

I have been "talking" back-and-forth with this so called software company. I had to apply, answer 2 questionnaires, go through this long drawn out process, to be told,yes you got the job! Right before the holidays I possibly found another form on employment.

Well, here is the kicker! They sent me a money order on Christmas Eve, wanting me to cash this money order, purchase some office equipment I would need to successfully perform my duties, and then as an act of TRUST, send them back the remaining part of the money. This package arrived in a FedEx overnight envelope. It was paid for, tracked, etc.

I opened the package to find a Post money order in the amount of $945.00. Something told me, get this checked out! DO NOT CASH THIS! It looked real enough, had the copyright on it, a silver stripe, etc. I do not know what made me think of calling the post office, but I did just that.

I placed my phone call, got a postal worker on the line, and asked him how I could find out if this money order was real or a fake. He proceeded to tell me, to bring it in and they will look at it and tell me. Truthfully, I was secretly praying this was a real deal.

I walked into the post office, FedEx package in hand. As soon as I pulled out the money, the post office worker told me in about 3 seconds that it was a fake! He said it was the 3^rd one he received at this location alone today! He had to confiscate the money order, as this factious company is being sought- after.

The postal worker decided to make me a copy for my records. Could you have imagined if I tried to cash this money, and had the police show up for my arrest? I would have not been able to spend Christmas with my family! How many victims did these people get?

I am enclosing the e-mail I received, in hopes that if you happen to find one of these in your e-mail I just helped stop you from being scammed.

FROM MY PERSONAL E-MAIL

PAYROLL TEST OF DUTY/TRUST

"Your application is successful. The Quality of your resume and response was highly considered by the Board before you were selected. You start up firstly with the training process which would last for a week and then full start-up. This is just a formal mail to inform you that you have been selected for this Job and to get ready for start up. Appointment letter and others would be mailed to the address you would provide us to be delivered next week after the test of duty/Trust. Now let me give you insight to the Job in question, your duties, How to get started and your Benefits.

JOB DETAILS

Working from home with the company's provided computer is a broad expatiation's of how the online duty is performed working from home... You are required to use the equipments because there is a wide range of software installed on the system to protect data, ease duty, and also enhance speed and accuracy of duty online. The Company's equipment that would be shipped to you is liable to be yours (Ownership) after a period of 2 months of working with the Company.

We are not deducting funds from your payroll for Taxes,all Our Online staffs are expected to complete their taxes forms after payroll by themselves.

The Company is running the Online Recruiting as a temporary measure towards the completion of our Centers around the United states and Canada, so most of our online staffs would have the first hand opportunity to apply to become permanent staffs when these centers are opened.. We are certified and also registered with the Great Britain Business Association. So I can assure you that you have been offered a great opportunity to perform, giving your best to performing Data Entry duties in exchange for a good pay.

The company's website for the Home Business Unit is under a URL change and it involves a very high re-organizational process that involves bringing all our online staffs to log-on on the same Network Online with their staff ID. As soon as the website is launched within the next 15 business days then each online staffs can have a log on ID/Password to get access to their duties online while still communicating with their supervisors.

TEST OF DUTY/TRUST

Test of duty/trust would involve you handling funds on behalf of the company to purchase the needed software and also to handle the shipment of your mini office equipment. The test of trust is your first call to duty, this will be your first assignment before you begin your training, You will be receiving a payment from the company shortly and would be required to follow proper directions, Accurate deduction and documentation is expected from you. This would be the only payment you will be required to handle on your own.. all other future payments would be forwarded by you to the company's accounting details which will be readily made available for you upon your start.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you send your contact details and your answers to the payroll questions, so that it can be forwarded to the company's accounting department for processing, also for you to be able to receive your test of duty/trust package." (Stephanie's e-mail)

End of Stephanie's e-mail she received.

If you get an e-mail stating this please disregard this, and turn in the money the help the law enforcement officers stop these people!