Internet Scams: Job Hunting Just Got a Lot More Dangerous

When searching the top internet job search sites most of us are aware of the "Get Rich Quick" jobs and are leery of the "Work at Home" jobs, however even with my experience with the job search boards and what to look out for, a new scam, more dangerous than any of the others has now surfaced.

Here's How It Works

After posting your resume online with one of the major job search sites, you will get a phone call telling you that you are being considered for a position for a company that is expanding to your area. For example, you may be offered a job as a courier, paying $18.00. However, they don't have an office set up in your area yet, and will need you to help set it up and get it running.

It sounds like a legitimate job offer and you accept the position. They will then direct you to their website to complete the hiring process. You will also be instructed to go to the IRS website to print out a W-4 to complete and fax to them. Part of the hiring "paperwork" done online will be your direct deposit information. Additionally you will be asked for two forms of ID. None of this is really suspicious. These are all forms and procedures you would go through to be hired by any legitimate company.

They will call you to inform you that you have been hired. Whenever your start date is, they will call you that morning, right on time, 9:00 am. Your first sign of trouble is the phone number they call you from is a trunk line, and cannot be called back. If you try to call the contact numbers on the website, you'll never get a hold of anyone. You may get a recording or a busy signal.

Each day they will call you with assignments that are leading up to opening an office. Research the purchase of five computers, get quotes for fax/copy machines, etc. This may still seem legitimate to you, yet there is no physical office yet.

On the Friday of the first week of "employment" they will deposit a check into your checking account for just under $500. It will look like a legitimate business check.

How We Caught Them

The check they deposited was from Washington Mutual where Washington Mutual was spelled wrong. It was also physically walked into the bank by person. When this happened, my bank called me to inform me that they received a payroll check for me and would have to hold the check for a couple of days. I told them I wasn't expecting any deposits, especially in that manner.

After examining the check it turns out that the information on the check did not have any business name on it, but another person. We called WAMU and it turns out that that individual was a victim of the same scam. The con-company was using our routing numbers and account numbers from our banks to create checks to deposit to each other's accounts.

FBI Theory

The theory the FBI has on this scam is that they will deposit the money for just under $500, to not raise any flags with the tellers in the banks. They do this on Friday morning. Most banks will release the funds before the weekend. During the weekend, using your same banking information, the fraudulent company will use an Automated Clearing House (ACH) transaction to transfer the funds to their account. You being completely unaware, your balance hasn't changed yet. Eventually the bad check will come back to your account where you will be responsible for it.

Prevention

We are all protective of the "get rich quick" scams and the "to good to be true" deals. This newest scam looks to be legitimate at first. The fact that a company was expanding to our area seemed reasonable. If it were not for a bank teller that was on top of her game, we would have never seen it coming.

1. Be leery of this type of employment. If you can't call your new employer back, there may be something wrong. Ask for their business license number. Call the Better Business Bureau and check to see if they even exist.

2. Watch your bank account. There is really no excuse in our world to day with the technology we have for you not to check your account daily. Ensure that there are no suspicious transactions happening.

Internet scams continue to evolve every day. Don't let yourself become a victim of this internet job search engine scam. If you do suspect a company is fraudulent, immediately call the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). If you are involved already, i.e. you are "hired" and they have your personal information, immediately call the FBI and your local police department. Additionally, if they are not already involved, inform your bank or credit union. If you feel your information may be used against you, complete an Identity Theft Report on the FTC's website. You may also consider having your credit monitored by the credit reporting agencies.