Million $ check?

Not Really!

  

It was only for $3,950.25
This is a weird but true story.

I was on snag-a-job and saw a job listing
for a mystery shopper/office help for Costa Coffee.$450.00 a week!

Sounded good, so I applied.

The name of the employer and a physical address were listed.

Dallas, I’m not too familiar with Dallas.

But I do know that the traffic is always jacked up.

If I got the job I wanted to know just how far into Dallas I’d have to go.

Being the inquisitive type I googled the address.

Hum, no such address.

The best google could do is get me in the general area.

Not good.

Desolate looking, industrial, southeast Dallas location.

Hubby is from Dallas so I ask him about the area.

Not good.

Googled Costa Coffee… Based in the UK.

Googled the employer’s name… Lots of Dr. James Mccallum‘s.

Something in the back of my mind was telling me, this job is hokey.

Fast forward a week.

I get an email from the "employer" asking me to

verify my address, asking for an alternate email etc.

I emailed back saying, not sure what you want.

Thinking to self, no way you’re getting any info!

(I even contacted snag -a-job with the job link to verify, they were no help).

Several emails later from "Dr. James", (at this point I’m jacking with him)

I was told to watch my mail for the job assignment.

Got this check.

I took the check to my bank manager just for grins.

He told me it was a fake/forgery and to expect an email

with instructions something like this….

(This is the actual email).

Thanks for the update, I will like to inform you of your first assignment which involves an evaluation service of Western Union Money Transfer Service based in your area.

Western Union offers one of the easiest ways for families and friends to send money and stay connected almost anywhere in the world.

YOUR FIRST ASSIGNMENT

Please I’ll advise you deposit the check for ($3,950.25) upon receipt into your account, deduct $450 pay for this assignment and have the remaining funds wired via western union money transfer service to our overseas mystery shopper in Philippine to complete his assignment:

1st Assignment

Wire $3,500 Minus Transfer Charges TO

Name: Alex Martin Philips

Address: 843 EDSA AVENUE MAKATI 252,Philippines

TEST QUESTION: PAYMENT FOR?

TEST ANSWER: ASSIGNMENT

During this assignment which requires you to have the check cashed at your bank before proceeding to wire the remaining funds at any local western union money transfer office in your area. You are expected to secretly perform the following shopping operation:

1. How fast and Efficient is the Western Union Money Transfer Service?

2. How long did it take you to have the funds wired?

3. How close is the Western Union Money Transfer Location to your area?

4. Is the Senders Request Form too short or Long? Kindly Advise

5. Is the neighboring environment safe for handling Western Union Money Transfer Service where you have the funds wired?

6. General Comments.

I will be expecting your e-mail with the details of money transfer as soon as possible ,remember to forward to me the following money transfer details below after you have made the transfer .

1 ) MTCN---Money Transfer Control Numbers

2 ) Senders Name & Address

3 ) Exact Amount Sent After Transfer Charges.

Thanks once again for the opportunity to trust and continue doing business with you.

Regards,

James Mccallum.MD

RIGHT!!!

Today I received another email from "Dr. James"

asking for the particulars.

I emailed back.

"As soon as you send me a real check I’ll think about the job".

(I tried two more times to alert snag-a-job with no luck).

There were a lot of clues in this little journey,

English was not his first language, bogus address,

typos, probe for personal info, why would a Dr. be involved in mystery shopping,

why was the check mailed from VA. drawn on a bank in CA.……

This is a first for me.

As a rule I’m pretty suspicious, things are rarely as they seem.

If it seems too good, well you know….

I wonder how many people fall for this?

Has anyone ever tried to scam you?

And thanks to "Dr. James" for the grins!!

I'm off to etsy...

Till next time,

Bonjour