by edkilleen95
Thu Nov 06, 2014 1:16 pm
First and most important, advertisements for an Administrative Assistant in Harahan LA posted through ResumeLibrary and copied by one or two other jobhunt websites and which list Company Confidential MAY BE part of this scam. It is a classic "Drop the Pigeon" scam and I fell for it completely. Here's the details:
I was contacted for an on-line interview using Yahoo's IM system by an "Eric Martin", who presented me with a link to a company in India who handles outsourcing as financial services and preparing to open an office in Harahan as HOV Services, Ltd. I was told I needed two involved computer programs to begin my training, as the office was not yet completed, and that I would receive a check to purchase those programs through the supplier the company uses.
I got a letter on HOV Services, Ltd letterhead from a Mrs. Vanessa Valdez listing an e-mail recontact of [email protected] and fax number of 208-430-1535. I then received a cashiers' check for $2976.74 via UPS from Sally Lee, UBS, 3280 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta GA 30205 (404) 479-6004. As instructed I took the check to my bank and deposited it. Eric Martin was quite insistent that I get that money available as cash as soon as possible.
(Lesson 1: DO NOT take such a check to your bank. Instead, take it to the issuing bank and determine if it can be cashed. You will likely stop then, run back to your computer, printout all communications and conversations you have had and bring those and the original mailing label to the issuing bank so they can start action against this scam).
I instead but the rush on things, but not wanting to have cash in hand, I had the check made to the first "vendor" - Plainfiel (sic) Autosales via a bank account number with Bank of America. (Thankfully, there are no Bank of America branches in Louisiana). Eric Martin was becoming very impatient about this, so I asked for a phone number where I could text him. He had told me he was originally from India and now worked in New York, by the way. The number he gave me was 1-110-440-605.
(Lesson 2: You probably would already suspect this was at least money laundering. Take the cash back to your bank, inform that that you believe this is all a scam, and let them attack the source).
Now he said to send three payments to a different "vendor", one Taniko Carol Nugent of Raleigh NC 27606; one via Western Union for $900, one via MoneyGram for $900, using part of the cash to pay fees. Then he said to send $950 more to her via MoneyGram and to keep $50 for myself. The balance of $76.74 was to be held as "petty cash."
(Lesson 3: If a "vendor" for software is not a company, do not send money to them. Stop and return all the cash to your bank, and follow Lesson 2).
Finally, Eric Martin said he would send me a tracking number for the software in the morning.
The weekend passed with no word. I was told to look at ScamWarners to see the company's name and scam information. No one suspected a Pigeon Drop before. I still took it as money laundering and informed the State Attorney General's office (by the way, it's been another week, and I've not heard one word back from them; maybe all the election excitement distracted them.) The last impact of this hit two days ago when my bank informed me that the check had been rejected and my account charged for the full amount as an overdraft. Now, I was the one out $2976.74.
(Lesson 4: YOU are the responsible party for the full amount.)
Don't be the next Pigeon! This experience was something I completely did not expect to have, and to continue living through and with, even after being in the business world for 44 years. But if it smells like a duck, it really is a duck!
I was contacted for an on-line interview using Yahoo's IM system by an "Eric Martin", who presented me with a link to a company in India who handles outsourcing as financial services and preparing to open an office in Harahan as HOV Services, Ltd. I was told I needed two involved computer programs to begin my training, as the office was not yet completed, and that I would receive a check to purchase those programs through the supplier the company uses.
I got a letter on HOV Services, Ltd letterhead from a Mrs. Vanessa Valdez listing an e-mail recontact of [email protected] and fax number of 208-430-1535. I then received a cashiers' check for $2976.74 via UPS from Sally Lee, UBS, 3280 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta GA 30205 (404) 479-6004. As instructed I took the check to my bank and deposited it. Eric Martin was quite insistent that I get that money available as cash as soon as possible.
(Lesson 1: DO NOT take such a check to your bank. Instead, take it to the issuing bank and determine if it can be cashed. You will likely stop then, run back to your computer, printout all communications and conversations you have had and bring those and the original mailing label to the issuing bank so they can start action against this scam).
I instead but the rush on things, but not wanting to have cash in hand, I had the check made to the first "vendor" - Plainfiel (sic) Autosales via a bank account number with Bank of America. (Thankfully, there are no Bank of America branches in Louisiana). Eric Martin was becoming very impatient about this, so I asked for a phone number where I could text him. He had told me he was originally from India and now worked in New York, by the way. The number he gave me was 1-110-440-605.
(Lesson 2: You probably would already suspect this was at least money laundering. Take the cash back to your bank, inform that that you believe this is all a scam, and let them attack the source).
Now he said to send three payments to a different "vendor", one Taniko Carol Nugent of Raleigh NC 27606; one via Western Union for $900, one via MoneyGram for $900, using part of the cash to pay fees. Then he said to send $950 more to her via MoneyGram and to keep $50 for myself. The balance of $76.74 was to be held as "petty cash."
(Lesson 3: If a "vendor" for software is not a company, do not send money to them. Stop and return all the cash to your bank, and follow Lesson 2).
Finally, Eric Martin said he would send me a tracking number for the software in the morning.
The weekend passed with no word. I was told to look at ScamWarners to see the company's name and scam information. No one suspected a Pigeon Drop before. I still took it as money laundering and informed the State Attorney General's office (by the way, it's been another week, and I've not heard one word back from them; maybe all the election excitement distracted them.) The last impact of this hit two days ago when my bank informed me that the check had been rejected and my account charged for the full amount as an overdraft. Now, I was the one out $2976.74.
(Lesson 4: YOU are the responsible party for the full amount.)
Don't be the next Pigeon! This experience was something I completely did not expect to have, and to continue living through and with, even after being in the business world for 44 years. But if it smells like a duck, it really is a duck!
