Personal Assistant Scam on Craigslist [email protected]

I originally applied for a receptionist job at a dental office, and received this email in response.

mike daniel [email protected]

to me
Dear Applicant,

Thanks for your response. Unfortunately the post you applied for has been taken but I have a position which may interest you. My name is Mike Dan and am looking for someone that can be trusted and reliable to work very well with good understanding as assistant. This position I a am offering is home-based and flexible, working with me is basically about instructions and following them, my only fear is that i may come at you impromptu sometimes, so I need someone who can be able to meet up with my irregular timings. As my Personal Assistant, your activities amongst other things will include:


Duties and Requirements:


*Scheduling programmer's, flights and keeping me up-to-date with them.
*Handling and monitoring some of my financial activities.
*Processing weekly check payment.
*Filing, Faxing, Creating and sending out letters, scanning documents, some personal assistant duties for owners, and many other
*Managing expenses and invoices


Available Position: Personal Assistant
Type: Part-Time
Hours: 15 Hours per week based on your free time
Weekly Pay: $500

BENEFITS:
• AD & D Insurance
• 401(k)


I'm sure you'll understand I tend to have a very busy schedule at this point. Please note that this position is not office based for now because of my frequent travels and tight schedules, it's a part-time work from home for now and the flexibility means that there will be busier weeks than others. I would like to give you an immediate trial, so if you are interested kindly get back to me. As I have been checking my files and schedules and would need someone urgently to run some errands for me this next week, while I am away. I will have some funds sent to you to complete the errands and would get back to you with more information on that, get back to me with your Personal/Contact Details such as:


Full Names:
Full Mailing Address:
Apt#:
City, State, Zip Code:
Cell Phone Number:
EMAIL ADDRESS:


How often do you check your email: ______________
What date are you available to start work? ________________


If you're interested you can e-mail me back for more information about the job.


Thanks in anticipation of your prompt response.
Yours Sincerely,

Mike.
He then sent me a check to my address and wanted me to take $530 for myself, then send the rest to an orphanage in Turkey. this was that email.
FIRST TASK!!!
---------------------

Hello Removed (BW),
How are you doing today?. Am so sorry for the late response and am glad to Inform you that a payment has been sent to you which is your First Assignment, it would be delivered to you via USPS, Below is the transaction Details:


Tracking Number: 9405501699320034780261

Amount on Check: $2,950

Once you have the Check, get it deposited by MOBILE DEPOSIT, ATM DEPOSIT or at the Bank through the bank teller. once deposited it will clear under 24 hours. However, I am donating this funds to an orphanage home in Turkey. I contacted the orphanage home, and I was given the list of the items to be bought, the items are much and will cost a lot to get them shipped, so we have reached an accord, They will be getting the items themselves. Once the Check clears, you are to deduct $500 for your first week pay and $30 for GAS and send the remaining Money through Western union Money Transfer to the information Below.

Below is the Western union information to send the Money.

Receivers Information:
----------------------------------
Name: Mike Ally
City: Istanbul
Region: Istanbul
Country: Turkey
Postal Code: 34306


Note: You are to use Money In Minute Service and must be sent in US Dollars.

The Western union charges are to be deducted from our funds, When the Money has been transferred Let me have the information's Below:
1. MTCN:
2. Amount Sent:
3. Amount Charged By Western union :
4. Your Full Name and address as on the Western union Slip:
However, I will have your weekly salary sent to you before next week runs out.
I will be waiting to read back from you ASAP today and i also have some other assignment for you to do by next week.
I want you to be rest assured that I'll never stress you at all in any assignment given to you and i promise to pay your fees weekly as we both agreed.

Take good care of yourself and have a blessed day.

Thanks.

Then before i got the check he said to send 300$ to somewhere in Nigeria. I got really suspicious. After looking I came to this. I am a poor college student and don't know what to do.

Then before i got the check he said to send 300$ to somewhere in Nigeria. I got really suspicious. After looking I came to this. I am a poor college student and don't know what to do.

This is a fake check scam. They send you a fake check, have you deposit it, then before the check can be found as fraudulent they have you send the amount somewhere else by money transfer. Then you wind up in the sling for the bounced check, and possibly also criminal charges.

If the fake check arrives to you by the US Postal Service, take your proof ( Emails and stuff) to your local Postal Inspector's office, and let them investigate it. Make copies for yourself and take the originals to the PI. You can find your local PI office here : https://ribbs.usps.gov/locators/find-is.cfm

Whatever you do, do not cash or attempt to cash the fake check.

Thanks for your response. Unfortunately the post you applied for has been taken but I have a position which may interest you. My name is Mike Dan and am looking for someone that can be trusted and reliable to work very well with good understanding as assistant. This position I a am offering is home-based and flexible, working with me is basically about instructions and following them, my only fear is that i may come at you impromptu sometimes, so I need someone who can be able to meet up with my irregular timings. As my Personal Assistant, your activities amongst other things will include:

This is a standard boilerplate scam script written by a West African. The name he chose is typical of those picked by West Africans.

As Hillbilly said, do not cash the check. Do not deposit it either.