Craigslist Office Assistant / Personal Assistant Scam

He did it. I'm worried since he has my information. What can he really do?

This is the email:
This is to inform you that the previous position has been filled already. I have another position available and I believe that I am dealing with a responsible person because I don't hire anyone this way. I need a serious Personal Assistant in your area and 'NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE' is required for this new offer.

My name is James Walter, an Interior Designers, Decorators & Art collector with a large clients base. I'm in Canada now for business and will return to States by 20th of next month after I finish my Toronto CA project work.

DUTIES:
(A)MAILS PICK UP & DROP OFF'S AT USPS OFFICE CLOSE TO YOU.
(B)TO DO MY ART & SCULPTURE MATERIALS SHOPPING AT THE ASSIGNED STORES (AMAZON).
(C)TO PAY MY BILLS ON MY BEHALF WITHOUT USING YOUR PERSONAL FUND TO FINANCE MY WORKS.

BENEFITS:
***You will earn $500 weekly plus meal subsidy of $25 per day. [AD & D INSURANCE ^ 401(K)].
***You will work 2 days per week (4 hours daily) until I return to States to meet you in person to sign some official paper work to make it PART / FULL TIME.

SPECIAL NOTICE:
***All errands will be in your city/town.
***You are allowed to open any packages pick up at your nearby USPS office.
***All expenses and taxes will be paid by me without any delay
***All instructions will be given to you via phone calls and emails.

Kindly complete these following information if you are ready to get started ASAP:
***Full Name:.........***Physical/Residential Contact Address Apt#/unit #:......... ***City: ......... ***State: ......... ***Zip Code: ......... ***Cell Phone: ......... &***Avail-Hours: .........

I will request your first-week salary to be mailed to you along with first task shopping fund. Hope to receive the above details soon

Thanks
James Walter
Phone: 214-506-1282
http://j-art-sculpture.webnode.com

Wow, so this is actually a scam i actually got the same email from james walter. I accepted this job and he said he will send me the check tomorow but by all the previosly research i have done i will not deposit the check. They have our personal info but they will not do nothing from what ive heard. Hopefully this is true oh and what do you mean by He Did It?

Welcome to Scamwarners,

This thread is four pages long.

Please explain your question " He Did It? "

I'm sorry I ment to write "he did it again" as in he keeps scamming people.

After the emails I posted he didn't email me again until yesterday when he send me the check.
I don't know if to ignore him or to say I found something else???? What should I do?

IMG_5434.JPG

Give the unopened package to whoever delivered it. Tell them there is a fake check in it and show them the emails you received.

Stop all contact with the scammer. Ignore his future contacts. Block him. You do not need to explain anything to him. Leave him guessing where he messed up.

Hello Guys!

I Want to expose here a typical scams People on Craigslist have tried to get me in.
I've discovered this site last week when I had to make some research and decide What to do with The Cheques they have sent to me ($1,800 and $1,800 from two different so-called Professional who offered PA jobs).

You're one of the Site that God used to help save my butt.
We've exchanged a couple of emails and SMS. See some of the emails below:

_________
Christian Davies <[email protected]>

Hello

I am glad to inform you that your contact details have been reviewed
and received. I congratulate you as my personal assistant. The job
along with your first assignment has been fully assigned to you.

FIRST ASSIGNMENT:
As my assistant you will resume work immediately and you will be
helping me on errands, sorting out my deliveries/packages and
processing of check since I am not available. All these will be done
by you on my behalf. You will be properly briefed in order to carry
out each and every task appropriately.

I will make arrangement to send payment to you in form of a Money
Order or Certified Check for your first salary and also to carry out
your first assignment. You will be informed once the payment has been
sent and what you are to do with the remaining money after deducting
your salary. So be expecting a check or money order payment from me.

Remember the payment will cover your wages of $350 and also for the
duty you are to carry out. Once you receive the payment, you deduct
your $ 350 while you will be informed of what you are to do with the
remaining money after deducting your salary. We go step by step.

I believe we started the assignment with trust, honesty and sound
mind. Please I need you to assure me of you trust, honesty and
commitment towards this assignment. I know can trust but still assure
me of your trust and I hope we have an understanding???

You would have to keep a comprehensive record on every activity you
carry out. Email me immediately to confirm receipt of this message and
agree to work.

I will wait to hear from you.

Warmest Regards
____
(the cheque $1,800 has been delivered to my mailbox via USPS Priority mail from a guy in Virginia.)

Christian Davies
Sep 2 (10 days ago)

Now you have received my check sum of 1800$ get it deposit and get
the remaining money transfer to my client

Amount Received ..................$1800
Your money $350
Transportation ....$50
MoneyGram Transfer Charges......$100
Amount transfer to my shipper $1300

Here is the client information below where to send the funds to
through MoneyGram.

Name .... Angela Ingram
City ....Las Vegas
State ...Nevada
Zip Code 89121

Immediately you have it wired,Kindly get back to me with the details below:
1. Name and Address of Sender :
2. 8 Digit Reference Number :
3- The scan copy of the receipt

I will need your immediate response via email assuring me that i can
trust you to handle this with care and have the remaining fund
returned appropriately to my client .

Awaiting Reply.
Thanks

(I told him that his cheque his suspiscious, that my banker suggested but could not verify it with the issuing Bank. All along he never wanted to cooperate into verifying his contact details.)
_______

Second Scammer

Rosaline Griffith <[email protected]>
Aug 29

Hello,

I received your details regarding the job. As a consultant with a focus in international business, the majority of my clients are out of the country. I need help with my errands because I am constantly out of town. As a matter of fact, I am currently on a business trip to Stockholm, Sweden. I will prepay you in advance to do my shopping, Bill payments, placing and expediting orders, picking-up and delivering items to my PO box. I will pick the items up from the post office when I return from Sweden on the 15th of Oct. How soon can you start?

I will email you the list and pictures of what to shop for so you can do the shopping at Sears, Walmart, Best buy and other stores. I'll pay you $300 for your service for 10 hours every week. I'm prepared to pay for mileage/travel expense. I will provide clear set of instructions for each task I need done and sufficient funds to cover all errands. I'd love to meet with you upon my return from Sweden to discuss the possibility of making this job long term. Well, let me know if you can do the Job.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Rosaline Griffith
Aug 29

Sounds good,

The hours are flexible so you can spread those 10 hours a week on your own time. I will provide you with sufficient funds and adequate instruction for every task. You Will get directions at the beginning of each week of what needs to be done for the entire week. And for clarification, the job is through Oct. 15th (my return date) and from there you will be working in my office doing more office oriented tasks. We will discuss longer employment upon my return. I will be sending money for my errands inclusive of payment for your service through my bank channel.The money will arrive inform of a Check. How should your name go on the Check? What address and phone number should I have it mailed to?

Please Advise.


Rosaline Griffith
Sep 5 (7 days ago)

Hello,

Thank you for being patient with me. Here is the USPS tracking number of the Cheque of $1860: 9405501699320092406417. Kindly track it via usps.com, it will be delivered to you this week. The Payment for your services is included with the money. However, I would prefer to pay you upon satisfactory completion of the tasks. So I have decided to pay you half now and half at then end just so there are no discrepancies.

The bank needs 24 hours to process the check so deposit it into your bank account as soon as possible. Deduct $150 (Partial payment for your services for a week) and then proceed to:

1. A Money Gram location to Send $850 to my supplier at this address:

Receiver's Name: Lori Freeman
City: Metro Manila,
State: Manila
Zip Code: 1004
Country: Philippines

2. A Western Union location to Send $850 to my second supplier at this address:

Receiver's Name: Krista Johnston
City: Indianapolis
State: Indiana
Zip Code: 46227
Country: United States

The information I provided is sufficient for the transfer, you don't need a street address. Bring cash to Money Gram and Western Union locations and have it wired to my suppliers as instructed.
Email me the details of the transfer as soon as the money is sent. I will need the Money Gram Reference number and Western union MTCN for both transfers respectively.
Pay the transfer fee from the balance remaining and keep the change against next errand.
When the suppliers gets the money, they will ship the products to you (Customized promotional items for my new restaurant).
I will be sending you additional money soon with a detailed list of what to shop for. I will be sure to include your balance. Sounds good?

Just so you know, I'll be returning home to see a cardiologist schedule for October 27th. I want you to mail the items my suppliers will send to you together with the items you will shop for to my PO BOX before I return. I'd like to meet you upon my return to discuss the possibility of making this position long term. How do you feel about meeting? Where is the closest coffee shop to you? Once again, deposit the check into your account today and complete the task ASAP.

Please Acknowledge your receipt of this message.

Thank you.

(Her Cheque was from California, via USPS priority mail, both banks are credit Union. I just interrupted communication with her)

Take the checks and the envelopes they came in, along with printouts of the emails, to the US Postal Inspection Service and explain that it's a scam. The people who sent the checks may not be aware that they are victims of the scam. Then break off all contact with the scammers and don't tell them why.

I've been applying for jobs on indeed and Craigslist so not sure were exactly they found me. I looked his name up and there's a James Walters who is a legit home decorator and before I did anymore research I responded with my info. I'm concerned as what he can do with my information. He texted me and said he would send me the check and my usps account already alerted me that there's a package coming to my address. I blocked his number and email address. For those who ingnored him what happened after ? How long did he bug you for ? Here's the email he sent me he texted me from the same number on the email.


This is to inform you that the previous position has been filled already. I have another position available and I believe that I am dealing with a responsible person because I don't hire anyone this way. I need a serious Personal Assistant in your area and 'NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE' is required for this new offer.

My name is James Walter, an Interior Designers, Decorators & Art collector with a large clients base. I'm in Canada now for business and will return to States by 20th of next month after I finish my Toronto CA project work.

DUTIES:
|A|MAILS PICK UP & DROP OFF'S AT USPS OFFICE CLOSE TO YOU.
|B|TO DO MY ART & SCULPTURE MATERIALS SHOPPING AT THE ASSIGNED STORES {AMAZON}.
|C|TO PAY MY BILLS ON MY BEHALF WITHOUT USING YOUR PERSONAL FUND TO FINANCE MY WORKS.

BENEFITS+
$500 weekly plus meal subsidy of $25 per day. [AD & D INSURANCE -|-401(K)].
Working for 2 days per week (4 hours daily) until I return to States to meet you in person to sign some official paper work to make it PART / FULL TIME.

SPECIAL NOTICE:
^^All errands will be in your city/town.
^^You are allowed to open any packages pick up at your nearby USPS office.
^^All expenses and taxes will be paid by me without any delay
^^All instructions will be given to you via phone calls and emails.

Provide the following information if you are ready to get started ASAP:-
Full-Name........Physical-Residential-Contact-Address-Apt-or-unit-#.........City.........State.........Zip-Code.........Cell-Phone.........Avail-Hours.......

I will request your first-week salary to be mailed to you along with first task shopping fund. Hope to receive the above details soon.

Best Regard
James Walter
Phone: 214-506-1282
http://j-art-sculpture.webnode.com

Refuse the package if/when it arrives and let the delivery person know why. Ignore any further emails from them, do not reply to them and do not tell them you know it's a scam. They will just leave you alone and move on to their next victim.

I received a similar email today... I have no replied but I did send him my resume when I applied for his original posting.. what should I do?


This was the email he sent.

Dear Applicant,


I am replying your message concerning the job posted in which
you're interested in, your application was received, unfortunately the
position is filled already, but there's another position if you are
interested.

I'm impressed when I read your mail, probably you could be the
right one for this job. I had a personal assistant who worked with me
for 6 months and she did well.

She's not longer working with me now, she relocated with her family
and have another job. I found her on Craigslist and I sincerely hope I
will be able to find someone again who will be as efficient as she
was. I need someone who is competent in handling things for me even
when I am not available. Right now, I am out of the States to Canada
and i will be back on 11th of JULY, we can talk on the possibility of
us working together, longer, provided this job is done efficiently.

JOB DESCRIPTION

It is a simple job and does not require a special skill to do it.
You will be my personal assistant, temporarily. All you need to do is
to go to stores where art items are sold. You will shop for some of
these items. Payment for these items will be made to you and also the
full description of what you are shopping for. After these items are
shopped, it shall be mailed to the address I will provide you with
upon your agreement to work with me. All expenses and taxes will be
paid by me including your weekly salaries.


Once again, specifics of the art items to shop for will be sent to
you. I will provide you my personal UPS account number for Shipping.
All you have to do is provide my account number to UPS and shipping
charges will be applied into the account. I will provide clear set of
instructions for each task I need done as well as the funds to cover
them. You will be working 3 days in a week and you're to choose any 3
days of the week from Monday to Saturday that will be preferable to
you and you will be working 4 hrs in these 3 days and that will be
from 9 am-1 pm and an offer of $500.00 per week will be made to you.


Type: PART-Time/Full-Time
Hours: 18 Hours per week
Days: 3 days per week
Weekly Pay: $500.00

BENEFITS:
• AD & D Insurance
• 401(k)


If you're interested please provide contact details. full name, full
physical address, city, state zipcode, age and cell phone number to
get started.

Email the required details to our admin on ( [email protected]
) this will enable the processing of your application without any
delay.


I look forward to hearing from you.



Thanks

Mr.Eric West.
EricWest Arts.
Tel: +1 (832) 906-2035

I just received the same email. I am here in California.

This was the email they used.


[email protected]

I received a similar email today... I have no replied but I did send him my resume when I applied for his original posting.. what should I do?


This was the email he sent.

Dear Applicant,


I am replying your message concerning the job posted in which
you're interested in, your application was received, unfortunately the
position is filled already, but there's another position if you are
interested.

I'm impressed when I read your mail, probably you could be the
right one for this job. I had a personal assistant who worked with me
for 6 months and she did well.

She's not longer working with me now, she relocated with her family
and have another job. I found her on Craigslist and I sincerely hope I
will be able to find someone again who will be as efficient as she
was. I need someone who is competent in handling things for me even
when I am not available. Right now, I am out of the States to Canada
and i will be back on 11th of JULY, we can talk on the possibility of
us working together, longer, provided this job is done efficiently.

JOB DESCRIPTION

It is a simple job and does not require a special skill to do it.
You will be my personal assistant, temporarily. All you need to do is
to go to stores where art items are sold. You will shop for some of
these items. Payment for these items will be made to you and also the
full description of what you are shopping for. After these items are
shopped, it shall be mailed to the address I will provide you with
upon your agreement to work with me. All expenses and taxes will be
paid by me including your weekly salaries.


Once again, specifics of the art items to shop for will be sent to
you. I will provide you my personal UPS account number for Shipping.
All you have to do is provide my account number to UPS and shipping
charges will be applied into the account. I will provide clear set of
instructions for each task I need done as well as the funds to cover
them. You will be working 3 days in a week and you're to choose any 3
days of the week from Monday to Saturday that will be preferable to
you and you will be working 4 hrs in these 3 days and that will be
from 9 am-1 pm and an offer of $500.00 per week will be made to you.


Type: PART-Time/Full-Time
Hours: 18 Hours per week
Days: 3 days per week
Weekly Pay: $500.00

BENEFITS:
• AD & D Insurance
• 401(k)


If you're interested please provide contact details. full name, full
physical address, city, state zipcode, age and cell phone number to
get started.

Email the required details to our admin on ( [email protected]
) this will enable the processing of your application without any
delay.


I look forward to hearing from you.



Thanks

Mr.Eric West.
EricWest Arts.
Tel: +1 (832) 906-2035

Its a scam . Just ignore them and move on with your job search . Be wary of replying to Blind Employment Ads on craigslist . And never send your cv / resume to a blind ad on craigslist .

I just got an email from "Debra White," who says she's an Eco-Sculptor, offering me a job as personal assistant. She said her previous assistant was in a car accident. This job would involve accepting packages and all the other things you all have mentioned. The red flag for me was all the typos. Glad this site came up in my Google search. Confirmed my suspicions.

This is what I got, which was posted on a link at form.jotform.us, that was in the original email:

Hello Applicant,

I'm Debra White an Eco-Sculptor and Consultant.Personal/Office assistant position available for you , if you are interested in working for me as my personal assistant . Here are the details about the personal/office assistant position i am offering you.

Do take time to go through this introductory mail and feel free to pass any questions on. I have had a previous Personal Assistant worker who has been very commendable in her activities and who has been part of my life for the past 8 months, she had an accident with her car and it has affected me in a way. I found her previously on the Sittercity website and I sincerely hope I will be able to find someone again who will be as efficient as she has been.

I will prepay you to do my shopping. I will also have my mails and packages forwarded to your p.o box address. or your house address If you will be unable to stay at your house to get my mails, I can have it shipped to a post office near you and then you can pick it up at your convenience. When you get my mails / packages; you are required to mail them to where ever i want them mailed to. You don't have to put money out of your pocket, all you have to do is have packages shipped to your house and do my shopping. You are allowed to open the packages to reveal its content. All expenses and taxes will be covered by me. I will be paying $640.00 per week.

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


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, You will have to work remotely from your location 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 week/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:

Once I have received your Personal/Contact details, I will get you started. I will be looking forward hearing from you and then proceed on the next step forward.