Company Representative scams, Payment Processing scams and other Employment scams.
by lazxster Sat Jul 09, 2011 5:06 am
Hello,

I have been offered a casual job from an American company as their customer manager in Sydney, Australia and I am quite certain now that it is a scam, but wanted to listen to your opinions as well.

So here's the story, I send my resume in response to an ad for a job Quantum Finance is offering and they replied that I am suitable and sent me an application form to fill in. I also had to send my passport scan for ID verification and a reference list.

They then immediately followed up with an employment agreement which I had to sign. It includes the legal clauses and the job description, which is basically forwarding money payments via my australian account.

So then they asked for my bank account details and that's where I really became ultra suspicious. At start everything seemed quite legit, but after doing some research I realized that:

1. Their site (www.quantum-finance.org) is registered by a czech guy on the 24th of June 2011 for just one year (according to whois.com) and is hosted by a russian server (according to robtex.com) !

2. There are no references for the company at all anywhere on the internet, nor does it come up on google search.

3. The person who has been contacting me uses a bulk mail address rather than a corporate.

Well I am quite good at spotting scams, but this one was quite well covered, with a very carefully constructed website and documents with no spelling and grammatical errors whatsoever.
I already sent them a scan of my passport but nothing else, so what do you suggest I do with it ?
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by jolly_roger Sat Jul 09, 2011 6:01 am
Yes it certainly looks highly sus.
From what is available, we see that quantum-finance.org has an estimated value of 0 US Dollars and makes 0 US Dollars a day. The site receives 0 unique visitors per day.

Much obliged lazxster for posting the info because anyone conducting a search in future will be alerted.
The primary role of the scammer is to fleece unsuspecting people of their money. I doubt they will use the info that has been sent. It is better to stop all contact with immediate effect.
Maybe post any more info such as an email address / name the scammer is using this time ect.
Every little bit of info helps.
by lazxster Sat Jul 09, 2011 6:44 am
Yeah I already stopped contacting them and will avoid further communication.

Indeed that could help other potential victims, since there is not information whatsoever about this case online, and their site, emails and documents for employment seem very legit at first.

Well the scammer used the name of Heidi Chafer, and a gmail address [email protected] which should have been my first clue!

I also have the application and agreement forms they forwarded me, but they are quite long and I'm not sure how can I share these with the scamwarners community since I just signed up today!
by Katharina Sat Jul 09, 2011 2:01 pm
Hi lazxter,

I'm happy to tell you that the length of posts does not have to be correlated to the time a member is registered. :lol:

If targetted persons google and find your post, the text of the contract could be important to convince them that they are dealing with a scammer.

Compliments on the research you did! :=)
by samandar Sat Aug 06, 2011 6:11 am
Hello ,
Our head office located in US,and we have few offices in Europe as well,
but at the moment we don't have an office in your area, but we have customers.

That is the reason why we are looking for reliable people who can represent our company
and provide necessary service locally. We offer part time job with flexible schedule,
competitive salary.

This is a very simple part-time job. For that you need a bank account into which money will go our clients. You shoot them and then send it to us by MoneyGram or Western Union. In this case you need to carry out instructions clearly; I will send you by Email. For each payment-treated you'll receive 5-7% of the amount of funds that you received in your bank account.
In order to verify age and identity we require a scanned image of your driver's license or passport. Please scan a new image that clearly and sharp shows the complete driver's license or passport. You may also use a digital camera/web camera.

Fill out "Employment Agreement" and "Application Form" electronically, then print and sign it.

Send all necessary to me.


If you have any Questions feel free to ask me.


Regards

Heidi Chafer
Quantum finance LLC
Phone: +1 (503) 388-6187
FAX: +1 (503) 853-7428
by samandar Sat Aug 06, 2011 6:13 am
QUANTUM FINANCE Phone: +1 503 388-6187 FAX: +1 503 853-7428
Web:www.quantum-finance.org

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT


BETWEEN: [YOUR NAME]
(hereinafter called "Contractor"), an individual with his main address at:
[FULL ADDRESS]

AND: QUANTUM FINANCE (hereinafter called "Company"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws with its head office located at:
1001 SW 5TH AVE # 1100 PORTLAND, OR 97204-1127 USA
RECITALS

1. Independent Contractor. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company hereby engages the Contractor as an independent contractor to perform the services set forth herein, and the Contractor hereby accepts such engagement.

2. Duties, Term, and Compensation. The Contractor’s duties, term of engagement, compensation and provisions for payment thereof shall be as set forth in the estimate previously provided to the Company by the Contractor and which is attached as Exhibit A, which may be amended in writing from time to time, or supplemented with subsequent estimates for services to be rendered by the Contractor and agreed to by the Company, and which collectively are hereby incorporated by reference.

3. Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the Contractor shall bill and the Company shall reimburse [him or her] for all reasonable and approved out-of-pocket expenses which are incurred in connection with the performance of the duties hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, expenses for the time spent by Contractor in traveling to and from Company facilities shall not be reimbursable.

4. Written Reports. The Company may request that project plans, progress reports and a final results report be provided by Contractor on a monthly basis. A final results report shall be due at the conclusion of the project and shall be submitted to the Company in a confidential written report at such time. The results report shall be in such form and setting forth such information and data as is reasonably requested by the Company.

5. Inventions. Any and all inventions, discoveries, developments and innovations conceived by the Contractor during this engagement relative to the duties under this Agreement shall be the exclusive property of the Company; and the Contractor hereby assigns all right, title, and interest in the same to the Company. Any and all inventions, discoveries, developments and innovations conceived by the Contractor prior to the term of this Agreement and utilized by [him or her] in rendering duties to the Company are hereby licensed to the Company for use in its operations and for an infinite duration. This license is non-exclusive, and may be assigned without the Contractor’s prior written approval by the Company to a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

6. Confidentiality. The Contractor acknowledges that during the engagement [he or she] will have access to and become acquainted with various trade secrets, inventions, innovations, processes, information, records and specifications owned or licensed by the Company and/or used by the Company in connection with the operation of its business including, without limitation, the Company’s business and product processes, methods, customer lists, accounts and procedures. The Contractor agrees that [he or she] will not disclose any of the aforesaid, directly or indirectly, or use any of them in any manner, either during the term of this Agreement or at any time thereafter, except as required in the course of this engagement with the Company. All files, records, documents, blueprints, specifications, information, letters, notes, media lists, original artwork/creative, notebooks, and similar items relating to the business of the Company, whether prepared by the Contractor or otherwise coming into [his or her] possession, shall remain the exclusive property of the Company. The Contractor shall not retain any copies of the foregoing without the Company’s prior written permission. Upon the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement, or whenever requested by the Company, the Contractor shall immediately deliver to the Company all such files, records, documents, specifications, information, and other items in [his or her] possession or under [his or her] control. The Contractor further agrees that [he or she] will not disclose [his or her] retention as an independent contractor or the terms of this Agreement to any person without the prior written consent of the Company and shall at all times preserve the confidential nature of [his or her] relationship to the Company and of the services hereunder.

7. Conflicts of Interest; Non-hire Provision. The Contractor represents that [he or she] is free to enter into this Agreement, and that this engagement does not violate the terms of any agreement between the Contractor and any third party. Further, the Contractor, in rendering [his or her] duties shall not utilize any invention, discovery, development, improvement, innovation, or trade secret in which [he or she] does not have a proprietary interest. During the term of this agreement, the Contractor shall devote as much of [his or her] productive time, energy and abilities to the performance of [his or her] duties hereunder as is necessary to perform the required duties in a timely and productive manner. The Contractor is expressly free to perform services for other parties while performing services for the Company. For a period of six months following any termination, the Contractor shall not, directly or indirectly hire, solicit, or encourage to leave the Company’s employment, any Contractor, consultant, or contractor of the Company or hire any such Contractor, consultant, or contractor who has left the Company’s employment or contractual engagement within one year of such employment or engagement.

8. Right to Injunction. The parties hereto acknowledge that the services to be rendered by the Contractor under this Agreement and the rights and privileges granted to the Company under the Agreement are of a special, unique, unusual, and extraordinary character which gives them a peculiar value, the loss of which cannot be reasonably or adequately compensated by damages in any action at law, and the breach by the Contractor of any of the provisions of this Agreement will cause the Company irreparable injury and damage. The Contractor expressly agrees that the Company shall be entitled to injunctive and other equitable relief in the event of, or to prevent, a breach of any provision of this Agreement by the Contractor. Resort to such equitable relief, however, shall not be construed to be a waiver of any other rights or remedies that the Company may have for damages or otherwise. The various rights and remedies of the Company under this Agreement or otherwise shall be construed to be cumulative, and no one of the them shall be exclusive of any other or of any right or remedy allowed by law.

9. Merger. This Agreement shall not be terminated by the merger or consolidation of the Company into or with any other entity.

10. Termination. The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time by 10 working days’ written notice to the Contractor. In addition, if the Contractor is convicted of any crime or offense, fails or refuses to comply with the written policies or reasonable directive of the Company, is guilty of serious misconduct in connection with performance hereunder, or materially breaches provisions of this Agreement, the Company at any time may terminate the engagement of the Contractor immediately and without prior written notice to the Contractor.

11. Independent Contractor. This Agreement shall not render the Contractor an Contractor, partner, agent of, or joint venturer with the Company for any purpose. The Contractor is and will remain an independent contractor in [his or her] relationship to the Company. The Company shall not be responsible for withholding taxes with respect to the Contractor’s compensation hereunder. The Contractor shall have no claim against the Company hereunder or otherwise for vacation pay, sick leave, retirement benefits, social security, worker’s compensation, health or disability benefits, unemployment insurance benefits, or Contractor benefits of any kind.

12. Insurance. The Contractor will carry liability insurance (including malpractice insurance, if warranted) relative to any service that [he or she] performs for the Company.

13. Successors and Assigns. All of the provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, if any, successors, and assigns.

14. Choice of Law. The laws of the United States shall govern the validity of this Agreement, the construction of its terms and the interpretation of the rights and duties of the parties hereto.

15. Headings. Section headings are not to be considered a part of this Agreement and are not intended to be a full and accurate description of the contents hereof.

16. Waiver. Waiver by one party hereto of breach of any provision of this Agreement by the other shall not operate or be construed as a continuing waiver.

17. Assignment. The Contractor shall not assign any of [his or her] rights under this Agreement, or delegate the performance of any of [his or her] duties hereunder, without the prior written consent of the Company.

18. Modification or Amendment. No amendment, change or modification of this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing signed by the parties hereto.

19. Entire Understanding. This document and any exhibit attached constitute the entire understanding and agreement of the parties, and any and all prior agreements, understandings, and representations are hereby terminated and canceled in their entirety and are of no further force and effect.

20. Unenforceability of Provisions. If any provision of this Agreement, or any portion thereof, is held to be invalid and unenforceable, then the remainder of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.

The parties here to agree that facsimile signatures shall be as effective as if originals.

THE CONTRACTOR:

By:
Signature Printed Name

Its Customer Manager
Title or Position

THE COMPANY:

By: Michael M. Buckley
Signature Printed Name

Its HR Director
Title or Position

EXHIBIT A

CUSTOMER MANAGER
DUTIES, TERM, AND COMPENSATION

Duties:
Company assigns Contractor to perform the following tasks:
1. Receive payments from our customers in your area (The payment from our customers for services provided under the contract. Cause we work all over the world, the customers much easier to transfer money to our managers who are in the same region. You'll receive transfers from $ 1,000 to $ 5,000. An average of 1-2 transfers a week.)
2. Create reports for each transaction
3. Follow the instructions from Supervisor/Manager

The Contractor will report directly to manager and to any other party designated by owner in connection with the performance of the duties under this Agreement and shall fulfill any other duties reasonably requested by the Company and agreed to by the Contractor.

Term:
The term of EXHIBIT A shall be a period of 3 months from the date it is signed. The Agreement may only be extended thereafter by mutual agreement, unless terminated earlier by operation of and in accordance with this Agreement.

Compensation:
1. Payment terms by Company to Contractor may be improved by mutual agreement of both parties. Any improvements made to this Contract should be acknowledged in writing by both parties before 30 days of the improvement.
2. Company agrees to pay Contractor for [his or her] services the amount of $ 1,400/month + bonus (5-8% from amount of received transactions).
3. Company pays for all expenses with money transfer systems.
4. Bonus is paid to the Contractor immediately with every transaction.

Signatures

THE CONTRACTOR:

By:
Signature Printed Name

Its Customer Manager
Title or Position

THE COMPANY:

By: Michael M. Buckley
Signature Printed Name

Its HR Director
Title or Position
by Katharina Sat Aug 06, 2011 7:28 am
Welocme samandar,
and thank you for posting this information! This will warn other potential vicitims.

Do you still have the scammer's email address? A lot of victims search Google for suspicious email addresses, so please add it.
by jolly_roger Sat Aug 06, 2011 8:59 am
Here is some info regarding quantum financial. The site is currently hosted in the Russian Federation on a server with the IP 81.177.24.118. The organization linked to this IP address is OJSC RTComm.RU. quantum-finance.org currently receives about 0 unique visitors per day. The estimated value of the site is $0 USD and makes $0 USD a day. The site being created on 24-Jun-2011 08:25:48 UTC and the expiration date 24-Jun-2012 08:25:48 UTC. Being only registered for 12 months is a bad sign!
by Bubbles Sun Aug 07, 2011 1:28 am
The poster using the name samandar is a scammer from Uzbekistan and has been banned. They began to get more and more brazen in their postings here. Their third email was written this way. I have changed the email addresses used by the scammer / spammer.
samandar wrote:Hi!

Our company is searching for responsible and communicative people for part-time position.

Your duties will be providing customer service, dealing with enquiries from customers,
supporting other functions such as paying accounts,
help in payroll preparation and processing.

Requirements:
-Legal age,
-Experience in a customer service is desirable,
-Cell phone,
-MS Office experience is highly desirable.

The successful applicant will be available to work regular additional hours with our company.

If you have an interest in this vacancy and would like to know the details, please, email us to heidi _chafer @yahoo .com .

Regards,
Heidi Chafer. E-mail: hr.heidi.chafer @gmail com


They are tricky at times, but do show their hand eventually.

Bubbles, former Scamwarners moderator.

Rest in Peace 24 June 2015.

Gone, but never forgotten.

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