could this job be a scam

i got this job offer and am wondering if it's a scam or not. here is the number i was called from the other day by this guy +81-80-4468-0514 it is clearly a tokyo japan number because i reverse searched it.

Sean Kinch

Dear Mr Robert
I have sent you an email before but no reply from you. May be the mail has gone to the junk box.
Anyway, if you get this message, please provide your phone number and available timings so that I call you from Japan and we talk about work.
I am starting new business in Japan and initially for 3 months I will need you mostly to work from the comfort of your home and help me with paper work with little work outside too.
Communication is not an issue so anyone can do this.
And if you have intention to stat long time in Japan, I can arrange long term visa, and other fringe benifits too.
Wait to hear from you
Sean Kinch
[email protected]

i hope this is not a scam

Hello Robert and welcome to Scamwarners,

This is some type of work at home scam and probably would by some type of payment processing scheme which in reality is just old fashioned money laundering.
Visas for Japan are controlled by the Japanese Government and cannot be arranged by an individual or company.

If you have any additional questions about this please ask.

You also have a PM.

It's a "personal assistant" scam, i.e. money mule or package mule. Messages about scam jobs often are sent to the spam box; legitimate job offers aren't.

As others have already stated, it is not legitimate.

You are not going to find a legitimate Japanese employment opportunity on Craigslist. Legitimate employers who are looking for international employees use legitimate job boards or placement services. They don't use craigslist or any other free ad site to find them. And if they are looking for unskilled employees, they won't be looking for American employees. Japan's visa restrictions are actually quite tight, and unless you are part of a recognized internship or cultural program (and it is clear that neither will apply in this case) it would be virtually impossible to get a visa that allows you to work in Japan unless you fit into certain categories of highly skilled worker.

I also see that there is another poster on the yahoo thread that says she has been offered the job as well. This would be another significant red flag even without the other issues.

ok. i have one question though, do the scammers actually call you on the phone about the scam job

Yes, sometimes they will call you. They want to feel a personal connection as they feel they have a real victim and they believe you will trust them more.

If you're a native English speaker or good with accents, pay attention to the accent of the scammer. More often than not it will be African and/or not the accent of where they claim to come from.

Yes, a scammer will go to great lengths to make you believe whatever they are offering is real. How about lets reverse your question and make it "what type of business calls using a mobile phone, not a landline or VOIP carrier?" How many mobile phones have you ever known that can transfer calls to another person in the office? Or other part of the building?? Zero, in case you need that answer.

Information on phone number range +81 80XXXXXXXX
Number billable as mobile number
Country or destination Japan
City or exchange location
Original network provider* NTT docomo, Inc

Its fair to assume it is a prepaid mobile phone, so there is no way to trace the person behind it. In fact, it doesn't show up in a search at all, and I would expect anyone with a real business to be advertising their # and name.

an anonymous gmail address is also a top notch sign of scam. Also because there is no advertisement using that email address associated with a real business.

all signs point to scam.

Here is a good article about email job offers, if you care to read it.
http://www.scam-job-emails.tk/

well that is just perfect. i thought i had a job and was really excited because i want to move away from the country to japan to work. i hope i don't get scammed again

The fact that he doesn't ask about your knowledge of the Japanese language is also a bit of a giveaway.

Getting a job in Japan is HARD (for people from other countries) you absolutely will need a legitimate agency. If you have no high level in demand skill, my best advice is to try to teach english, you need a college certificate called a TEFL or TESOL which (again scams are all over so be careful with the company you pick) take about 6 months and are relatively inexpensive (couple hundred at most) than the school can help you find an agency that will get you a job....they pay OK (not awesome..but livable) and provide hosuing usually and are semester contracts. Unless you are literally a rocket scientist or a supermodel that is the best way to Japan. And yes scammers will do ANYTHING if they think it will make you give up money.