Personal Assistant

This is a scam as I received it from two different people in almost the same exact wording:

Dear Applicant.
I got your resume and your application for the job as my personal assistant as posted on craigslist .I would have love to meet up with you to talk about this job but I am currently away on business. I am presently in the UK for a short business trip so there will be no interview. I will Pre-pay you in advance to do my shopping. I will also have my mails and packages forwarded to your 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 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. The content of the packages are computer and electronics, clothing's,business and personal letters. All expenses and taxes will be covered by me. You will work between 15 and 20 hrs a month. How much will you charge per month? I will pay $400.00. That is not a bad offer is it? I need your service because I am constantly out of town. I work in real estate and I own an Art Gallery in UK . I will return to USA in Mid May, 2010 so this process will be going - on till i get back in May. If you don't mind, I will meet up with you when I return and then we can talk about the possibility of making this long term.
Well, let me know if you are able to handle the position. Hope to hear I will email you the list and pictures of what to shop for when I am ready. No heavy packages is involved! You can do the shopping at any nearest stores. You will be shopping for Electronics and clothing's. I will provide you with 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 the funds to cover them. If I were to mail you money to do my shopping plus upfront payment for your service, where would you want it mailed to? How should your name appear on the money? Maybe you can provide me with the following details below :

Full Name:
Full Address:
City:
State:
Country:
Zip Code:
Phone Number:
Age:
Yahoo Messenger ID:

So that the pay-check can be forwarded to you as soon as possible and I will appreciate quick response from you. Thanks and please get back to me asap and confirm this mail asap.

You are correct that this is a scam, and this scammer is in Africa, most likely Nigeria. Many of the scammers we deal with also buy and sell stolen credit card numbers and banking information. They will frequently sign up for dating sites and purchase goods with stolen credit cards (contrary to what some people think, scam money is supporting a flashy lifestyle, not putting food on the table). Eventually of course, the real owner of the credit card discovers it is being used and reports the use to the credit card company. Ultimately, the credit card company and/or the company who accepted the order will be out some money. Because this is a significant problem, some merchants will not ship to the countries that are considered high risk, including Nigeria. This means that the scammers need an address to receive merchandise--and that's where the victim comes in. You may be given an account number and be asked to place orders, or the scammer may place the orders and simply ask you to receive and reship them. If you were to accept this "job" you would actually be committing a crime--you are receiving stolen merchandise and forwarding it to the thief. Ultimately, when one of the companies loses enough money and decides to investigate, they will wind up on your doorstep as receiver of the stolen goods. The information the scammer gave you will be fake--he will be untraceable, and you will be the one possibly facing charges.

Of course this scammer is not coming to the US--if you haven't been caught by mid-May and are still willing to ship merchandise, the trip to the US will be postponed. The scammer knows that eventually you will catch on and drop him, or you will be caught--either way, he will just start a new mule.

Could you please post the headers to the emails you received? Please remove your email address, but leave the email address of the scammers. Include any phone numbers you were given, as email addresses and phone numbers are the most likely things a potential victim will search.

Heading #1 was
From: [email protected]
To:
Subject: RE: Personal Assistant
Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2010 23:17:22 +0000

She even posted a phone number:
Juliana McDonald
904-875-4111
Yahoo Messenger ID: divinebeautyhear011

Heading #2 was
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2010 21:49:17 +0100
Subject: REGARDING YOUR APPLICATION AS MY PERSONAL ASSISTANT ON HOUSTON TX CL(RESPONSE NEEDED)
From: [email protected]
To:

He did not post a number just signed it "Billy Chiu" at the bottom of his email

Welcome here Texaskids06.

What dotti meant with headers is this:

From MR.JAMES COX Tue Apr 27 17:36:11 2010
X-Apparently-To: <snip> via 76.13.12.172; Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:36:12 -0700
Return-Path: <[email protected]>
X-YahooFilteredBulk: 69.41.242.20
X-YMailISG:<snip>
X-Originating-IP: [69.41.242.20]
Authentication-Results: mta100.mail.sp2.yahoo.com from=workinglink.net; domainkeys=neutral (no sig); from=workinglink.net; dkim=neutral (no sig)
Received: from 127.0.0.1 (HELO gateway02.websitewelcome.com) (69.41.242.20) by mta100.mail.sp2.yahoo.com with SMTP; Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:36:12 -0700
Received: (qmail 23903 invoked from network); 27 Apr 2010 17:38:31 -0000
Received: from gator968.hostgator.com (174.120.104.162) by gateway02.websitewelcome.com with SMTP; 27 Apr 2010 17:38:31 -0000
Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:38813) by gator968.hostgator.com with esmtpa (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from <[email protected]>) id 1O6ohf-0002qN-HM; Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:36:11 -0500
Received: from 78.145.193.186 ([78.145.193.186]) by gator968.hostgator.com (Horde MIME library) with HTTP; Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:36:11 -0500
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:36:11 -0500
From: "MR.JAMES COX" <[email protected]>
Add sender to Contacts
Reply-to: [email protected]
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: PART-TIME WORK FROM HOME JOB OFFER.
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; DelSp="Yes"; format="flowed"
Content-Disposition: inline
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
User-Agent: Internet Messaging Program (IMP) H3 (4.1.6)
X-AntiAbuse: This header was added to track abuse, please include it with any abuse report
X-AntiAbuse: Primary Hostname - gator968.hostgator.com
X-AntiAbuse: Original Domain - yahoo.com
X-AntiAbuse: Originator/Caller UID/GID - [47 12] / [47 12]
X-AntiAbuse: Sender Address Domain - workinglink.net
Content-Length: 2561

Those headers contain the information and code that is needed to deliver the email at the right address, and the route the email takes from the sender to the receiver. With the IP that is listed from the sender, we can track the sender down and see from which country the email is send. What email account do you use? Is it outlook or do you use free email providers like gmail, yahoo, hotmail etcetera. If we know which one you use we can explain how to retrieve these headers.

Subject: REGARDING YOUR APPLICATION AS MY PERSONAL ASSISTANT POSTED ON BACKPAGE(RESPONSE NEEDED)


Dear Applicant.
I got your resume and your application for the job as my personal assistant as posted on Backpage .I would have love to meet up with you to talk about this job but I am currently away on business. I am presently in the UK for a short business trip so there will be no interview. I will Pre-pay you in advance to do my shopping. I will also have my mails and packages forwarded to your 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 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. The content of the packages are computer and electronics, clothings,business and personal letters. All expenses and taxes will be covered by me. You will work between 15 and 20 hrs a month. How much will you charge per month? I will pay $500.00. That is not a bad offer is it? I need your service because I am constantly out of town. I work in real estate and I own an Art Gallery in UK . I will return to USA in Mid September 2010 so this process will be going - on till i get back in September. If you don't mind, I will meet up with you when I return and then we can talk about the possibility of making this long term.
Well, let me know if you are able to handle the position. Hope to hear I will email you the list and pictures of what to shop for when I am ready. No heavy packages is involved! You can do the shopping at any nearest stores. You will be shopping for Electronics and clothing's. I will provide you with 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 the funds to cover them. If I were to mail you money to do my shopping plus upfront payment for your service, where would you want it mailed to? How should your name appear on the
money? Maybe you can provide me with the following details below :




Full Name:
Full Address:
City:
State:
Country:
Zip Code:
Phone Number:
Age:
Yahoo Messenger ID:




So that the pay-check can be forwarded to you as soon as possible and I will appreciate quick response from you. Thanks and please get back to me asap and confirm this mail asap.






Sincerely,
Billy Chiu.

welcome mssouthern,

I am assuming you are already fully aware that this is a scam. Often scammer email addresses change slightly--if his address is no longer the one posted, can you add it here?

and, so what if you get USPS money orders? From: some guy in Miami, To me. (i gave Jack Smith my address, duhhh)

so what if you get USPS money orders?

If you got money orders in relation to "job" that involves buying and reshipping, the money orders will be fake. Trying to pass those money orders could land you in a big mess, even in jail. Often the shipper of these fakes is another victim who thinks he is processing payroll or other payments for a foreign company. Or, if the name came from a UPS or fedex label, the person in Texas may not be involved at all, as scammers often use phished shipping accounts to send their fakes.

There is information here on the security features of USPS money orders. http://www.usps.com/missingmoneyorders/security.htm If those features appear to be present, then you can call the Money Order Verification System at 1-866-459-7822. If any of the security features are missing, report the fraudulent orders to USPS for investigation-- call the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 (select option 4).

I just received the same email. This is the email address it came from
[email protected]

It was signed Bill Chiu.

I decided to google him and the UK to find out who he was since he didn't state where he lived and I wasn't familiar with the sight he named but it was my ad he referred to once I did a search of backpage. Glad I came across this site when I googled for information.

Welcome to Scamwarners, and thanks for posting that scammer's details.
It's impossible for us to have details of every scammer, so don't assume that an advert is genuine if an Internet search doesn't come up with anything.
Any job that asks you to bank checks and send some of it on by Western Union or Moneygram is a scam.
Any job that asks you to receive packages and send them elsewhere is a scam.
If you aren't sure, we're always here for advice.

I just received the same email and thought it was strange. I tried looking email addresses up on google and found that ads are being placed in different cities so I thought it might be a scam. They are apparently changing the email addresses quickly so I am not sure posting the address will help anyone, but it is the same MO -- looking for personal assistant, involves shipping and receiving packages, offers $400 per week, out of country, etc. I am glad I read the response that says this would be committing a crime. I would have done the first assignment just to see if it was a real job and would have had no clue. Is there anything I can do besides posting here to stop this? I know they are probably untraceable, but is there any law enforcement agency that works on this type of stuff? I have no problem doing what is necessary to help stop someone like this.

Passing counterfeit paper is actually not a Federal offence - it's handled by the Secret Service in the USA (which is worse), so I leave you to guess the mess you could be involved in if you put one of these cheques through your bank account.

If you did it knowingly you are 'de facto' an accomplice. Those who've done it innocently can get into big trouble and have a hard time proving that they have been duped.

Publicity is the best defence and the more people who know what the scams are, the easier it is to foil them.

I just received a new one. This is from email address: [email protected] and the name used is Blair Richardson.

Thanks for your respond to my Craigslist job advert. I would love to meet up with you to talk about this job but I am currently away on business. I am in Estonia so there will be no interview. I will prepay you in advance to do my shopping. I will also have my mails and packages forwarded to your 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 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. The content of the packages are computer and electronics, clothing business and personal letters. All expenses and taxes will be covered by me. You will work between 15 and 20hrs a month and I will be paying you $200 weekly. I need your service because I am constantly out of town. I am Self Employed and I own a Artworks store here in Estonia. I will return to United States by End of October so this process will be on going till then. If you don't mind I will meet up with you when I return and then we can talk about the possibility of making this long term. Well let me know if you are able to handle the position. I will email you the list and pictures of what to shop for me when I am ready. No heavy packages are involved.

You can do the shopping at Sears, Wal-Mart, Kmart and Best buy or any nearest other stores closer to you. You will be shopping for Electronics and clothing. I will provide you my UPS account number for Shipping. All you have to do is to provide you my UPS Account Number and bill the shipping charges on it. I will provide clear set of instructions for each task I need done as well the funds to cover them. If I were to mail you money to do my shopping plus upfront payment for your service, where would you want it mailed to? How should your name appear on the money? So if you still have interests reply me back with all this following details.

Full Name
Mailing Address with Apt Number if available (Not PO Box)
City State Zip Code
Phone Numbers

Payment Type: Money Order

Aventura See 483
11317 Tallinn Estonia
Ph: +3727508492

I just received an email from [email protected]. I got the same exact email as the person above. First I did a reverse phone number look up at whitepages.com and the area code doesn't even exist (3727508492). Then I googled the address the person provided in the email (Aventura See 483 11317 Tallinn Estonia) and I found this website! Funny how the person right above this post did all this the same exact day. Here's the email...


Thanks for your respond to my Craigslist job advert. I would love to meet up with you to talk about this job but I am currently away on business. I am in Estonia so there will be no interview. I will prepay you in advance to do my shopping. I will also have my mails and packages forwarded to your 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 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. The content of the packages are computer and electronics, clothing business and personal letters. All expenses and taxes will be covered by me. You will work between 15 and 20hrs a month and I will be paying you $200 weekly. I need your service because I am constantly out of town. I am Self Employed and I own a Artworks store here in Estonia. I will return to United States by End of October so this process will be on going till then. If you don't mind I will meet up with you when I return and then we can talk about the possibility of making this long term. Well let me know if you are able to handle the position. I will email you the list and pictures of what to shop for me when I am ready. No heavy packages are involved.

You can do the shopping at Sears, Wal-Mart, Kmart and Best buy or any nearest other stores closer to you. You will be shopping for Electronics and clothing. I will provide you my UPS account number for Shipping. All you have to do is to provide you my UPS Account Number and bill the shipping charges on it. I will provide clear set of instructions for each task I need done as well the funds to cover them. If I were to mail you money to do my shopping plus upfront payment for your service, where would you want it mailed to? How should your name appear on the money? So if you still have interests reply me back with all this following details.

Full Name
Mailing Address with Apt Number if available (Not PO Box)
City State Zip Code
Phone Numbers

Payment Type: Money Order

Aventura See 483
11317 Tallinn Estonia
Ph: +3727508492

Got this today: if u wish to discuss this with me email me i will not be checking back here, just wanted to share. ([email protected])

From:
Blair Richardson <[email protected]>
...
Add to Contacts
To: [email protected]
Thanks for your respond to my Craigslist job advert. I would love to meet up with you to talk about this job but I am currently away on business. I am in Estonia so there will be no interview. I will prepay you in advance to do my shopping. I will also have my mails and packages forwarded to your 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 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. The content of the packages are computer and electronics, clothing business and personal letters. All expenses and taxes will be covered by me. You will work between 15 and 20hrs a month and I will be paying you $200 weekly. I need your service because I am constantly out of town. I am Self Employed and I own a Artworks store here in Estonia. I will return to United States by End of October so this process will be on going till then. If you don't mind I will meet up with you when I return and then we can talk about the possibility of making this long term. Well let me know if you are able to handle the position. I will email you the list and pictures of what to shop for me when I am ready. No heavy packages are involved.

You can do the shopping at Sears, Wal-Mart, Kmart and Best buy or any nearest other stores closer to you. You will be shopping for Electronics and clothing. I will provide you my UPS account number for Shipping. All you have to do is to provide you my UPS Account Number and bill the shipping charges on it. I will provide clear set of instructions for each task I need done as well the funds to cover them. If I were to mail you money to do my shopping plus upfront payment for your service, where would you want it mailed to? How should your name appear on the money? So if you still have interests reply me back with all this following details.

Full Name
Mailing Address with Apt Number if available (Not PO Box)
City State Zip Code
Phone Numbers

Payment Type: Money Order

Aventura See 483
11317 Tallinn Estonia
Ph: +3727508492