I know this is a scam, need guidance for what to do next

bump

this shtick is still going on. about 1 week ago i sent in my resume to what appeared to be a legit job post in the IT sector on craigslist. i received this email a few days later:

Hello Josh
I have 8 of my company's laptops (HPdv2700).i will be providing all the
Windows 7 professional Cd,License keys and Microsoft Office,Below is a list
of work needed to be done on each PC.
1 Format Hard Drive
2 Install Windows 7
3 Install Microsoft Office Package
4 Install Free AVG Virus Software
5 Install Adobe Acrobat Reader

I have back up files for all computers and Kindly get back to me with your
total cost for the service charges for all the 8 laptop, i mean how much
total is your charges if you are to fixed all the laptop for me.

All computers are the same model,and I will be providing windows 7
Professional Cd and License keys.

Looking forward to read from you.
Regards.
Myles Bernard
Allegis Global Solutions

It looked pretty scammy. Allegis Global Solutions does exist, but why on earth wouldn't they be sending mail from their own domain?

Sender: [email protected] on behalf of Jason Shawver <[email protected]>

Looked like a scam. Anyway, on the off chance that I was just being too paranoid, I did reply and got this in return:

Hello Josh
Thank you for the prompt response,all i wanted you to do is Format Hard Drive,Install Windows 7,Install Microsoft Office Package,Install Free AVG Virus Software and Install Adobe Acrobat Reader and thank you for the price total of $350,it is okay,I will instruct one of our clients near you to mail to you the payment of your charges which will be in excess form of a certified cashier's check which you will deduct your fee and have all the rest money sent to the shipping agent via western union,please do get back to me with the following:

FULL NAME...
ADDRESS.....
CITY........
STATE.......
ZIP CODE....
PHONE NUMBER.....

As to been written on the payment and also the laptops will be mailed to you as soon as my shipping agent gets all of the faulty units together from our various offices. Also the payment will be in amount of your money for repairing the system and shipment fee to dispatch the devices down to your location and you will deduct your fee and have all the rest money sent to the shipping agent via western union.

I will appreciate your quick response if you are satisfied with the offer

Looking Forward to read from you
Regards
Myles Bernard
Allegis Global Solutions

Their obvious lack of proficiency with the english language and bizarre payment just made me want to do some more google'n, which landed me here. I figured I'd go ahead and make an account just to bump this thread. This scam is still going on as of October 2014.

Thanks for posting this, it is an obvious fake check / money mule or both scam. Real companies have a local IT guy they either employ at their business, they take their stuff to, or the IT person comes in to work on their stuff. It is not contracted out across the internet.

When the check arrives, if it comes by mail, take it to the US Postal Inspection Service (or local equivalent if you're not in the USA). If it comes by FedEx or UPS or the like, show them the email, refuse delivery, and tell them it was sent with a harked account or stolen credit card. Do not attempt to cash or deposit the check!

I had gotten the same email, along with another one.
The cragislist subjects werw:

1. Re: LAPTOP TECHNICAL SUPPORT - Cragislst - 4641346636
2. Re: Computer Technician Needed - Cragislst - 4673419728

After flagging thost posts on Craiglist, I went to: https://support.google.com/mail/contact/abuse.
Where I reported the Gmail addresses to Google claiming they were violating Gmail's TOS, and they were.

So, now it's up to Google to figure out what's going on, and terminate the user's account(s).

FYI:
[email protected]; on behalf of; Micheal Ahn [ [email protected] ]
[email protected] ; on behalf of; Michael Pascarella [ [email protected] ]

Welcome to Scamwarners neoh4x0r,

Thank for the update and posting the email addresses used. This will help others avoid the scam if they search for information using the email address used.

We ask that people do not report the email address to the provider. Once the provider closes the email account the warnings posted on this site and other anti-fraud sites will be useless.

The scammer will take 5 minutes out of his life and make another free email address. We will only learn of the new email address when a victim or potential victim post.

Just joined the forum to help support this topic. The scammers are still at it. This time, they're homing in on people in the Florence, AL Craigslist boards.

Here's the ad I originally replied to. I was expecting a real job with real hours from real people.
http://shoals.craigslist.org/tch/4658365353.html

It took them weeks to get back to me. When they emailed me, I received the exact same text as everyone else in this thread has already posted. It was sent by "Jason Shawver <[email protected]>". I asked some probing questions about the shipping arrangement and the computers themselves. I received a response from "Myles Benard <[email protected]>" who repeated that I would be receiving a payment for the shipping agent among other things.

I haven't accepted or been sent a check yet, and I won't be corresponding with them any more.

OP, thanks for creating this thread so I knew what I was about to get into. Good site!

**EDIT** I had responded back that I would not continue with this arrangement unless we spoke on the phone. Well, they texted me, but no phone call. If anyone is interested, the number they texted from is (657) 201-8144.

The telephone number (657) 201-8144 is Bandwidth.com VoIP in Anaheim, CA .This is a computer based telephone number that can make and receive calls anywhere in the world that has a high speed internet connection. The scammers like to use text/SMS to hide their accent or poor spoken English skills.

Here's my email from [email protected]
Gmail flagged it as spam.

Hello Removed (BW)
I have 8 of my company's laptops (HPdv2700).i will be providing all the Windows 7 professional Cd,License keys and Microsoft Office,Below is a list of work needed to be done on each PC.
1 Format Hard Drive
2 Install Windows 7
3 Install Microsoft Office Package
4 Install Free AVG Virus Software
5 Install Adobe Acrobat Reader

I have back up files for all computers and Kindly get back to me with your total cost for the service charges for all the 8 laptop, i mean how much total is your charges if you are to fixed all the laptop for me.

All computers are the same model,and I will be providing windows 7 Professional Cd and License keys.

Looking forward to read from you.
Regards.
Michael .C. Hullander
Hightech-solutions

Edit: I received this last night. I did not respond nor reported it.

Hello all,
I too was contacted by a Michael Hullander [[email protected]] character after I responded to an ad on Craigslist for a PC and Desktop position. All of the emails leading to this end have been very suspicious; glad I have taken the time to sniff out the scam.

Here is the latest correspondence

"Thank you for the prompt response,all i wanted you to do is Format Hard Drive,Install Windows 7,Install Microsoft Office Package,Install Free AVG Virus Software and Install Adobe Acrobat Reader and thank you for the price total of $xxxx,it is okay,I will instruct one of our clients near you to mail to you the payment of your charges which will be in excess form of a certified cashier's check which you will deduct your fee and have all the rest money sent to the shipping agent via western union,please do get back to me with the following:

FULL NAME...
ADDRESS.....
CITY........
STATE.......
ZIP CODE....
PHONE NUMBER.....

As to been written on the payment and also the laptops will be mailed to you as soon as my shipping agent gets all of the faulty units together from our various offices. Also the payment will be in amount of your money for repairing the system and shipment fee to dispatch the devices down to your location and you will deduct your fee and have all the rest money sent to the shipping agent via western union.

I will appreciate your quick response if you are satisfied with the offer

Looking forward to read from you.
Regards.
Michael .C. Hullander
Hightech-solutions "

It seems as though I should decline the offer without exposing the fact that I know about the scam, and then report it to someone who could better track it down? I have not received a check or anything yet, and I don't want to from the sounds of it! How would you suggest responding(and/or action to take) to this?

Welcome to Scamwarners dudetted,

At this point just ignore any future emails from him. Do not respond to him. Make him wonder what happened to you.

If you gave him your mailing address he may send you the fake check. If he does, just refuse delivery or give it back to (UPS,Fedex or USPS) tell them it has a fake check in it. Tell them its an employment scam and give them copies of the emails.

This email shows how the scam works.

Hello Brian
How are you doing today??Thanks for your usual cooperation and sorry for the late response Due to the project we have at hand at the moment,i will like to inform you that the package containing your payment for repairing and shipping the laptop to your location has been sent to you via USPS with tracking number (Removed valid tracking number MW)you can track it on USPS website so as to know the delivery status.

As soon as you have receive the check which is a certified cashier check and the check is for $2,950.67,Kindly visit your bank to have it deposited into your bank account and the funds will be available for withdrawal within the 24hrs after it has been deposited and i will be waiting for the confirmation message of the deposit slip after it has been deposited.As soon as you have the funds you are to deduct your charges for all the faulty laptops and have the balance of the funds split into two and send the first half of the funds to the shipping agent VIA Western Union and send the other half Via MONEY GRAM also,The first funds will be used to have them delivered to you and while the second will be used to have them picked up immediately you are done working on them,Also deduct the transfer charges from the funds to be available in minutes from the rest of the funds you are sending to the shipping agent,Immediately he received his payment he will shipped the laptop to you and have them picked up at your location when you are done working on them.

Here is the shipping agents Information you will send the rest of the money to:

Name.....Amaloe Mcrath
City.....Roanoka
State....Alabama
Zip Code..36274

kindly get back to me with the transfer details as soon as it is completed and they will immediately ship the laptop to you as soon as the shipping payment is made and they will also come over to pick up the laptop from your location once you have completed working on them.

Once the money is sent kindly get back to with the TRANSFER Information like:

MONEY GRAM & WESTERN UNION REFERENCE NUMBER:
TEST QUESTION AND ANSWER:
Amount sent after MONEY GRAM Charges:
Amount sent after WESTERN UNION Charges:
Sender Full Name And Address:

Looking forward to read from you.
Regards.
Michael .C. Hullander
Hightech-solutions

The local USPI will have this shortly.
Never cash a check and wire money to a third party - This is always a scam.

Additional information here http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0159-fake-checks

I just got this email a few days ago exactly the same thing.

[email protected]>
have 8 of my company's laptops (HP 630)for upgrading/reformatting, advice if this is part of your service line, Below is a list of work needed to be done
on each Laptop.

1) Back-up all user data

2) Reinstall the operating system (Windows 7) from scratch

3) Install all needed drivers

4) Install all needed software (AVG and Office from what I see in your list)

5) Install all updates for Windows, and all other software

6) Copy data backups back to the computer

7) upgrade from Vista to Windows 7

10) Transferring the data on to the new systems

I have back up files for all computers and Kindly get back to me with total cost for the service charges for all the 8
laptops, i mean how much is your

charges if you want to fixed all the laptop for me.

All computers are the same model,and I will be providing windows 7 Professional Cd and License keys.

Looking forward to read from you.

Regards

Michael Ahn

Zenith Electronic Company

This sounded like a scam from the beginning but I did respond just for giggles.
Thank you for the prompt response,all i wanted you to do is to Format Hard Drive,Install Windows 7,Install Microsoft Office

Package,remove Trojan virus that attacked all The computers and re install avg free anti virus Software and upgrade all

computers from window vista Business to windows 7 professional and thank you for the price total of $480 it is okay,as far

you are going to do a good job an obey our instruction that was given to you cus we have more laptop in future,I will

instruct one of our clients near you to mail to you the payment of your charges which will be in excess form of a certified

cashier's check Also the payment will be in amount of your money for repairing the system and shipment fee to dispatch the

devices down to your location and you will deduct

your fee and have all the rest money sent to the shipping agent via Walmart. and if you are satisfied with the offer,please

get back to me with your name and mailing address and also a valid phone number as to been written on the payment and also

the laptops will be mailed to you as soon as my shipping agent gets all of the faulty units together from our various
offices.

I will appreciate your quick response if you are satisfied with the offer

Looking forward to read from you.

Regards.

CEO


I definitely flagged this as fraud on Craigslist.

glad i saw this post i also have been contacted by this guy. but something didn't seem right. so i did some research and found this post. this is the email i got from him.
he is clamming to be from http://ocz.com

i also have two email addresses he used.
[email protected]
[email protected]

this is the email i got from him.

Hello Brandon

I have (10) of my company's laptops (HP dv2500)for upgrading/reformatting, advice if this is part of your service line, Below
is a list of work needed to be done on each Laptop.

1 Format Hard Drive

2 Install Win 7

3 Install Microsoft Office Package

4 AVG Virus Software

5 upgrade all computers from window vista Business to windows 7 professional.

I have back up files for all computers and Kindly get back to me with total cost for the service charges for all the (10)

laptops, I mean how much is your charges if you to fixed all the laptop for me.

i will be the one to ship the laptop to your location.after you done with the laptop our shipping agent will come pick them

up and if your duty is proven beyond doubt as a pc profession i will sign a continuity in handling all our faulty pcs and

also retain you as our permanent Technician.


All computers are the same model,and I will be providing windows 7 Professional Cd and License keys.

Looking forward to read from you.

Regards.

CEO

Ralph Schmitt

OCZ Storage Solutions

hey just got this email form this same idiot here, he seems to have caught on that using the name of the rather well known CEO of OCZ is not a smart move so hes dropped the OCZ part but kept the name (theres a million ralph schmitts i suppose) this was sent to me 5/20/2015 as a reply to my inquiry of the job posting.

the sending email is Brain Mick <[email protected]>
you'd think if hes going to impersonate some one he'd think to change the sender name on his email?

Good Day Andrew,
How are you doing today , i hope your day is going on great ? I will like you to check on the list 1-5 and get back to me with the total cost of repair for each Laptop computers.

I have (8) of my company's laptops (HP dv2500) for upgrading / reformatting, as a professional in your area of specialization ( Pc / Technician ) advice if this is part of your service line, Below is a list of work needed to be done on each Laptop.

1 Format Hard Drive and re-check to confirm is in good condition

2 Install Win 7 professional

3 Install Microsoft Office Packages

4 AVG Virus Software

5 Upgrade all computers from window vista Business to windows 7 professional.

I have back up files for all computers and Kindly get back to me with total cost for the service charges for all the (8) laptops, I mean how much is your total charges if you are to fixed all the laptops for me. I will be the one to ship the laptop to your location , after which you done with the laptops, our shipping agent will come pick them up and if your duty is proven beyond doubt as a Pc professional i will sign a continuity in handling all our faulty Pcs and also retain you as our permanent Pc Technician and also to handle all areas of Technical difficulties .


All computers are of the same model, I will be providing windows 7 Professional Cd and License keys for easy and to fasten your job. Do confirm the receipt of this message, and Looking forward to read from you soon have a great day.

Regards.

CEO

Ralph Schmitt

just wish i'd thought to search for known scams concerning this guy before i spent about an hour and a half doing research on if those dv2500s could reliably be upgraded to win 7 pro and not have an aneurysm when they boot up.

Previous post was coded. this is for the bots.

hey just got this email form this same idiot here, he seems to have caught on that using the name of the rather well known CEO of OCZ is not a smart move so hes dropped the OCZ part but kept the name (theres a million ralph schmitts i suppose) this was sent to me 5/20/2015 as a reply to my inquiry of the job posting.

the sending email is Brain Mick <[email protected]>
you'd think if hes going to impersonate some one he'd think to change the sender name on his email?

Good Day Andrew,
How are you doing today , i hope your day is going on great ? I will like you to check on the list 1-5 and get back to me with the total cost of repair for each Laptop computers.

I have (8) of my company's laptops (HP dv2500) for upgrading / reformatting, as a professional in your area of specialization ( Pc / Technician ) advice if this is part of your service line, Below is a list of work needed to be done on each Laptop.

1 Format Hard Drive and re-check to confirm is in good condition

2 Install Win 7 professional

3 Install Microsoft Office Packages

4 AVG Virus Software

5 Upgrade all computers from window vista Business to windows 7 professional.

I have back up files for all computers and Kindly get back to me with total cost for the service charges for all the (8) laptops, I mean how much is your total charges if you are to fixed all the laptops for me. I will be the one to ship the laptop to your location , after which you done with the laptops, our shipping agent will come pick them up and if your duty is proven beyond doubt as a Pc professional i will sign a continuity in handling all our faulty Pcs and also retain you as our permanent Pc Technician and also to handle all areas of Technical difficulties .


All computers are of the same model, I will be providing windows 7 Professional Cd and License keys for easy and to fasten your job. Do confirm the receipt of this message, and Looking forward to read from you soon have a great day.

Regards.

CEO

Ralph Schmitt

just wish i'd thought to search for known scams concerning this guy before i spent about an hour and a half doing research on if those dv2500s could reliably be upgraded to win 7 pro and not have an aneurysm when they boot up.