What the bank did to save her from a job scammer?

The number of online job scams is multiplying. 

It’s hard to tell when someone becomes a victim of a job scam. Unfortunately, many people fall prey to online technology fraud and lose their money. This may sound common, but its effect is severe. This is a big deal with the needy people who look actively for a job, and those, who really need a job. They wait daily for the company’s messages for an interview or to get a resume selection. But Job Scammers not only hurt their sentiments but also leaves pain for them mentally and financially. Also, the victims can lose their positive attitude and can develop negativity. In many cases, being a victim of job loss also becomes a matter of social prestige loss. So, online job frauds or scams are not a regular and easy case.
“According to BBB study, Job scammers have a ready market of unemployed people in the United States and Canada. Not surprisingly, complaints and reported losses increased during the pandemic, and with more people currently wanting to work from home, the door is open to even more job scams. BBB reports that an estimated 14 million people are exposed to employment scams every year, with $2 billion in direct losses annually.”

So, here, our readers will read the real story of a victim who escapes from deception. For this, she has given credit to her bank. Let’s read her story, and how she was framed. Also, the victim has provided her email screen shorts for proof.

Job Scammers never asked her social security

There are many stories, that say social security numbers are the main thing for scammers, and people can identify them. But this statement is not true in every case. In this case, the scammers never asked for her social security number or any other personal account information. Then how they planned for a scam?

Here is the Job Offer footage, and it was a scam.

She was offered a good salary

Freelancer Stephanie (changed name of victim) writes for a variety of publications. Even though she’s always busy, she was bored with her job style some time ago. Working alone did not offer her much opportunity to learn. She wanted to be part of a big team, speak with people, and hear their ideas. As a result, she began looking for a full-time job.

It was not uncommon for her to post her resume on many job sites. Several days later, she received an email informing her that her resume had been selected. She was also provided with a complete description of her job and related skills. She was excited because all the required skills matched; this seemed like a dream job. Moreover, this position came with a handsome salary.

As soon as she got this email, she searched for the company name and was able to find related news and other information about the company. This seemed to be a startup that is expanding in the U.S. She talked with her friends about this company and discussed that there was a biochemical company in London that was willing to pay a reasonable amount for this job. She also told her that the company was expanding its branch in the United States. Her friend was not very surprised and said this was an excellent opportunity, and she would have to give a good interview.

All communication was going through only email, she never received a phone call

Stephanie started preparing for the interview.

First, the selection procedures were described professionally via email. Then, from email communication, her interview was set into two parts. The first part belonged to writing, and the second part was training for 3 days. She got a Job code for a Skype video interview.

On the interview day, she logged into her Skype account and followed the described rule. On Skype, the interviewer assigned her a task with a deadline. However, Stephanie did not expect this. She was waiting for the video call, but the way the interviewer confused her with the written questions, she completely ignored the video interview. Instead, the entire questionnaire was asked extensively, and she consisted entirely of written interviews.
After one hour of written chat interview on Skype, she was asked to wait for the result. Again she logged in at the provided time. Finally, the interviewer came on the chat and told her that she had been selected for this role and needed to join three training days. If she succeeds in this part, she will be hired by the company in a full-time position. Otherwise, the company will offer a part-time role.
It sounded a bit strange, but there was no way to doubt as no money had been demanded or any personal information had been taken yet. There was a lot of activity going on virtually and quickly. The next day, she received an offer letter by email. The recruiter asked her to sign it and send it back within 3 hours. Stephanie did it accordingly.

Once again, Stephanie received an email with 1st training work attached. The rewriting and presentation of many technical papers were required. The schedule was set again at this point, and Stephanie completed all requirements. The whole process looked surreal. Stephen was very happy and felt energized to join a new company and training. After this job is done, the job scammer asked her to share her home address for other communication, and related delivery. Also, she said that the company representative will come to her home address for other documents sign-up.

Here is her word- “You’ll be meeting with one of the Company’s Rep. ROSE CARPENTER, She will call you to set up an appointment with you after you have completed your one-week training. She will bring with her some paperwork such as Tax documents, 410K, Staff ID paperwork, etc. You’ll go through them and endorse them where necessary. This happens immediately after your full home office is set up and the one-week training is certified successful.”

Stephanie did not find it normal, but she thought that this company was based in London and maybe they had some different rules of their own. Also, she thought that, in work-from-home culture, maybe it is required to take proof of real identity. So, she shared her home address.

This is the Job Offer Letter she got

Now, the tricky times had come

Following the first and second day of training, she received an email stating that she must have a device and software set up to complete the training. The message was, “You’ll be needing the above materials to set up your home office/workstation, the Company will cover the financial aspect of setting up your home workstation both Hardware and Software, within the first 3 days of training you will receive further instructions on how to set up the home office equipment’s I’ll also be here to provide you with further guidelines when needed.” Therefore, the $4,880 check has already been sent.

She got a FedEx Delivery

On the 3rd day, Stephanie got a FedEx packet. As she was thinking that Office Laptop would arrive, here was the amount of the check. She communicated with Christine, who had been speaking with her since the first day. Stephanie asked about the amount uses. Then Scammer-Christine said- “It is for Laptop, and other materials purchasing amount. Go quickly to the bank, and deposit the check, and take a receipt from the bank.”

Stephanie’s brows shriveled – she wondered what the heck is such a rush. He told Christine that it is not possible right now, I will submit it tomorrow. But scammer- Christine said- “Checks take 24 hours to clear, and the rest of the training has to be done tomorrow. So, you have to go bank today.” But Stephanie denied going bank directly. She submitted the check through the bank app and told to Christine. Christine’s words now sounded less warm. The status of the check was pending for 15 days when she asked about it.

Again, scammer, Christine said that tomorrow she is sending another check which if deposited directly in the bank, it will clear soon. The next day, the check arrived at 11:00 am. Stephanie informed Christine about the next step. Then, Christine said-” Proceed to the bank and have it deposited into your account. When that is done funds will be made available tomorrow morning Come back home with a copy of the deposit receipt too.”

She was suspicious, and also accepted that she would go to the bank today. In the previous conversation, Christine asked, “In which bank do you have an account?” 

Stephanie said, “It is Chase Bank.”

Christine asked- “Did you ever use Zelle’s money transfer?”

Stephanie answered- “No.”

Then, Christine told her that ” The money will appear in the account after 24 hours when you will deposit it. But you have to set up your home office today. We are sending someone to deliver all pieces of equipment. So, you can use your Zelle app, and transfer the money from your account. The check I have sent will be deposited tomorrow.”

There was no doubt in Stephanie’s mind that this was a messy situation. She said that there is no money in her account, from where should I give it?

Then the scammer made fun of her response, and said, very good! Have an account in the bank, and no money? Ok, just transfer $1000 for now.

Now, at this point Stephanie was furious, she said, “I can’t pay you. I have to go to the bank to deposit the check first, and she left immediately.”
She went to the Bank immediately and her check was refused by the bank when she presented it to them. Because the check was not valid, her account had been placed on hold for security reasons. After that, she message Christine, that she gave a false check to her. But Christine was offline. She never answered her, and all chat disappeared the moment after this message.

So, Christine was a job scammer and tried to theft money through false check sending. Stephenie would have lost her $5000 today if the bank had deposited the first check based on her good credit. In this fraud case, Stephenie gives a credit to her bank for saving her money from frauds, however, her checking account had been closed by the bank for the reason, of “putting the bank at risk.”

If you are a victim of job scams, you can file the report on the link below.

• Better Business Bureau – BBB.org or BBB.org/scamtracker.
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – reportfraud.ftc.gov or call 877-FTC-Help.
• Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) – ic3.gov/complaint.
• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre – antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or 1-888-495-8501.

Better Business Bureau‘s study says, “A new generation of scammers advertise jobs on the web and social media, or reach out to those who have posted resumes on job boards. These changes increase the risks of identity theft. They also have resulted in a big increase in scams that involve reshipping goods purchased with stolen credit cards. Other common scams promise jobs but provide victims with counterfeit checks, asking them to send money to a supposed third party for equipment to perform the job.”

Here is the link, you can read more through statics. https://www.bbb.org/all/scamstudies/jobscams/jobscamsfullstudy

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