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Help me find the "catch" with this "job"
ringwaldhaze
Posts: 5 Forumite
Hello,
This will be a long one. Thanks in advance to anyone who has the patience to go the through the whole thing...
Recently, I replied to an ad in my local paper about some "freelance work." I don't have the ad with me anymore, but it was pretty short and said something along the lines of "3-5 hours a week, no experience needed, and no skills." The "sounds too good to be true part" was when it said it pays £320 p/w.
So I replied and received this email:
Thanks for the email.
Your information has been received and processed into our database and you have been accepted as our survey agent.
Your first assignment will be the survey of a Western Union outlet while the 2nd assignment will be on Restaurant dining and the 3rd assignment will be a MoneyGram survey.
All the outlet's addresses will be sent to you once you have received your assignment funds.
Your Secret Evaluation will take place in a STEP-BY-STEP manner:
1)The funds needed for you to carry out your assignment/task will be sent to you once your details have been received.
2)From the assignment funds, you will have to deduct your commission of £320.
3)After receiving the assignment funds, we'll send you the name and address of whom the transfer will be made to.
4)Your first assignment will be at a western union outlet.
5)You will have to record the time on which it took you to have your assignment completed.
6)You will have to provide me with the name of the cashier which attended to you.
7)You will be paid £320 per assignment and it will be increased depending on your performance.
8)You will be receiving 2-3 assignments per week depending on how fast you are in completing your assignments.
9)You will have to keep a comprehensive report on every activity you carry out during your assignment.
10)No special skills are required.
11)This job will not disturb your current schedule.
12)This job only requires 3-5 hours per week.
13)All assignments are within your local area/area of choice.
14)After completing 3 assignments, you will be able to choose between a Permanent,Temporary & Fixed Term Work Contract.
Please, confirm to me that you did receive and understand this message so that we can proceed to the next step.
NB: You should make sure you check your email at least 2-3 times a day to read updates from us.
I look forward to working with you.
So I went ahead and confirmed my address. I thought it was kinda strange, but I figured with a little more information the "catch" would become evident and up until they started asking for my bank details or something I was fine (note: they haven't asked for my details at any point yet).
Today I received a cheque worth €4810 which I am to deposit into my own account and use for the Western Union "assignment" mentioned in the email. There is a stamp on the envelope that leads to mybills.ie
What should I do, MoneySavingExperts?
This will be a long one. Thanks in advance to anyone who has the patience to go the through the whole thing...
Recently, I replied to an ad in my local paper about some "freelance work." I don't have the ad with me anymore, but it was pretty short and said something along the lines of "3-5 hours a week, no experience needed, and no skills." The "sounds too good to be true part" was when it said it pays £320 p/w.
So I replied and received this email:
Thanks for the email.
Your information has been received and processed into our database and you have been accepted as our survey agent.
Your first assignment will be the survey of a Western Union outlet while the 2nd assignment will be on Restaurant dining and the 3rd assignment will be a MoneyGram survey.
All the outlet's addresses will be sent to you once you have received your assignment funds.
Your Secret Evaluation will take place in a STEP-BY-STEP manner:
1)The funds needed for you to carry out your assignment/task will be sent to you once your details have been received.
2)From the assignment funds, you will have to deduct your commission of £320.
3)After receiving the assignment funds, we'll send you the name and address of whom the transfer will be made to.
4)Your first assignment will be at a western union outlet.
5)You will have to record the time on which it took you to have your assignment completed.
6)You will have to provide me with the name of the cashier which attended to you.
7)You will be paid £320 per assignment and it will be increased depending on your performance.
8)You will be receiving 2-3 assignments per week depending on how fast you are in completing your assignments.
9)You will have to keep a comprehensive report on every activity you carry out during your assignment.
10)No special skills are required.
11)This job will not disturb your current schedule.
12)This job only requires 3-5 hours per week.
13)All assignments are within your local area/area of choice.
14)After completing 3 assignments, you will be able to choose between a Permanent,Temporary & Fixed Term Work Contract.
Please, confirm to me that you did receive and understand this message so that we can proceed to the next step.
NB: You should make sure you check your email at least 2-3 times a day to read updates from us.
I look forward to working with you.
So I went ahead and confirmed my address. I thought it was kinda strange, but I figured with a little more information the "catch" would become evident and up until they started asking for my bank details or something I was fine (note: they haven't asked for my details at any point yet).
Today I received a cheque worth €4810 which I am to deposit into my own account and use for the Western Union "assignment" mentioned in the email. There is a stamp on the envelope that leads to mybills.ie
What should I do, MoneySavingExperts?
0
Comments
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file it.
Odds are you bank the cheque, send them their cut of balance of the assignment fee or whatever you or they choose to call it.
A week of so later their cheque bounces, and you are out of pocket.0 -
Where's the catch?!
It's staring you right in the face. As above, you'll bank the cheque, pay the remaining money back and find that the cheque bounces 6 days later.0 -
In relation to the cheque, take it to the bank and explain what has happened to the cashier. If the bank is aware that there's a scam going on in the area they will alert local branches to keep an eye out for these cheques.0
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Thanks for getting back to me.
I would've waited until the cheque cleared before I did anything though. Wouldn't that mean I'd know if it was legit?
Or is the scam that some people wouldn't wait for that to happen? I fully admit to ignorance in these situations...In relation to the cheque, take it to the bank and explain what has happened to the cashier. If the bank is aware that there's a scam going on in the area they will alert local branches to keep an eye out for these cheques.
Will do. Thanks again.0 -
Funds can still be withdrawn after a cheque has cleared!0
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ringwaldhaze wrote: »Thanks for getting back to me.
I would wait until the cheque cleared before I did anything. Wouldn't that mean I'd know if it was legit?
Or is the scam that some people wouldn't wait for that to happen? I fully admit to ignorance in these situations...
Will do. Thanks again.
Just stay clear of it altogether.
If something sounds to good to be true, it usually is.0 -
ringwaldhaze wrote: »Recently, I replied to an ad in my local paper about some "freelance work." I don't have the ad with me anymore, but it was pretty short and said something along the lines of "3-5 hours a week, no experience needed, and no skills." The "sounds too good to be true part" was when it said it pays £320 p/w.
The two bits in bold are all you need to know - no-one pays that money for a few hours of unskilled work.0 -
warwicktiger wrote: »Funds can still be withdrawn after a cheque has cleared!
I see. Even after 14 days?
I'm a little embarrassed this is all so obvious. I guess internet anonymity isn't all that bad for situations like this...0 -
In fact, I didn't take on board that the cheque is in euros and I think, but don't quote me on this, that it can be returned up to 6 weeks later0
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Yes. Ring your bank and ask them a what if question.0
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