No doubt many of you have received "job offers" from companies telling you they need agents in the U.S. to receive check payments for them, cash the checks, and then forward them the money (keeping a fee for yourself). Of course, the checks are fake, but generally good enough to get initially cleared by your bank, so you cash them, send the money, then a week later your bank is telling you the check is fraudulent and demanding the money back.

Well, looks like they've either figured out how to make fake PayPal transactions or they're phishing with a job offer, because I just got an e-mail for the same scheme, but where I'd withdraw money sent to my Paypal Account and send it by Western Union. Here's the mail...

date: Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 1:53 PM
subject: NEW & HOT JOB OFFERS

MoneyGators INC.

International Escrow Company provides the unique opportunity for job.
This is not marketing, no initial expenses!
Don't miss your chance to make an extra profit.

Our vacancies

We are an escrow company that specializes in sales since 1999.We are looking for financial assistants who will be responsible for accepting payments from clients through PayPal since this is the most popular method of payment, but is not available in several regions of Europe. PayPal protects sensitive information using state-of-the-art encryption, so your data is not available to anyone. PayPal's risk models help detect and predict fraudulent transactions-before they affect the business. PayPal also fights chargebacks. You can make 10% commission from every transfer you will receive through your PayPal account in relation to our business. The rest needs to be transferred to our company's representative by Western Union, all Western Union and PayPal fees are paid by us. On average you will be making 800 USD a week. To begin working together we will need your resume and contact information, sent to [e-mail address hidden]
MoneyGators INC.

It may sound safer than the dodgy check schemes because because the money is going through PayPal, but don't be fooled. It isn't. These people are trying to rob you. Do not reply to them, but be sure to forward a copy of the e-mail to spoof@paypal.com.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 25th, 2008 at 4:31 pm and is filed under Techno Thoughts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.