Administrative Assistant ad on Craigslist

[Arnold]

Welcome to Scamwarners, and thanks for posting his new email address.

Just to let everyone know. Mark is still at it in September.

There's no reason for him to stop, unfortunately.

[julien]

This scammer is still at it in October. I got the same e-mail as the ones previously posted. He had listed it as a Data Entry/Typing job.

[uhlaneuh]

I got it too, his email is from "Rockitg online" (exact email: <[email protected]>)or something similar to that, so if you see the advertisement on craigslist, report it and let them know the reason. This is really frustrating, ive been trying to find a job for forever and this is the crap i keep getting.

[k8e2107]

I replied to this post on Craigslist and I have been e-mailing someone named mark Daniels. I reluctantly gave him my address and I just received a check in the mail!! I'm freaking out because it is not a small check. Is this still a scam? Yes, he does have bad grammar and his e-mail does not match his name. I just don't know what to do with the check now. I'm trying to figure out if its real!

Please give me advice!

[Dotti]

It is a scam. If you try to cash the check, it may be a good enough fake to initially fool the bank--but weeks or months down the road, when they discover the fake, you would be held responsible, both for the money, and possibly for the crime of check fraud.

Obviously that is not what you want, so you have a few options.

1) shred the check
2) bring it to your local police department, with the emails and the envelope if you still have it (Most likely they won't do much with it, to be honest)
3)Write FAKE in very large letters in permanent ink across the front of the check, so that it is very clear that nobody can possibly attempt to cash it. Then keep it as a reminder/educational tool about scams.

As far as the scammer goes, either (a) drop him without a word, and block his email address/messenger ID or (b) tell him that the bank told you the check was fake, and that if he contacts you again, you will call the police. (note the reason for telling him it was the bank, and not telling him you found out here--if he knows his info is listed here, he will likely change his fake name/info, and continue his operation with the new identity. We'd rather he keep operating under the same identity, as more people will be warned.)

He may harass you about the check (that's why you should block him), or even threaten to report you to the FBI or police, etc. It's all lies. He is in Africa, and he is not coming near you. You have done nothing wrong at this point--you haven't tried to cash the check.

[sjneto]

Hi,
Mark Daniels is on Craigslist again. I've received the same kind of emails from him. I decide to check for scam because of this paragraph on the email I've just received:

"I am glad you are willing to work with me and i promise to be a good boss.I am also glad on the commitment in working. Have Gone through your Resume / Application and makes some Calls and get to see you can work with me am being told you can be trusth with Money."

I've never have given to him any contact number for him to call. There is no way he could verify I can be trust with money.

I wish we could have a way to make this guy stop scamming. Like everyone that fell for this, I just need a job.

Sam

[Camsmommy04]

I just got nearly the same email as you all. I feel like an idiot. And more than a little wary...

Thanks for your interests in the Administrative Assistant!!!, I will deeply appreciate all genuine efforts to help me monitor and keep up to date with all my activities. I most very often get my hands occupied because am working with many companies both states and outside,so it is imperative for me to have a worthy assistant who can monitor and keep me up to date with my activities. As my assistant, your activities amongst other things will include: Make travel arrangements and submit expenses for Attorneys Order office supplies, Running personal errands,Check or Credit Card Processing Filing documents,faxing,printing and typing letters Web research, Internet search skills and posting ads Quality communication etiquette skills and good organizational skills Serious sense of humor required and mandatory to work with me Ability to handle highly sensitive and confidential information Perform duties with accuracy, quality, and integrity You can only apply for this position if you own a printer and personal computer. Basic wage is $550 a week.. More About me: My name is Mark Daniels , i have a family of 3 and i am a Realtor and Lawyer.I travel alot,hence the reason why i need an assistant to handle affairs for me on the home front when i am away on business which is usually quite often. This position is home-based and flexible you can be in any location,working with me is basically about instructions and following them, my only fear is that I may come at you impromptu sometimes, I need someone who can be able to meet up with my i rregular timings.There is also a very sensitive issue on trust and accountability which I believe will resolve itself as time goes on. This is only an introductory e-mail, as time goes on we should be able to arrange a proper meeting to get things started officially. I do have a number of things you could help me with this week if you will be available for me. This can act as a stable foundation to our working relationship. Note:This position is home base office work you can be in any location and work with me from your home. Let me know your interest if you are ready to work with me from your home Mon-Fri @ 10am-1pm.. i want you to Fill the Application Below so i can attach it to my File as you have fully been employed by me . So Fill This Application And Email It Back Here Asap!!! First Name:______________________ Middle Name:___________________________ Last Name:_____________________________ Street Address & Apt Num:___________________________ City, State, Zip Code:______________________________________ Sex:_______Age:________ Nationality:_________________________ Cell Phone Number (__________________________________ Home Phone Number(__________________________________ Email:____________________________ Current Job:____________________________ Hope to hear from you again. Mark Daniels.

[speedee98]

I received the same email from this creep. The thing that worried me was that when I submitted my resume it has my home address on there and I have three children to be concerned about. I just hope they can some how stop this guy. I was very leary about the emails he sent me because his grammar was HORRIBLE! He told me he was a realtor and lawyer. I work for a lawyer at the present time so my boss and I searched his name and there is NO Mark Daniels as being an attorney in the state of MN. Being leary I emailed Mark back asking him to set up a time to interview and asked him where his realtors office was and what area of law he practiced (knowing I would not receive another email from him after that) which I did not. I just wish there was a way that they could catch the person responsible for doing this.

[Katharina]

Hi speedee,
I am not an experienced scam warner - but I don't think the scammer will come after your family when he realizes that you dropped the contact. Unfortunately, he will just go after fresh victims.
Best wishes
Katharina

[Michael]

Katharina is correct. The chances that scammers are coming to take revenge just because you realised it was a scam are non-existant. Just don't contact him anymore and he'll move on to the next person. I'm glad to read you realised it was a scam before it was too late

[sifty]

This guy is at it under the craigslist add: "Executive Assistant"

"An Attorney is currently looking for an Administrative Assistant. Please review the following job description and Minimum requirements. "

Now calling themselves a lady, [email protected]

Its posted in a lot of craigslists, just google that email

My wife applied, got the response email about a "Trial work week" and "Sending stuff to ophanage"...obviously the fake check would come, and bounce after we had spent money.

Whats super scum is that the scammer would probably invent a bunch of fake work to do before asking for the monetary scam, after a sort of working relationship had been set up.
Craigslist should auto-flag postings like this. Don't the scammers have to pay money to post on CL, e.g. use a Visa/credit card? So if the same visa # is used in Anchorage as well as Texas, isn't that a little weird?

[GomerPyle]

I don't think it costs them anything sifty and if it did, they aren't short of cc details to use.

The more interesting thing is how they get the counterfeit cheques posted out. Not many go out from Africa, which would look suspicious, and they either use their associates abroad, or interestingly they recruit other victims to print cheques for them so that they run two scams alongside each other. Both victims think they're performing a useful and worthwhile job, when in reality, one is being tricked in to scamming the other, then sending the money to the real scammer abroad.

Scammers often work in large groups in internet cafes and they will co-operate with each other to supply cheques to a victim of another scammer who is being set up.

Scammers are like a plague of locusts and flood any place they spot an opportunity for scamming. Many sites should take more care as I believe some that were begun as genuine honest endeavours have been virtually overrun.

[JMSabatino]

I actually just received a check from him and fell for this scam this morning.I do not have a bank account and have been looking for a job for a long time. I went to the check cashing place and they called to verify the check and it turns out its a scam. Luckily I did not cash the check and I'm not sure what to do now. Christmas is almost here and I can't afford presents for my daughter and can barely afford food. This is horrible.

[JMSabatino]

I have his phone numbers, email address and correspondence with him.I have the address where he wanted me to send the money via western union and his telephone numbers are in dubai and in Georgia, United States. The check was written with a Capital One logo on it and from a "client" here in the states as well. I was hoping it wasn't a scam but the woman who was looking in to cashing the check told me that 99% of the time when you have these checks in these amounts and the whole situation I explained to her that it's a scam. They have not called to verify the account but I don't know what to do.

[Arnold]

Welcome to Scamwarners. I suggest you email the scammer, tell him you were told the check is fake, and not to email you again.
If it's any consolation, your situation would have been a lot worse if you had been able to bank the check and send some of the proceeds back to the scammer by Western Union.