Over the years, Craigslist has slowly become a haven for spammers and scam artist. I have responded to job postings before that have just led me into a scams. Of course I've never actually been swindled to the point of losing money, but I have been close. The other day I came across a very interesting situation. I responded to a job posting for a housekeeper position that was paying $40 an hour. The posting was local to me, and mentioned part time. My wife doesn't work, but she wouldn't mind picking up something like housekeeping.
The response I got was odd, and immediately set off alarms of a possible scam. Here's the response I received:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Applicant ,
Thanks for your response and I am glad to read from you regarding the House
Kepper Job. My name is Jack Spencer and My wife' s name is Amy. It is my
pleasure to bring to your notice that my wife Amy is 4 months pregnant with
our first baby . she is relocating to your City from the Republic of
Ireland. she will be coming there to work on contract basis with United
States Environmental Protection Agency on a private research work So i need
someone who would help her take care of the house by doing some house work
while she is at work, As the doctor advised her that she does not need to
stress her self much, Someone that will also help with running some errands
for her.
ABOUT PAYMENT:
------------------
I will be offering you $500 weekly, and she will be needing your services
for 5 hours at any suitable time of yours, Monday through Friday for
12weeks.I believe you are fit for this position in as much you will prove
yourself to be a reliable and good person. Payment arrangement will be done
by me as i will not want you to disturb my wife for the payment.
You will be receiving an over draft cashiers check.Once you receive the
check, you will get the check cashed at your bank, deduct your first week's
pay which is $500 and then wire the remaining balance via western union to
my wife's travel's agent for all her travelling expenses, so we can make a
good and comfortable arrangement for her arrival.
*
**
*NOTE:I will also instruct the Landlord of the house to mail the keys of the
apartment to you so that you can do all other necessary preparations and
cleaning before my wife arrives. All i need from you is total honesty and
sincerity. I know you will be committed to the work, You will also have a
nice period of working with my wife, as she is very friendly and kind.
Kindly email me back if you have read and understood the duties required
from this house keeper position and your are ready to proceed .
Regards
Dr Jack Spencer
Dear Applicant ,
Thanks for your response and I am glad to read from you regarding the House
Kepper Job. My name is Jack Spencer and My wife' s name is Amy. It is my
pleasure to bring to your notice that my wife Amy is 4 months pregnant with
our first baby . she is relocating to your City from the Republic of
Ireland. she will be coming there to work on contract basis with United
States Environmental Protection Agency on a private research work So i need
someone who would help her take care of the house by doing some house work
while she is at work, As the doctor advised her that she does not need to
stress her self much, Someone that will also help with running some errands
for her.
ABOUT PAYMENT:
------------------
I will be offering you $500 weekly, and she will be needing your services
for 5 hours at any suitable time of yours, Monday through Friday for
12weeks.I believe you are fit for this position in as much you will prove
yourself to be a reliable and good person. Payment arrangement will be done
by me as i will not want you to disturb my wife for the payment.
You will be receiving an over draft cashiers check.Once you receive the
check, you will get the check cashed at your bank, deduct your first week's
pay which is $500 and then wire the remaining balance via western union to
my wife's travel's agent for all her travelling expenses, so we can make a
good and comfortable arrangement for her arrival.
*
**
*NOTE:I will also instruct the Landlord of the house to mail the keys of the
apartment to you so that you can do all other necessary preparations and
cleaning before my wife arrives. All i need from you is total honesty and
sincerity. I know you will be committed to the work, You will also have a
nice period of working with my wife, as she is very friendly and kind.
Kindly email me back if you have read and understood the duties required
from this house keeper position and your are ready to proceed .
Regards
Dr Jack Spencer
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now being the weirdo that I am, I added this persons email to my Skype just out of curiosity. A profile immediately popped up. I clicked on the contact at an attempt to engage the spammer in conversation. My attempt was a success, here's how the conversation went.
Me: Hello
Vampire: Hi
Me: I received your email.
Vampire: Huh?
Me: About the job position you had posted. Is this Dr. Spencer?
Vampire: Oh yeah! Hi were you interested?
Me: Very, so what did you need from me to get started?
Vampire: We need a couple things from you before we get started. Do you have a bank account? What state are you in? How old are you?
Wait a minute, lets hit the pause button. Did he just ask me what state I'm in? I thought his wife was moving local to me? Doesn't he know what area he posted the ad in? Not suspicious at all.
Me: Yes I have a bank account. I'm in California, isn't that where your wife is moving? I'm 32, my wife is the one looking for work.
Vampire: Are you a trustworthy person? Hows your credit?
Me: Of course. My credit is excellent!
Vampire: Ok lets get started with the account number, routing number, and your date of birth. I hope you are a good person because I can't afford you to screw me out of my money.
At this point, I had enough of the game.
Me: How stupid do you think I am? Why would I give you that info?
Vampire: This isn't a scam! I'm the one trusting you with my money!! Do you want the job or not?
Me: I reported your email address, and your ad. I know what you're really up to, I'm not stupid.
Vampire: **** you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Me: Who are you really?
Vampire: I have tasted the flesh of fallen angels!!!!!!!!
Me: What the heck?
He then logged off and never signed back on again. I thought the whole experience was pretty funny. I can't believe there are people out there who are willing to do anything, including risking jail time, for money.
Hit the streets on your belly and crawl.