November 2011

I have a couple of emails addresses and one gets a lot of scammy spam. Here is one that I got this morning (Sunday morning, no less).

Hello,

We are currently seeking to employ individual’s world wide. How would you like to make money by simply driving your car advertising for RED BULL. How it works?

Here’s the basic premise of the “paid to drive” concept: RED BULL seeks people — regular citizens,professional drivers to go about their normal routine as they usually do, only with a big advert for “RED BULL” plastered on your car. The ads are typically vinyl decals, also known as “auto wraps,”that almost seem to be painted on the vehicle, and which will cover any portion of your car’s exterior surface.

What does the company get out of this type of ad strategy? Lots of exposure and awareness. The auto wraps tend to be colorful, eye-catching and attract lots of attention. Plus, it’s a form of advertising with a captive audience,meaning people who are stuck in traffic can’t avoid seeing the wrapped car alongside them. This program will last for 3 months and the minimum you can participate is 1 month.

You will be compensated with $600 per week which is essentially a “rental”payment for letting our company use the space no fee is required from you RED BULL shall provide experts that would handle the advert placing on your car. You will receive an up front payment of $300 inform of check via courier service for accepting to carry this advert on your car.

It is very easy and simple no application fees required contact email along with the following you are interested in these offer.

Full Name:

Address:

City:

State:

Zip code:

Country:

Make of car/ year:

Telephone numbers:

We shall be contacting you as soon as we receive this information.

Kind Regards

Kendra Cole

Hiring Manager, Red Bull™
————-

Now this just sounds wrong! So I looked at the headers. Here is the important part:

Notice that the sender and the reply to address are different. It’s a scam and they will likely respond quite excited to hire you and then you will end up either with identity theft as they will ask for information such as your social security number or social insurance number, your mother’s maiden name and your date of birth. Voila. A new you will appear elsewhere in the world.

Personal Assistant Scam

I got an email from a guy calling himself David Core.

Dear  Applicant,

Hope you’re having a pleasant day today?

You contacted me applying for the position which was advertised. Do
take time to go through this introductory mail and feel free to pass
any questions on.

My profile briefly:

I’m David Core, 52, and a father of 2 wonderful kids, a successful
entrepreneur and investor, a member of the RSD & Co. I’m also a
research journalist and I travel every now and then within and outside
the U.S working on various independent projects, this is why I need
someone who can help keep up to date with all of my activities
especially when I’m away and amidst my busy schedule.

I have had a previous Personal Assistant who has been very commendable
in her activities and who has been part of my life for the past 6
months, she has since moved on with her personal life and it has
affected me in a way. I found her previously on the Career builder
website and I sincerely hope I will be able to find someone again who
will be as efficient as she has been. Please note that you are being
hired only on a personal level. All correspondences would be made and
promptly reported to me personally. The position is part time and
home-based meaning you can work most times from your home as long as
you have a regular internet access. You are also hired on a trial
basis for now until we are able to see how well we fit in, this
however does not affect your weekly wage.

Most of your activities will be carried out locally and most official
packages will be delivered via posts. You will be actively involved in
my personal, business and financial life. In summary, your activities
as my assistant amongst other things will include;

* Acting as an alternative telephone correspondence;
* Running personal errands, supervisions and monitoring;
* Organizing and maintaining diaries, memos and making appointments;
* Dealing with incoming email, faxes and post;
* Carrying out background research and presenting findings;
* A personal reminder for Schedules, programs, flights and keeping me
up to date with them as they come up;
* Arranging travel and accommodation
* Carrying out specific projects and research;
* Taking on some of the my responsibilities and working more closely
with management and other staff related to me;
* Making regular contacts and drop-offs on my behalf.
* Handling and monitoring financial activities.
* Processing and taking charge of weekly payments and purchases.
* You will also be a part of my household and a helping hand to issues
as they arise.
* General clerical activities.

Basic wage is $500 a week.

Any extra personal expenses (transport, gas, etc) incurred by you
while on an errand or otherwise will also be reimbursed by me at the
end of each working week.

This position is very flexible and it is difficult judging the exact
number of hours you will be doing, just bear it in mind that there
will be busier weeks than others with a steady pay. Working with me is
basically about instructions and following them, my only fear is that
I may come at you impromptu sometimes, so I need someone who can be
able to meet up with my irregular timings. There is also a very
sensitive issue on trust, dedication 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’m
currently in England now for a project, however, I do have a number of
things you could help me with immediately, prior to my arrival.

Due to the excessive number of responses to my Ad, do provide the
following details about yourself for my personal record update and to
filter applicants;

Full Names
Address
City
State
Zip Code
Phone Number
Phone Number
Occupation (if any)
Sex
Marital status
Age

I hope you can be available for me immediately before I arrive, it
certainly can act as a stable foundation to our impending working
relationship.Do not reply if you are not interested.

Hope to hear from you again.

Regards,

David Core

I emailed him and we corresponded for a few days and he was going to pay me with money orders. Part of the job involved me making payments and keeping my salary out of the money order he sent me.I insisted on bank transfer and he wanted me to open up a new bank account and provide, among other banking details, my social security number and mother’s maiden name.

Hello Joanne,

I understand how you feel about providing such information at this time but that it what my client asked me to provide.

This is the reason I asked you to setup a new account so you can feel comfortable dealing with me.I provided the name of my company in my second email,probably you did not take note.Its RSD & Co and address is 300 Frank W. Burr Blvd Glenpointe Centre East – Suite 54 Teaneck NJ 07666 United States.

I contacted you to be my PA because I have a very busy schedule so suppose you should feel free dealing with me as I mean no harm.

I would furnish the details you have provided to my client and see what can be done.However,I am sorry for inconveniences caused.

Have a great day.

Talk to you later.

David

When I refused, he insisted and I informed him of some research I had done that not only included the same email but his name as well. He replied:

Hello Joanne,

We didnt meet via craigslist.Whats the reason for the doubt now.I dont seem to understand anymore.I was thinking we were beginning to have a good working relationship,of course there is scam everywhere even your name might be used without your knowledge.God knows I am being honest with you.Truthfully,I wouldnt be bothering myself if I had an alternative but its not easy getting one as competent as yourself.

Why don’t you give me the benefit of doubt.

Have a good day.

David

When I informed him that my lawyer was in contact with the RSD company in Teaneck, he never responded.

But this a.m. on a different email address I get this:

Spring INternational Bank.

NOTE

If it sounds too good to be true, it is. The good news is that I did find this site, http://www.ebolamonkeyman.com, while doing scam research and loved the humor and idiocy of the scammers.

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