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Person Fails To See Red Flags That They Are Being Scammed For $2.2k With Fake Employment Scam
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Person Fails To See Red Flags That They Are Being Scammed For $2.2k With Fake Employment Scam

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The online world is full of scams. It seems that wherever you go in the digital realm, at some point, there’s going to be someone trying to swindle money out of your pocket. The sad part about all this is that people keep falling for various scams all the time, and the scammers themselves keep getting better and better at it. Thankfully, the internet is also a great resource that informs people about scams and how to avoid them.

One online forum user recently posted about a scam they, thankfully enough, managed to dodge, but just barely. The user thought they were acing an interview process that could land them a remote job. At some point, however, the application process began to seem rather strange. Scroll down for the whole story.

More info: Reddit

There’s always people out there on the internet who just want to reach into your wallet

Image credits: Money Dollar

People fall for online scams every day. From the now-famous “Nigerian prince,” to more obscure occasions of digital trickery, all scams have some things in common, but the most important one is that they do real damage to real people. A couple of wrong clicks could easily lead to great losses. On the other hand, the internet—a tool used to distribute and execute these scams, is also the first line of defense against them. In the case of Reddit user al666in, they contributed to that line of defense by sharing their story on the r/Scams subreddit so that other people wouldn’t fall for it.

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The Reddit user begins their story by pointing out that this was the most elaborate scam they had encountered

Image credits: al666in

The user describes how the scam started out, and comments on the “incompetence” of the “recruiter.” In reality, this “recruiter” was actually fairly competent, but not at the job the user thought they were doing. At this point, the fraudsters had the user in their grip, funneling them deeper into the expensive lie.

The forum user was convinced that everything was going according to plan

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Image credits: al666in

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The fraudster indirectly managed to convince the user that they were in control of the situation when, in reality, that wasn’t the case. The user was completely unaware of the multiple red flags that had appeared, and there were even more to come.

Now al666in begins to make fun of their own series of oversights

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Image credits: al666in

Thankfully enough, this story has a happy ending. The scammers didn’t get their money, the user learned a lesson and shared their story on the internet so that others wouldn’t face the same situation. All’s well that ends well. But all of this goes to show that people should be on the lookout for online fraud, even if communication occurs on reputable channels and seems legitimate.

The comments were very supportive of and thankful to the user for sharing their story

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Long story short, if some things go well, or even too well online when it comes to financial gain, you should definitely be at least slightly suspicious.

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Žygimantas Snarskis

Žygimantas Snarskis

Author, Community member

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Žygimantas is a Bored Panda writer and content creator. He has recently graduated with a degree in Journalism & Communications from Cardiff University and has a professional background in Public Relations. During his spare time Žygimantas makes electronic music, codes, tinkers with electronics and aspires to be a great bass player.

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Žygimantas Snarskis

Žygimantas Snarskis

Author, Community member

Žygimantas is a Bored Panda writer and content creator. He has recently graduated with a degree in Journalism & Communications from Cardiff University and has a professional background in Public Relations. During his spare time Žygimantas makes electronic music, codes, tinkers with electronics and aspires to be a great bass player.

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Mad Dragon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At no point should you EVER give money to an employer. If there is a legit expense (which rarely is the case), they can deduct it from your paycheck.

Karis Ravenhill
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a common scam, especially on Craigslist. People contact you to buy something from you or send you a check for something, you think everything's kosher. Well one of the reasons we don't use checks in the UK anymore is because it's so easy to commit fraud with them (Anna Sorokin for example). The scammer sends you a check for $2000, but the item cost is $1000, so they ask you to send a check back to them for the extra value. You send them a check/Venmo/Zelle, it clears, but their original check bounces. Congrats, you just lost $1000. This scam has been around for AGES. Can't believe OP hadn't heard of it yet, or figured out that an employee NEVER gives money to their employer...that's not how jobs work.

NsG
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

General rule of thumb - if someone asks for money, ask (to yourself if you feel uncomfortable confronting them in the moment) what are you getting in return? Is what you are getting a fair value exchange? Oh, and no job should EVER ask you to spend any of your own money at any point.

Gaby Almodovar
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Last moment dodged bullet!.Good, the OP had just in time the Oh-fúcking-shíiiit! moment. Generally speaking, if a job requires you to invest your own money before the proper work even start.... so, that's not a real job.

Jo Choto
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whenever anyone you don't know asks you to spend money, or do something with your financial accounts, just stop right there. There's no circumstance where strangers should ever be telling you what to do with your money, ever.

Suzi Q
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You didn't pay at the end so you shouldn't be embarrassed. Thank you for posting.

Lisa
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still can’t believe that cheques are used! I’ve only ever written a cheque when I lived in the US, I’ve occasionally gotten one when I’ve closed a credit card and there was money remaining but besides that, bank transfers all the way

Cyndielouwhoo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even if they didn't send the money, I wonder how much personal info they gave during the "interview" process... better watch out for possible identity theft, definitely should notify credit report agencies in a situation like this.

Wang Zhuang
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, the same thing almost happened to me a few years ago, also on Upwork! But fortunately, I figured out it was a scam before it ever got to the money stage. It really sucks that people like this really take advantage of your desperation for a job.

Requiem
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even before I was in Security and Investigations Id see fake work on job sites and even get responses from them reaching out to me with work I was totally not qualified for. Ive always had detective skills and would check out a place the day before the interview and find out of its a scam. Always was, you NEVER give money to an employer, f**k sakes

GenericPanda09
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most of the stories I've heard about workers having to pay for items necessary to their work come from the US. It's very very rare here in the UK to have to provide your own uniform/essentials if you're a full employee of the company. Even in those rare cases I know of a legit company doing it here in the UK they'd provide the kit one day one and it be taken out in manageable installments of your subsequent pay packets. Never ever send cash to someone purporting to be employing you, you'll be in the right far more times than you're in the wrong.

alloutbikes@yahoo.com
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We keep getting calls from our "utility company". They have to check when I ask who that is. They say we have been over charged, are due a refund and a 35% deduction. I usually tell them it's great apply it to the next bill. Hate scammers.

L Schlissel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this happened to me a few years ago from a post on indeed, was suspicious when they asked for some crazy equipment and to buy it directly from "their store" so I called them out on it. They left the chat as soon as I asked if it was a scam looool

Perfumista Perfumista
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They tried it on me too. I think the posting was allegedly for Charles River on Zip Recruiter. Something smelled funny so I called Charles River. I was not their first caller on this.

Freder
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This person is an idiot to fall for this especially after so many obvious signs.

Mad Dragon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At no point should you EVER give money to an employer. If there is a legit expense (which rarely is the case), they can deduct it from your paycheck.

Karis Ravenhill
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a common scam, especially on Craigslist. People contact you to buy something from you or send you a check for something, you think everything's kosher. Well one of the reasons we don't use checks in the UK anymore is because it's so easy to commit fraud with them (Anna Sorokin for example). The scammer sends you a check for $2000, but the item cost is $1000, so they ask you to send a check back to them for the extra value. You send them a check/Venmo/Zelle, it clears, but their original check bounces. Congrats, you just lost $1000. This scam has been around for AGES. Can't believe OP hadn't heard of it yet, or figured out that an employee NEVER gives money to their employer...that's not how jobs work.

NsG
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

General rule of thumb - if someone asks for money, ask (to yourself if you feel uncomfortable confronting them in the moment) what are you getting in return? Is what you are getting a fair value exchange? Oh, and no job should EVER ask you to spend any of your own money at any point.

Gaby Almodovar
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Last moment dodged bullet!.Good, the OP had just in time the Oh-fúcking-shíiiit! moment. Generally speaking, if a job requires you to invest your own money before the proper work even start.... so, that's not a real job.

Jo Choto
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whenever anyone you don't know asks you to spend money, or do something with your financial accounts, just stop right there. There's no circumstance where strangers should ever be telling you what to do with your money, ever.

Suzi Q
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You didn't pay at the end so you shouldn't be embarrassed. Thank you for posting.

Lisa
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still can’t believe that cheques are used! I’ve only ever written a cheque when I lived in the US, I’ve occasionally gotten one when I’ve closed a credit card and there was money remaining but besides that, bank transfers all the way

Cyndielouwhoo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even if they didn't send the money, I wonder how much personal info they gave during the "interview" process... better watch out for possible identity theft, definitely should notify credit report agencies in a situation like this.

Wang Zhuang
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, the same thing almost happened to me a few years ago, also on Upwork! But fortunately, I figured out it was a scam before it ever got to the money stage. It really sucks that people like this really take advantage of your desperation for a job.

Requiem
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even before I was in Security and Investigations Id see fake work on job sites and even get responses from them reaching out to me with work I was totally not qualified for. Ive always had detective skills and would check out a place the day before the interview and find out of its a scam. Always was, you NEVER give money to an employer, f**k sakes

GenericPanda09
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most of the stories I've heard about workers having to pay for items necessary to their work come from the US. It's very very rare here in the UK to have to provide your own uniform/essentials if you're a full employee of the company. Even in those rare cases I know of a legit company doing it here in the UK they'd provide the kit one day one and it be taken out in manageable installments of your subsequent pay packets. Never ever send cash to someone purporting to be employing you, you'll be in the right far more times than you're in the wrong.

alloutbikes@yahoo.com
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We keep getting calls from our "utility company". They have to check when I ask who that is. They say we have been over charged, are due a refund and a 35% deduction. I usually tell them it's great apply it to the next bill. Hate scammers.

L Schlissel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this happened to me a few years ago from a post on indeed, was suspicious when they asked for some crazy equipment and to buy it directly from "their store" so I called them out on it. They left the chat as soon as I asked if it was a scam looool

Perfumista Perfumista
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They tried it on me too. I think the posting was allegedly for Charles River on Zip Recruiter. Something smelled funny so I called Charles River. I was not their first caller on this.

Freder
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This person is an idiot to fall for this especially after so many obvious signs.

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