Originally Posted by Tomekia Lloyd
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OLD SCAM IS NOW HOT AGAIN-NOW SPECIFICALLY TARGETING VA'S
Hi Folks,
Please read the information regarding this old scam that has recently began targeting a few of the members here. Although the details of their requests have changed over time, these folks have been studying the VA industry and are now HEAVILY contacting some of the VA companies on this board to lure them into disguised money laundering under the cloak of providing VA services to their "clients".
These people are no longer just working through e-mail.
THEY ARE BOLD ENOUGH TO CONTACT YOU THROUGH PHONE AND PROVIDE THEIR "OFFICE LINE" WHERE THEY ACTUALLY ANSWER.
It seems that they want you to perform services for a "client" (for me an advertising company) of their "consulting company" with a retainer being deposited to you via PayPal, and commission to be transferred to them as you bill against the retainer.
Of course these clients do not exist, the work assigned is fake, and the accounts used for payment of your invoices are either stolen or the funds are from some illegal activity.
PLEASE NOTE, EVEN IF YOU ARE SCAMMED, YOU CAN BE FEDERALLY CHARGED WITH MONEY LAUNDERING FOR PARTICIPATION!
As stated they are now studying our industry and know that there are people who subcontract and refer services for commission legally. Please note the e-mail address because I suspect they will be switching up their game pretty soon.
Thank the Lord my instincts won out and I did not accept the offer after some research. But, I want you all to protect yourself as well.
DO NOT PROVIDE ANY SERVICES TO COMPANIES YOU CANNOT VERIFY THE EXISTENCE OF.
IF POSSIBLE, MAKE SURE THE PAYPAL ACCOUNTS MATCH THE ACTUAL COMPANIES YOU ARE WORKING FOR.
Please see here for the original thread for more of their tactics.
http://www.virtualassistantforums.co...yer-scam-17658
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I remember working to solve a scam game, back in the 90's where the client would ask the contractor to open an account in his/her name to deposit money, (Back then the name wasn't Virtual Assistant, but Office Assistant), they'll keep some monies for commission the rest would be give to the client. This was done by drug cartels, to move their monies freely without getting caught. When the law enforcement caught on, the person with the bank account was left holding the bag, (some were looking at heavy federal time) and the client simply disappear and moved on to someone to get their money through. Remember I worked in Law enforcement before starting my VA practice. Criminals are always improving their game, you have to stay one step ahead. I always say if it feels wrong then it is wrong. If it feel wrong, then research it, it wouldn't hurt.
This isn't new, their just changing their game plan. A scam is scam by any name.