Hi all,

I responded to a job posting in the Denver Post online asking for a virtual assistant. I responded with a brief summation of my company and a link to my site. The following is what I received within hours. My response was...You scammer. Go jump off a building! It just got me sooo upset. I just had to share...

Hello,Thanks for your response to the posting... We are looking to employ a work at home financial assistant/secretary who'll handle billing and handle a full inventory of monthly billings,payments and activities routed through him/her We I need a company assistant/secretary to help payments,live help for customers and keep records of transactions going on,I have to be very mobile,as i need to import and export a lot of furnishing materials as the best of them are actually produced in Europe.We should be handling the whole business on here but having a local secretary handle payments and having many hands on deck has it's advantages,I travel a lot and when a buyer wants to make a purchase when I'm on company errand, he\she has to hold-on till i return to place an order,on the long term.The effect is our customers start sourcing for other suppliers so having a secretary always at hand has it's numerous advantages.We have lost too many deals due to this and I'm trying to put an end to it. We have store in Seattle, WA. We sell products mostly here in US and in Canada.The best form ofpayment is via a traveler checks and money orders as they are readily available and since payments come from a wide range of consumers these means is an easy option for those that prefer the old fashioned cash means and money order way of transaction.Most of the buyers we work with are those we've previously handled successful transactions with,new buyers are verified by me so you have nothing to worry about. The general idea is, you receive the payment from buyers according to their preferred mode of payments directly from theindividual buyer,in your mail and have them cashed at your bank.You send the payment to our suppliers/vendors when I need you to, or directly to the company and your pay is 8% of the amount sent to you. An average transaction is for $2,500.00 and upwards. All charges during cashing,sending of payments and transactioncompletion will be deducted from the balance after you've gotten your pay and not deducted from your pay so your pay is fixed on the amount cashed per transaction.If you can handle as many as 3 transactions per week,but you'll be handling one(1) initially to see how efficiently you can carry your tasks out and complete transactions. On 3 transactions you're sure of nothing less than $500 weekly.The hours are flexible and you can decide when you wanna work,I don't need you online 24/7 just online on a daily basis and check your emails regularly. Working with me will also not disturb your other jobs as I require that applicant only have easy access to the net,be reachable easily and respond/carry out instructions sent as soon as possible.Hope to hear from you and indicate your interest in the position by sending me your full contact details in this format... Full Names... Physical Address...City...,State...Zip code...Cell Number...Home Number...Email Address(Pry & Sec)... Thanks,Miguel Torrez.Chairman/CEO.>

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Sincerely,
Anastacia Prince of Prince Virtual Assistant Services
www.princeva.com

You have to be very careful, I've seen several of these type of scams in our local paper. They look legit, but aren't. You can report scams to the Federal Trade Comission at spam@ftc.org.

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Rebecka Melson ~ Virtual Business Services

Wow! I actually read that whole thing...now I have a headache. It almost sounds legitimate at first, but once you realize how atrocious the grammar is it becomes very suspect. Thanks for sending it on.

I apologize. I should have shared, I received this same email before.. I think it was before I joined the forum.. I was just as annoyed as you.

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Tamika R. Johnson, MBA, Principal
administrative partners, llc
www.administrativepartners.net | http://adminpartners.blogspot.com

I also recieved an email of this type a few years ago, amazing that it is still circulating isn't it? Thank you for sharing and keeping us on our toes.

i responded to an ad on an online job website and got this reply: -- SOUNDS JUST LIKE YOURS, AMAYA!

Hello,
My name is Gary Davis from www.ecplaza.net, my personal webpage is www.daviselectronics.biz I link suppliers who I have personally tested to buyers I can stand for 100%. I source for buyers and suppliers at the same time so I can link them to make mine and the company's profits. On every actual purchase made through administration's linking, I have a 20% profit .I source buyers and supplier within and outside the US. I am constantly on the move organising Seminars and Webinars to bring buyers and suppliers together. I need someone that can complete billings, inoicing and payments on my behalf and get them to the vendors as well as always be on deck to receive payments from my buyers, so the linking is effective and immediate.
The only way I am entitled to the 20% payment is if the actual deal is concluded through me. If the suppliers and buyers go head to head, I am at a loss as they can transact directly with one another without my knowledge. My hard work at sourcing, emailing, conducting webinars and seminars are left to a big loss and I know how difficult it is to source reputable and good suppliers, hardest to source are ready, willing and eager buyers. This position offers you 8%, you're offered a very good pay as transactions are steady, continuous and constant. An average transaction is for $2,500.00 and over and you can handle as many as 3 transactions in a week. The pay is great enough to encourage you to work hard and be efficient while it's more than enough for me to stay in business while encouraging me to source harder and link more.
I travel a lot and when a buyer wants to make a purchase,when I'm on company errand, he\she has to hold-on till I return, to place an order,on the long term. The effect is our customers start sourcing for suppliers on their own, so having an online assistant easily reachable has it's numerous advantages.We have lost too many deals due to this and I'm trying to put an end to it. The best form of payment is via money orders s and direct bank transferas they are readily available and confirmed on the spot, they are not the only means used but they are the best for our process.
Most of the buyers we work with are those we've previously handled successful transactions with, new buyers are verified and confirmed before the linking process occurs. You have nothing to worry about. The modus operanda goes thus; you receive the payment from buyers directly from the individual buyer, in your mail, usually via ups and have them cashed. You send the payment to our suppliers/vendors when I need you to, or directly to the company and your pay is 8% of the amount sent to you.
All charges during cashing,sending of payments and transaction completion will be deducted from the balance after you've gotten your pay and not deducted from your pay so your pay is fixed on the amount cashed per transaction. You can handle as many as 3 or more transactions per week,but you'll be handling one(1) initially to see how efficiently and how quickly you can carry out the completion. On 3 transactions you're sure of nothing less than $600 weekly. The hours are flexible and you can decide when you want to work as you'll be doing initially is cashing the payments and completing the transaction to the supplier. I don't need you online 24/7, just to be online on a daily basis and to at least check your e-mail regularly.
Working with me will also not disturb your other jobs, (If you have any) as I require that applicant only have easy access to the net, be reachable easily
and respond/carry out instructions sent as soon as possible.


10(Ten) most asked Questions.

1.
Quest... Do I have to pay money to get this Job or spend my money in completing it in anyway(s)?
Ans... No! You don't pay a cent to work, you're chosen if I think you're the right match for the Job and you do not spend your money.

2.
Quest... Is there a training period?
Ans... Yes & No. Yeah it's via email and No, it's not nearly a training but a description of duties.

3
Quest...Do you send a W2 form or a 1099 form for tax purposes?
Ans...If you're picked, your tax is handled by the company contractually on a quarterly basis.

4
Quest...It seems so easy, is this real?
Ans...Very many are called, so few chosen. Guess if you sort the applications you'd know it's not easy a position? If you're called YOU must be right for it.


5
Quest...Do I contact the buyers, vendors/suppliers or both?
Ans...NO, you do not. Contacting buyers and vendors require you to have been with me for at least 6months.

6
Quest...Is the maximum number of transactions I can handle 3(three) a week?
Ans...This depends on your output, the harder you work. The more transactions you source yourself. As more buyers are directed to you.


7
Quest...Are Money orders the only payment method and are personal checks used as a payment?
Ans...Other methods have been tried and this is the best method for the linking process I run.


8
Quest...Is there a pay review or the pay is fixed at 8% permanently?
Ans...Over time and transactions, highly efficient assistants get to partner with me, not in rights but in pay, as we adjust and conform to a 10% each, pay structure.


9
Quest...Do you share or sell my personal/contact Informations?
Ans...Your privacy is very much mine. I'll treat your privacy the way I would mine.


10
Quest...Do I handle actual goods paid for, mailings or receive anything in the mail aside the payments sent to me for completion?
Ans...No you do not. You just cash the payments and direct to the right department(Vendor/Supplier).



Please show your continued interest in this position by sending me the following infos(again).

Full names...
Physical Address(No p.o.boxes,ups does not deliver to p.o.boxes)...
Contact Numbers(CELL & Home)...
Email addresses(If you use more than 1)...


Gary Davis.
www.daviselectronics.biz

I always look for spelling and grammer ads, and anytime I hear anything about sending money, I delete.

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Melissa- Owner The Invisible Assistant
"When you can no longer do it all"

Hey guys- I have received those multiple times, esp when I had adds on craigs list. I have started to look for errors in the msg right away, that is normally the first sign. Not to dog gmail but it seems like a lot of scammers have a gmail account like this: gailgrat0024@gmail.com (with numbers following the FAKE name). I also look for people that want your info right off the bat and OF COURSE anyone asking for money.
It turns into such a waste of time when you have to dodge all of the scammers... I have since deleted my adds on craigs list and don't get bothered by them much anymore. Horrible to hear that they are putting adds in the PAPER!!!!
Liz