CNA job scam? Please help

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

If something sounds too good to be true....

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Upon accepting this position you will receive a check in the mail from a Certified Public Accountant and it must be deposited. The check will be made out in excess to cover the cost of my grandmother’s expenses and will include your first week pay advance. Therefore you must deduct your advance from the check in the amount of $770. A money transfer for the remaining balance must be sent by Western Union to the travel agent whose information will be provided to you once the check has cleared your account.

Yeah that should have been the huge red flag. Typical nigerian 419 scam.

[Joe N635DC]

How this scam works is as follows.

-They give you a (bad) check

-You deposit it

-The bank initally clears the check and you withdrawl money

-You "deduct" "your pay" and forward the balance to the Scammer via an unrecoverable and hard to track method like western union

-Eventually your bank will figure out that the check was bad

-the bank will hold you as the account holder and check depositor accountable for the loss and you will see a big negative number show up on your account (which will likely wipe out your account balance if you dont have alot in there to begin with)

-The bank will try any means to collect from you they can

They already have your information so now is the time for damage control. Possibly close your account and open a new one if they have bank info. Also, never deal with anyone that tries the check/western union trick on you again.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Report it to Craigslist and have an alert put on your credit with the 3 major credit agencies. Now!

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

Moved to CNA/MA - Nursing / Medical Assistant

[ASPIRING2BGREAT]

Yes, SCAM!

I post ads there for my husband and get all kinds of responses that has nothing to do with services being offered and they do be scams.

It's a doggy dog world out there right now, so people be careful. Sad but very true!

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

How this scam works is as follows.

-They give you a (bad) check

-You deposit it

-The bank initally clears the check and you withdrawl money

-You "deduct" "your pay" and forward the balance to the Scammer via an unrecoverable and hard to track method like western union

-Eventually your bank will figure out that the check was bad

-the bank will hold you as the account holder and check depositor accountable for the loss and you will see a big negative number show up on your account (which will likely wipe out your account balance if you dont have alot in there to begin with)

-The bank will try any means to collect from you they can

They already have your information so now is the time for damage control. Possibly close your account and open a new one if they have bank info. Also, never deal with anyone that tries the check/western union trick on you again.

You detailed this perfectly. I had no idea until recently (thanks to watching MTV's Teen Mom!) that this is a very common scam on Craigslist. Stay away from anyone on there that asks you to do anything with Western Union!!

[CrazierThanYou]

Yes, SCAM!

I post ads there for my husband and get all kinds of responses that has nothing to do with services being offered and they do be scams.

It's a doggy dog world out there right now, so people be careful. Sad but very true!

I think you mean "dog eat dog" world...

To the OP: Yes, this is definitely a scam. ANY TIME the words "Western Union" are used, RUN. When you send money via Western Union, someone picks it up and its gone forever. As other people have said on here, this type of scam is very common. My mom almost got caught up in one where the guy wanted her to send money via "World Pay". Same kind of thing.

[nctamelanurse]

Why in the world or where in the world does a cna get paid 22 hourly, if that is the case why would nurses go to work and be paid basically the same thing as the cna......that more than anything would have sent up a red flag!

[CrazierThanYou]

I clicked on the website at the end of his email address: H4Ck-Dz team

It does not appear to be a legitimate company or website to me.

Also, that H4CK looks like a play on the word HACK!

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

I love Craigslist and have used it successfully for so many things. It really is a wonderful resource. You do have to be on the alert for scams though- and this one has all the red flags.

Now you know.

[ImKosher]

what will happen is, when you deposit that check. It will come up as a bad check and that money you send off is your money. Your bank wont find out it's a bad check in time for the crook to process that check you sent off as "extra expense for the travel agent".

Please be careful with craigslist, look at other places for reputable positions.