Hello, I have recently been looking though craigslist looking for a position as a CNA, recently I found a job posting that sounds great when I first read it, after looking into it, it didnt really make sense but I wanted to get some input as to wether it was legitament or not, im starting to have doubts, and unfortunately since I am new and naive to this whole craigslist thing, I did give out some personal information. If this is a scam, what do I need to since I already gave out this info? contact my bank? This is the conversation I had with this person, PLEASE help me out to clarify if this is legitimate or not!!!! ALSO, they havent contacted me whatsoever............ AND hes asking me to cash the check BEFORE i start working???
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Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2012 17:28:52 -0400
Subject: Personal Care Job Opening
From: ************************
To:
Dear Applicant,
Thank you for expressing interest in Craigslist job posting for the caregiver position!
After reviewing your qualifications I am pleased to offer you this long term position for 4 months. You will be caring for my grandmother ********** whom is 71. She will be arriving by August 24th for vacation and will be staying at a hotel. I will be requiring your services 5x a week for 7 hours a day. Your pay will be $22/hr. so you will receive $770 a week. Your job responsibilities will include getting her meals, socializing and taking care of her minor needs.
Brief Description About my grandmother:
She is Independent; she can go to the bathroom herself.
The only medical issue she has is diabetic and she has insulin she uses.
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.
If you are interested in this position and agree to the process of receiving a check, reply with your current contact information and the time and days you will be available to care for my grandma. You will be contacted Via phone within 3 business days by the travel agent.
Full Name:
Mailing Address (include apt# if any):
City, State Zip Code:
Cell/Home No:
Best time to reach you:
Current job status:
Time and days you will be available to monitor her:
Sincerely,
**********
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I replied saying
"
Thank you for replying to me, I understand the pay but i need a bit more clarification as to how the payments will work. I also understand that the patient is diabetic and I have had a lot of experience with diabetic patients. Please confirm this position with me so that I will change some plans that I had for the up coming month. Thank you very much"
i also gave the personal information
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He replied with this
Dear Magali,
I wish to congratulate you on the new job. This caregiver position to take care of my grandmother requires your 100% loyalty and co-operation. You will start on 26th of August. Once My travel agent receive the funds from the excess check that will be sent to you by my Certified Public Accountant , he will then proceed to Book accommodation at where you will be taking care of My grandmother.
Please do confirm the information you have provided me for payment to be mailed out to your address
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.
-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.
-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!!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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BrandonLPN, LPN
3,358 Posts
If something sounds too good to be true....