Complaint Review: Toms Custom Computers

This post is regarding a scam by a company called Tom's Custom Computers. I answered a work at home ad they had placed on craigslist. Below is the initial email I received, followed by the transcripts of IM conversations with these people. Please note, though I was not asked to send them any money, they did later forward me a check which I was to cash and then Western Union the cash to a third party. This is a classic scam! Please see www.fraud.org for more information on spotting a scam.

Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 10:57 AM
subject Briefing and interview
mailed-by yahoo.com
signed-by yahoo.com
ATTN:
How are you doing today ? I hope great ? Your Resume has been Verified and Approved for an Online Interview with the Personnel incharge.You would be undergoing an Online Briefing / Interview through the Yahoo Messenger Or Hotmail that you would be setting-up.online . A briefing and interview has been scheduled for you online I would be online waiting for you.
Schedulled Day : TODAY AND MONDAY
Venue : ONLINE (Over Your Yahoo Messenger)
INSTRUCTION : You are required to set-up an Account with Yahoo Or Hotmail and ADD the Manager's ID : onlineinterviewclerk@yahoo.com to your yahoo messenger buddy list before the time of the interview.We hope to read from you soonest.
Kind Regards,
Announcer
Tom's Custom Computer INC

I had a yahoo account already, so I added them to my 'contacts'. Sure enough I got an IM asking me if I was ready for my 'interview'. The entries in parentheses are my comments. Here's the first interview:

(Like the previous person who posted on ripoffreport, I too was taken aback by the interviewer's lack of proper grammar and spelling skills, but I was curious. By the way, the interviewer' was Mrs Carol Ross. Be on the lookout for that name)
onlineinterviewclerk: Hello
onlineinterviewclerk: How are you doing?
ME: Good morning! I'm doing well.
onlineinterviewclerk: Good
onlineinterviewclerk: Are you here for the job briefing and interview ?
ME: Yes
onlineinterviewclerk: OK
onlineinterviewclerk: This job offer is work from home you can as well work from any where of your choice....
onlineinterviewclerk: The possition are ....Accounting Clerk / Customer Service /data entry/Payroll.
ME: Excellent
onlineinterviewclerk: Whats your full name,sex, age and where are you located?
ME: (Answered, wondering where this was going)
onlineinterviewclerk: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: Have you worked as an Accounting Clerk / Customer Service /data entry/Payroll ? (They should know this, I had sent my resume)
ME: I have 20 years experience in Accounting.
onlineinterviewclerk: Are you aware that this is strictly and online job and a work from home job?
ME: Yes
onlineinterviewclerk: Good
onlineinterviewclerk: Do you have idea how to print checks..?
ME: Yes, that was part of previous jobs
onlineinterviewclerk: How many company have you worked for check printing..?
ME: I 've done the same type of work for over 20 years.
onlineinterviewclerk: Good
onlineinterviewclerk: Do you know how to design checks..? (Why on earth do they need to know this??)
ME: Are you asking about the layout - what information needs to be on the check etc?
onlineinterviewclerk: Yes..
ME: Yes, I was involved in the check ordering process previously.
onlineinterviewclerk: OK
onlineinterviewclerk: let proeccd with the interview
ME: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: Do you have a Printer, Fax Machine,Scanner and a Photocopier?
ME: I have a multi use printer which scans and photocopies, but I don't have a fax machine. I do know there are programs available online which allow you to fax from your email though.
onlineinterviewclerk: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: Have you ever worked from home?
ME: No
onlineinterviewclerk: OK
onlineinterviewclerk: What do you understand by privacy and code of conduct?
ME: I have signed confidentiality agreements in the past. I understand company information is confidential
onlineinterviewclerk: Good
onlineinterviewclerk: What do you understand by petty cash?
ME: I have handled petty cash before.
onlineinterviewclerk: OK
onlineinterviewclerk: Tell me about yourself and your last/current job/class?
ME: In my last job, petty cash was used primarily for purchases less than $50.
onlineinterviewclerk: Ok
ME: (reiterated information that was on my resume)
onlineinterviewclerk: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: Do you know your clerical speed?
ME: I don't know my exact WPM, I would guess somewhere around 65.
onlineinterviewclerk: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: How do you handle work in high pressure situations?
onlineinterviewclerk: ?
ME: work very well under pressure.
onlineinterviewclerk: Good
onlineinterviewclerk: Do you have an idea of how to use ms excel?
ME: Yes, I have a lot of experience with excel - (this was on my resume, BTW)
onlineinterviewclerk: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: How would you like to be Paid ? Weekly Or Bi-Weekly ?
ME: Weekly would be best for me.
onlineinterviewclerk: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: What means of Payment do you prefer ? Wrie transfer Direct Deposit Or check?
ME: Check would be fine.
onlineinterviewclerk: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: What bank do you bank with?
ME: (gave vague answer here, why do they need to know who I bank with?RED FLAG)
onlineinterviewclerk: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: As for your duties
onlineinterviewclerk: You will receive your duties everyday via email and i will be online to assist you with any difficulties
ME: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: Your Primary duties include: Preparation of Balance sheets (Mini), account balancing,invoicing recording,proper data analysis of sales records and recording pay slips into accountingdatabase all these will be done through the use of the Accounting Software.
ME: Ok
ME: Is there an hourly schedule I need to be available?
onlineinterviewclerk: Sorry got booted
ME: No problem
onlineinterviewclerk: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: Hold on while i forward your interview to the boad of director for there view ...
ME: ok
onlineinterviewclerk: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: Congratulations.. You are now a staff of Tom's Custom Computer INC
ME: Great! When do I get started? Also, I don't know if you saw my last question of whether there is an hourly schedule I need to be available?
onlineinterviewclerk: You will Earn $22 per hour,You will receive your pay via Direct deposit Or check every friday of the week
onlineinterviewclerk: 5 hours a day
ME: Ok
ME: Does it matter what time of the day - morning/afternoon/evening?
onlineinterviewclerk: Here are the Name's of softwere you will be needing BS 1 Accounting software ,MYOB bussiness essentials software 2009,Peach Tree Software ( US Patent Single Users Pack ),simply accounting 2009. Microsoft Office Accounting,Sirius GT Accounting For Windows,which is to be purchased (Why on earth are so many accounting software programs required for a simple work at home job? I have worked for multi-million dollar companies that used ONE software program.)
onlineinterviewclerk: morining and evening
ME: Ok. Unfortunately I do not have the funds to purchase software at this time. Now what? (I actually thought this would be the end of the interview' here, but wait, it gets good now)
onlineinterviewclerk: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: Before you start work you will recieve a payment ,you will be using this payment to set up your mini office by purchasing some office equipmants and accounting softwaer plus the shippng logistics,cos we will be sending you some equipment you will be needing to start work with, immediately you get this payment you start work
ME: Ok.
onlineinterviewclerk: You deduct $150 for your self for signing Bonus This is to help to Motivate staff towards commencement
ME: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: The company will send you a check to purchase all the softwares you need to start work with
onlineinterviewclerk: Ok?
ME: Sounds good
onlineinterviewclerk: I need you to email me with the folowins infos Your full name,home address,Phone number send all that to me via E-mail..employerdesk2006@yahoo.com
onlineinterviewclerk: Ok?
ME: Done!
onlineinterviewclerk: Good
onlineinterviewclerk: i will update you on the check onlineinterviewclerk: Ok
ME: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: i have an assignment for you
onlineinterviewclerk: Ok?
ME: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: Do you have a credit card?
ME: No ( I do, but I sure as hell wasn't giving it to them! NEVER, EVER give your credit card or banking information out in this way)
onlineinterviewclerk: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: that will all for now (I guess my lack of a credit card prevented me from working on the assignment)
onlineinterviewclerk: i need you to be online tomorrow for more update
onlineinterviewclerk: Ok?
ME: Sure - what time?
onlineinterviewclerk: at 9am your time?
ME: Fine
onlineinterviewclerk: Good
onlineinterviewclerk: bye for now
ME: Bye

In the next day's transcript (which I deleted by accident, sorry) I was asked a lot of the same questions again. I replied that we had covered that already and the response was always ok'. I was told once again that I would be receiving a check to cover the software costs. Of course my guard was up from the beginning but I was curious how this was going to play out. I was really interested to see if I did get a check and what it would look like. I felt pretty confident that I could spot a dummy check. So I agreed to be back online today. I was wondering why a company would send me a check without any real information from me and trust me to purchase office equipment with it. Seriously, what's keeping me from just cashing the check and keeping the money? Glad you asked. Read the following transcript and I'll answer that question below.

This is the third transcript:
onlineinterviewclerk: Hello
onlineinterviewclerk: How are you doing?
onlineinterviewclerk: Hello (ME)
ME: Good morning
onlineinterviewclerk: How are you doing today..?
ME: I'm good
onlineinterviewclerk: Sound good
onlineinterviewclerk: I believe by now you have the check..?
ME: No, I haven't received it yet
onlineinterviewclerk: I just track the items now and the page said deliver..
onlineinterviewclerk: Here is the tracking number you can track it your self ok
onlineinterviewclerk: 1ZT...................
onlineinterviewclerk: Track it via ups ok
ME: Ok, let me check
onlineinterviewclerk: Good
ME: Ok, I checked outside and its here.
onlineinterviewclerk: Good
onlineinterviewclerk: You will have to take the check to your bank now and get it cashed ok...
ME: Ok. Normally they will place a hold on an out of state check though
onlineinterviewclerk: How much is on the check.? (If they sent it to me, shouldn't they know how much it is? If it's standard procedure to issue a check for software (purchased from the same software folks repeatedly) shouldn't the amount always be the same? Curious.)
ME: $1950 (Thinking I should have said more or less here to see what the response would be. If each employee' receives a check for a different amount I could have found out here)
onlineinterviewclerk: Good
onlineinterviewclerk: the bank can onlly place an hold on a check if the amount on the check is more than $4000 but this is just $1950..they will release the funds to you ok
ME: No, they won't, not until three days from deposit. I've made deposits like this before.
onlineinterviewclerk: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: Take it to the bank now try and get the funds out ok..if you talk to them that you really need the funds they will release it ti you ok i just want you to get the items you need this week and start work immediately ok (ok, I don't know about you, but I've NEVER had a bank release funds early because I really, really needed it, but I decided to play along anyway)
ME: I understand. How come the check is from 'xxx College'?
onlineinterviewclerk: They are one of our client who is owning the company so the company order them to issue out the checks to our new workers to enable them purchase the items they need to start work with..
ME: I'm sorry, but that doesn't sound legal. I don't want to get into any trouble by cashing this check. (I'm giggling at this point wondering how they're going to answer)
onlineinterviewclerk: Nothing like that ok..
onlineinterviewclerk: You have nothing to worry about ok
onlineinterviewclerk: This is a legit company ...
ME: Ok. It's just that some of the questions you've asked seem a little odd and I want to make sure I don't get in any trouble.
onlineinterviewclerk: (ME) nithing like trouble ok
onlineinterviewclerk: As soon as you get all you need to start work with you will get to enjoy this job ok
ME: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: Like i told you it very flexible ...
ME: Ok - one more question - the UPS envelope has a Mr V with an address in North Carolina. There is no reference to xxx College on the envelope, and the college is located in Maryland. Can you tell me how these two are related? (Very long pause here)
onlineinterviewclerk: That where the payment officer who issue out the check live ...
ME: Ok (If the check was sent on behalf of the company, wouldn't one or the other company names be on the UPS envelope? Even if you are a remote worker, you still send correspondence with your company's name listed. Just a thought.)
onlineinterviewclerk: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: You are to go get the check cashed now ok to enable the retailer deliver all the items you need to start work with to your doop step ...
onlineinterviewclerk: To enable you start work immediately ok
ME: Ok - where do I need to purchase the items from?
onlineinterviewclerk: You are to purchase the software agent to the comoany has been buying softwares from for year i will provide you wiht the available softwates agent where you will be sending the funds to ok
onlineinterviewclerk: You will deduct $150 for your self as a signing bonus to motivate you toward this job ok..
ME: Ok. This all seems kind of complicated though. Wouldn't it have been easier for the company to pay the software agent directly and send me a check for just the $150?
onlineinterviewclerk: The payment have to come from you direct to the retailer to enable then know who is purchasing the items and to enable you get your 150 signing bonus..
ME: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: Hold on while i get you the available retailer information ok...
ME: ok
onlineinterviewclerk:

Name: Dxxx Lxxxx (NOTE: I've blanked out some names because I don't want to cause them any undo harm if they are innocent victims here)
city ... quincy
state.. MI
Zipcode.. 49082

onlineinterviewclerk: You are to deduct 150 for your self as soon as you get it cashed and also deduct the cost of wetern union fee and send the rest to the information giving to you to enable you get the items you need to start work with ok......
ME: Ok. Do I send cash, money order, check? Also, I need the street address. And do I need to send a list of the software required with the money?
onlineinterviewclerk: You are to send cash...
onlineinterviewclerk: That all the information western union need...
onlineinterviewclerk: And the retailer know the list of the softwares any new workers need to start work with ...
ME: How will they know to send the software to me - do I need to provide my information?
onlineinterviewclerk: Your information is with the retailer aready..
onlineinterviewclerk: All they are waiting for now is comfim the funds and the items will be deliver to you via UPS..
onlineinterviewclerk: And i will give you the ups tracking number to enable you track it and know when you will get it ok
ME: Ok. Can you provide me with a street address and phone number for the company I'm working for? I'll also need the employer id number for tax purposes. (At this point I'm thinking the person I'm communicating with is calling me every name in the book. I mean, they're probably wondering who does this f'ing person think they are, asking all of these questions??)
onlineinterviewclerk: Ok...
onlineinterviewclerk: Hold on please..
onlineinterviewclerk: i will give that to you ok
ME: ok
onlineinterviewclerk: Hello (ME)
ME: Hi
onlineinterviewclerk: Sorry i lost connection..
ME: No prob
onlineinterviewclerk: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: What was your last question..? (Delay tactic)
ME: Can you provide me with a street address and phone number for the company I'm working for? I'll also need the employer id number for tax purposes.
onlineinterviewclerk: I will provide you with the details you ask for but the employer id number we dont give that out for any body hope you understand by privacy and code of conduct? (I never received any privacy, confidentiality or code of conduct documents BTW)
onlineinterviewclerk: Here is the rest information ..
onlineinterviewclerk: Address..6855 JEWEL LAKE RD
Anchorage,
Alaska 99502
9703726561 (This phone # is different from the one I found when I did another search for TCC online the other number is 907-563-6048)
ME: Ok. Thanks for the address and phone number. I understand about the confidentiality issue, however I'm concerned about how I would file my income taxes. Do you send 1099's or W2's to employees?
onlineinterviewclerk: The company will take care of that as soon as you start work ok.. (This is such a runaround. Did that answer my question at all? I wonder if they even know what those two forms are.)
ME: Ok
onlineinterviewclerk: (ME) i need you to go get everything done now and get back to me online there no much time the reatailer have to deliver the items today all they are waiting for is comfrimation from you ok
ME: ok - i''ll take care of it within 2 hours
onlineinterviewclerk: Good
onlineinterviewclerk: Bye for now
ME: Bye

Ok, so the answers I received COULD have been valid, except that as I stated I've worked in the accounting field for over 20 years...never had an employer sign me up with out needing my social (which I wouldn't have given anyone on an IM) and no company issues a check to an individual without that. I did receive a check, but the check was not issued from this company and it arrived by UPS from an individual. A company is not going to repay it's debts by sending payments directly to a third party. Doesn't happen.

I didn't ask why they needed my age etc. because I wanted to see where this was going, however it is ILLEGAL for any company to ask your age. The most they can ask is if you are over 18, or over 21 in some circumstances. As you can see by the questions I DID ask, they had answers ready but not very good ones. Although there isn't a time stamp on the replies, they did delay quite a bit before answering any of my questions. I'm guessing they had to check in with someone else in order to provide reasonable sounding answers.

I did receive a check, and it looks real, however one thing that stands out is that there is no phone number for either the payor or the bank it's drawn on. This is a huge red flag. I looked up both the bank and business online and they do exist. I also looked up Tom's Custom Computers. They also exist but surprise they have no telephone numbers on the website. I found it curious that a company that specializes in computer repairs does not have a telephone number or webform for customers to contact them for their services. How do they get any customers?

What proof did I receive that I was ordering software - there is no purchase order or anything. Basically I would just be sending money to some unknown person. Without any receipts for my purchase, wouldn't I be required to pay taxes on the whole check since it was made out to me? The answer I believe is 'yes', but since I had no intention on cashing the check it's a moot point.

Oh yes, and to answer the question from above, the reason they trust' me to send them the funds is...wait for it...IT'S A FAKE CHECK. The company isn't losing anything by trusting' me because the check isn't real there's no money involved unless I cashed it. If I kept the funds I could get a modest spending spree out of it but that wouldn't mean much when I got arrested for fraud now would it? If I cashed it and sent them the funds by Western Union, they'd have the cash but I'm still left owing my bank the amount of a check that will most definitely bounce since it would eventually come to the attention of my bank that it's a phony. Either way, if I cashed the check I'd be the one to lose in the end.

Go to http://www.fraud.org/tips/internet/fakecheck.htm for information on how to spot a fraudulent check or report a scam. There are details about how scams like this work. If you've received a check from a scam DO NOT DEPOSIT it. Report the scam online or to your local police department.

Quoted from www.fraud.org: You are responsible for the checks you deposit. That's because you're in the best position to determine the risk you're the one dealing directly with the person who is arranging for the check to be sent to you. When a check bounces, the bank deducts the amount that was originally credited to your account. If there isn't enough to cover it, the bank may be able to take money from other accounts you have at that institution, or sue you to recover the funds. In some cases, law enforcement authorities could bring charges against the victims because it may look like they were involved in the scam and knew the check was counterfeit.

I apologize for the long post, but if I didn't have the background that I have I might have been taken by this scam. I just want to get the word out for anyone who might think this is a legitimate business. Hint: just because someone tells you they're legit doesn't mean they are. Do your homework!

Anonymous1
Somewhere, Florida
U.S.A.