Robert
Irvine,#2Consumer Comment
Tue, November 01, 2011
This was supposed to be a weekly job. However, when I sent the money order, I couldn't get a hold of the company right away. This should have been a red flag but I was too eager to notice.
- That was your first Red Flag?
How about being told to cash a check from someone you don't know and send a Money Order for $1500 to an address in a foreign county. In some circles that could be considered "Money Laundering"
How about getting paid $350 for what amounts to probably no more than 30-60 minutes worth of work. If you say this was going to be a regular job just expand out the numbers to see even how more ridiculous the amount is.
If you haven't figured it out by now, but you are never going to see the money again. Your bigger problem is your bank. If this caused you to be overdrawn your bank is going to hold you responsible to bring the account back up to positive. If you don't they will most likely close your account, put you in ChexSystem(making it impossible to open an account at a regular bank for many years). If you still don't make good on the overdraft they may decide to file suit against you.
Regardless of the reason someone may give you. If anyone you personally don't know sends you a check and asks you to cash it and send money to them, it is a SCAM.
If anyone you personally do not know asks you to send any money through Western Union or other untraceable method(such as a Money Order or Pre-Paid Debit Card), again regardless of the reason, you have to know it is a scam.