Payment Processing Jobs
August 26, 2006 – 10:19 pmHow’s this for a dream job: Receive payments from a company’s customers, then wire them to the company through Western Union, and receive a fee for each payment processed. Easy work, you choose your hours, and the pay is great. The catch? By accepting this job you become part of a money laundering scheme.
The funds transferred are from some sort of illegal activity, such as phishing or Ebay fraud. When they are transferred between bank accounts it leaves a paper trail. But once the money is wired through Western Union, it becomes virtually untraceable. Which means the paper trail ends with you. And whether you knew about the illegal activity or not, you could still face criminal charges.
Also beware any kind of job that involves receiving packages, then remailing them. If there wasn’t something illegal about them, there would be no need for a middleman.
25 Responses to “Payment Processing Jobs”
I got involved in a package remailing scheme! The company is called Florida Warehouse Network Inc. Oh Lord! I received two packages, then mailed them back out as per instructions… These packages went to the Ukraine. After a few days I received a credit card statement in the name of one of the package recipients, at my home address.
I have spoken to the Postal Service, the Secret Service, the FBI, the Inspector Generals office and filed complaints where I could. I am in the process of returning to the vendors, the packages I still have in my possession. I have called the credit card company and severed all communication with the company in question. I also put a fraud alert on my credit with the three credit reporting agencies.
Sigh…live and learn.
By Karla on Jan 3, 2007
Sorry you had to go through that, Karla. Thanks for sharing- maybe knowing the story of a real person who went through this will help someone else avoid such a travesty.
By Kristy on Jan 6, 2007
Hi Karla, can you provide more details? I was just approached by this company to do the same type of job and I’m not sure I understand exactly what the scam entails. Any additional info. you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
By Debbie on Feb 8, 2007
Thanks’ for the post. I had never heard of this scam. Now I know what to look for. You are providing a great service. Keep up the good work.
By ?Marcus clayton on Mar 6, 2008
I was involved in a package remailing scheme, too. A woman from Ghana emailed me and eventually claimed to love me. She wanted me to do a favor for her: act as a middleman for some small amount of things. In a few days my front room started loading up with packages from UPS: womens clothes, electronics, etc. I called all these companies to make sure nothing was being charged to me. Nothing was. This ‘woman’ wanted me to air fed ex all this stuff to Joahnesburg, South Africa. I called Fed ex and found that the shipping was not paid for. And me (the shipper) would be responsible for the shipping costs. I email this ‘woman’ and ’she’ threatened me with an African curse if I did not send them. Of course, horrible English in all emails. A few days later, I had about 8 law enforcement officers knocking on my door. I told them what happened and supplied them copies of all emails. All the merchandise was sent back to the companies. No harm done to me. Just time wasted. I found out one of the credit cards was registered in Turkey. Probably all stolen credit card transactions.
By Tyler on Mar 20, 2008
That must have been some experience, Tyler! Glad to hear the curse had no ill effects.
Seriously, thanks for sharing your experience. Maybe it will save someone else from going through the same thing.
By Kristy on Mar 20, 2008
A co-worker of my husbands swears by this business. Can anyone tell me if it is illegal. He receives payments from customers who are ordering items from overseas. He processes their payments through his merchant account than transfers the money to the the business (overseas). He claims by processing these payments he receives a percentage and is making a bundle. He was told that all overseas transactions must be conducted in the United States first. Sounds fishy to me not to mention illegal. Can anyone help me figure this out. Thank you.
By Shelly on Mar 29, 2008
Shelly,
There is no reason that I’m aware of that an overseas transaction would need to be conducted in the U.S. first. These types of schemes usually involve stolen credit card numbers or illegal merchandise. And the processor has no way of knowing if the payment or the items are legitimate, because he is just the middleman. Yet he is the one who gets in trouble because the transaction traces back to him.
In other words, it’s a very bad idea to get involved in anything that you don’t know the details of. These scammers know how to make up good stories, and often get by on them because their victims have no way of truly verifying them.
By Kristy on Mar 29, 2008
Kristy,
I found out a new detail. The overseas business includes the phone numbers to the people (Americans) ordering the merchandise. He has randomly called a few of these numbers and has verified these customers did in fact place an order. However, he does not know the type of merchandise he is ordering. He also has no clue if the customer is receiving the merchandise.. Won’t that also bite him on the butt because they paid, in essence him, for the merchandise? Is there a government website to check this out. Again, this co-worker claims that an American, buying an overseas item, must have their transaction processed through the States. He is making big bucks, it just sounds to good to be true.
By Shelly on Mar 29, 2008
Interesting, Shelly. But it still sounds like a well-played scam to me. It could very well be illegal merchandise, or the phone numbers could be to fake customers who are receiving some sort of incentive to go along with it. Not likely if there are a lot of them, but possible. If it’s an overseas company, U.S. government sites probably won’t be much help. If you could find out the name of the company, you could do a Google search and check scam forums for reports of any fishy activity.
No matter what, I would go over the entire thing with a fine-toothed comb before having anything to do with something like this. If it sounds too good to be true, 99% of the time it is.
By Kristy on Mar 29, 2008
Kristy,
Thanks so much for your help. I will fill you in if I learn of new details. Currently, we have decided to stay away from it, no amount of money is worth jail time.
By Shelly on Mar 31, 2008
hello Everyone,
I was looking to find on line work as a means of brining in some extra income so I posted my resume on careerbuilder website.I recieved an e-mail from a guy stating that he had found my resume on careerbuilder and wanted to offer me a payments processing position, I had to print out and fax the signed agreement(contract)back to him which I did. I received another e-mail stating that I would be recieving checks to my address and I needed to deposit them into my account, withdraw the money, take my 12% off thetop and wire them the rest of the money.
I am aware that their are a lot of online predetors looking to scam peolpe. I am curious to know, since the company did not require or need any of my personal informtion is it legite?
I have recieved the first two checks, but I have not deposited them into my account. I am
going to check with the police department today,to try and figure out if it is a scam or a legitimate business. The company said that they did not want me to think it was a scam, that is why they do not request or need to know any of my personal information such as SSN or Account number,the only information of mine they needed was my address so their customers could forward their checks to my address. Even though I am going to check with the police today,and the company did not request any of my personal information, I would like to know your opinion on if you feel that this is a scam or not. The company informed me that the reaon they needed me was because they will be opening offices in the U.S. within four monthes and feel as though it will be easier to just have someone in the U.S. handle the payments processing util they have established the offices here. The company is Secure Web Solutions (ecommerce and marketing solutions). HHas anyone experienced a scam with this company? Please let me know
By tee tee on Apr 3, 2008
Tee Tee,
First, let me apologize for not approving your comment and responding sooner. I’ve been without Internet due to moving.
As for this opportunity, it sounds very fishy to me. A reputable company would want more information from you than that before hiring. They would at least want to interview you before offering a position.
Scammers count on people not checking them out before proceeding, and in their excitement about finding a way to make money online, they often do not. By being the one who takes the time to look before you leap, you can often avoid losing money, and possibly your reputation.
But hindsight is always 20/20, right? I’ve been there and done that. The best thing you can do now is not get in any deeper, and bring this to the attention of the authorities. Do check with the police, and add the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission to your list. Best of luck to you!
By Kristy on Apr 12, 2008
I have recieved sooo maney of these scams through the internet that I just delete them before I even getaround to reading them anymore. Some claim to be dying christians that want you to help distribute their money. Some want you to be their colection agency. Some want you to be next of kin and split an inheritance. I recieved a check one time from a large Hospital that would have cleared the bank but when the hospital tried to balance there statement the next month I would have been in real trouble. On this one I called the Hospital acounts payable and told them I had a check made out in my name and gave them the number and amount of the check, only to find that the check had been writen to someone else for a lesser amount and had already cleared the bank. I returned the check to them, so they could follow up and try to find the bad guy. You can also subscribe to the FDIC they will fill your in box with bad checks both cashiers and certified and money orders. Beware of strangers bearing gifts.
Bob
By Bob on Apr 16, 2008
Ever heard of the company called ecargodeal. I have been mailing packages for them for a few weeks. I have an email contact, she sends me the forwarding information. I mail the packages out to Russia, Czech Republic, etc. They pay me $40 per box, via Western Union. How can I find out if this is illegal?
By Joe on May 7, 2008
Joe,
A quick web search brought up this on the domain name ecargodeal.com:
http://db.aa419.org/fakebanksview.php?key=25713
It’s a listing in a database of proven fake banks. That doesn’t sound too promising.
Check with your local law enforcement. They probably won’t be much help themselves, but they should be able to point you in the right direction. Also try the FTC. And if you find that it is fraud and that you may be in trouble for participating, you can find help at http://www.fraudaid.com/ .
By Kristy on May 8, 2008
Hi, my name is Rachael.
A few days ago, I was hired from this furniture company in the U.K. and they have asked me to recieve checks from clients, take ten percent and transfer the rest using the western union tranfers. I actually got the check today and an e-mail telling me what to do.
I had a feeling this was a scam so I checked out this blog and the situations were very alike.
I emailed the guy back telling him i can’t do this job. i told him that I will send the check back where it came from or send it to him.
Am I already in deep trouble?
By Rachael on Jun 27, 2008
Hi Rachel,
Glad you found this post helpful! You should be in no legal trouble whatsoever, because you didn’t cash the check. As far as the law is concerned, you’re the victim here.
I would encourage you to make a copy of the check and report this to the proper authorities. The FTC (or the equivalent in your country if you’re not in the U.S.) might not be much help if it’s international, so try your local police. Sometimes they’re helpful and sometimes they’re not, but if not just keep moving up the line until someone listens.
By Kristy on Jun 27, 2008
I am starting my own companyand was looking for an internet job to make money. I was found by a remailing scam and id not realize until I had sent out over $10,000 in items and they aid me via paypal. Now paypal has frozen my account and I did not figure out it was a scam until 30 minutes ago. I am going to the police tomorrow to ask what I should do. I still have some of the items, but only $300 worth. There has to be some protection in the law for people like us. TeeTee I want to talk to you since you are in the same boat, please tell us what has hapened so far. cheshireccat@yahoo.com teetee, please contact me, or anyone else that has fallen for this, or knows what to do.
By J.D. on Jul 10, 2008
Sorry to hear that you got caught up in that J.D. The best thing you can do is be as cooperative as possible and help the police find the real bad guys.
Give the Fraud Victim’s Manual over at Fraud Aid a read. It might be helpful in your quest to clear your name.
By Kristy on Jul 10, 2008
I was recently emailed about a payment processor job through ecommerce web solutions to receive checks from their US Customers and to take 12% out of the remaining total. I actually did receive the checks and cashed them in my banking account. A week later one of the checks have bounced and the total amount was taken out of my account. Fortunately, I have a great bank and they are handling the situation told them what had happened and a claim have been started. So I wanted to know am I in any legal trouble for cashing the checks. Because it sounded so legite, signed a contract and everything, no personal information was given out and actually did receive checks. So is this saying all payment processing jobs are scams?
By James on Jul 16, 2008
Hi James,
I suppose it would be pretty presumptuous of me to say that all payment processing jobs are scams. So I’ll say that 99.9% of them are.
A company that is above board should have no reason to hire people to deposit checks and forward funds for them.
It’s good that your bank is working with you. I would advise you to contact the authorities if it hasn’t been done already. Being proactive and cooperative is the best thing you can do, and should keep you out of trouble. It’s when the cops come knocking at your door that you usually have something to worry about.
By Kristy on Jul 16, 2008
There are many of these out there and it’s unfortunate but most things that are too good to be true, are. There was a scam a while back through Craigslist where people asked you to process a payment on their behalf and they would send you a check that was $100 more than the amount due. The first check would clear fine but then the next check you would get would eventually bounce. By that time you have processed the ‘on behalf’ payment and the source is nowhere to be found. My cousin unfortunately got scammed out of $1200.
By Quote Catcher Credit Card Processing on Aug 13, 2008