Thursday, April 2, 2009

Tony Tale

The Internet is flooded with scams, but don’t take it from me. Take it from a scammer himself.

So-called Tony runs a so-called business in so-called Los Angeles. Tony or his crony skims Craig’s List for job hunters like me to throw bait. He spots a resume and shoots off an offer. Not a get-rich-soon or a too-good-to-be-true offer; just a quite-good-to-hopefully-be-true offer. But it stinks from every angle. He tries to be as smart as he could, but he doesn’t get too far.

I think Tony operates a phony enterprise where remote workers assemble furniture pieces or something similar. He pays them with stolen checks. The workers deposit the checks they get in the mail. The checks clear the house because the paying account has available funds. It takes a couple weeks for the check to bounce as forged and not issued by the account holder. In the meantime, Tony, Crook, Cheat, or whatever is name is won free labor. But Not-Tony doesn’t want investigators to link back to him as the sender of fraudulent checks. So he wants ME to print and distribute those checks.

Or better yet. He doesn’t even have any workers. All addresses he was about the send me are his own. He will deposit the checks, withdraw cash, and get lost; a Frank Abagnale copy-cat. With today’s banking regulations, however, that would be almost impossible to do within the USA. Does he plan on taking the checks to an off-shore bank? Who knows? Who cares? I’m out of it.

But a little pest in my brain is still nagging me. Maybe I’m just pushing away a good opportunity? 2K is big buck paid for 40 hours work. Read the emails and Messenger exchange we had, and be the juror.

Blue text is me, red is him, and everything in green are my added notes. Not-Tony has a poor command of spelling and grammar. At some places I corrected his errors, and at other I left it as is. Ellipses (…) indicate that blah, blah, blah followed.


March 31, 2009 9:14 PM, Not Tony

Pacer Furniture Manufacturing, we are manufactures upholstered household furniture…

*8-10 hours a week on an ongoing basis…

Monthly Salary: $2,000

Please email your details to part_time247@yahoo.com….

Tony W Adams

Pacer Furniture Manufacturing

2035 E 37th St,

Los Angeles, CA 90058, United States.

March 31, 2009 10:12PM, Me

(I sent in my details; Contact info only)

April 1, 2009 2:32AM, Not-Tony

Dear Hershey

You will be working from your home by printing and mailing payments out to our clients and other departments in your region. (Light bulb goes on: Mail is not bound to a geographical region.)

Your position is to prepare weekly payroll checks from your computer and made cash deposits from your home. (Light bulb again: You said just clients; now you say payroll? And whence should take the cash to deposit?)

 Go to Office depot or Staples around you and get all the printing supplies.

VersaCheck software 2008

Versa ink or Toner ink for your printer

Business blank check paper (3per page)

The total cost of everything is not more than $100. You will get reimbursed. It will be add to your first salary.

Visit any UPS and FedEx offices around you, and request their shipping supplies (next day air envelops and waybills.) They are free. They will give you as much as you requested. (100 pieces or more)

As soon as you get them ready, email me back to start immediately.

April 1, 2009 10:47AM Me

I’ve them ready. (Brazen lie)

April 1, 2009 4:09PM, Not Tony

Okay. Sounds good

Let’s chat on Yahoo! Messenger…

April 1, 2009 4:30PM, Me

HersheyVent@yahoo.com (Yahoo! ID created impromptu)

 

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:21:04 PM): Hello Hershey

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:21:12 PM): Hello

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:21:59 PM): first step...do you have a scanner?

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:22:08 PM): Yes

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:22:17 PM): Ok...

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:22:34 PM): do you have UPS envelopes and waybills for shipping?

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:22:39 PM): Yes

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:22:46 PM): And blank checks

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:22:54 PM): And VersaCheck

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:23:17 PM): Ok good...

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:23:17 PM): have you been doing this before?

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:23:22 PM): No

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:23:36 PM): Ok....

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:23:45 PM): install the check software on your computer....

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:23:54 PM): Okay

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:24:10 PM): Then...?

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:25:23 PM): You want me to send checks to your vendors and employees?

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:25:33 PM): I will email our account information to fill on the software...

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:25:34 PM): and print a sample check scan it and email it to me to view before you start the main printing

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:25:56 PM): Understood

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:26:25 PM): you will be mailing those checks to clients and other department....

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:26:41 PM): I will email you all there [sic] names and address

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:28:14 PM): Will you mail me a check?

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:28:26 PM): you will be printing and mailing checks our [sic] everyday.....

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:28:44 PM): I see, so I should print my own check

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:29:03 PM): And what about the cost involved?

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:29:10 PM): The shipping costs

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:29:29 PM): How much did you spent on those printing supplies?

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:29:47 PM): No need

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:29:55 PM): we have an account with ups and fedex company [sic] to use

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:30:03 PM): Don't recall. Will have to check my credit card charges

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:31:13 PM): I will email you our account details to fill on ups waybills and drop them off....

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:31:36 PM): Great

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:31:49 PM): check your email i [sic] had sent you the account details to fill on the check software....

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:33:03 PM): wait let me attach signature to it

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:33:19 PM): so that you can upload it on the software

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:33:29 PM): Okay

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:34:20 PM): How many hours do you think I'll have to spend a month on this?

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:34:40 PM): 2hrs per day

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:34:40 PM): What is the volume of checks you will be giving me per month?

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:34:48 PM): and 5times a week....

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:35:15 PM): That's over 60.00 an hour

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:35:52 PM): is not a job that you will spend much time with

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:36:27 PM): When shall we start?

Not-Tony·..·´¯)--» My Only Love ... (4/1/2009 6:37:30 PM): I had sent you the details with signature to fill on the check software....

Here it is:

Swiss America Trading Corp.
15018 N Tatum Blvd
Phoenix, AZ 85032

 

Wells Fargo Bank
San Francisco, CA
ABA#121000248
Account#4159531235
Check#5774
Fractional#78-37-7832

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:37:42 PM): I want you to start right now....

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:38:51 PM): I'm excited about this venture, but—naturally—I've some reservations, and I apologize for that. You will sure understand that there are a lot of scams out there on the Internet. Therefore, I would like to get my first check for reimbursement of the materials, cash it, and wait a week or more to see whether it was a valid check. You understand me?

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:39:51 PM): Yes I know that there is alot [sic] of scam over the internet....

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:40:11 PM): This is not a scam...

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:40:40 PM): we need someone for this position that`s why i contacted you in the first place if you are interested to work with us....

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:40:41 PM): But I still want to verify.

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:40:53 PM): I'm interested.

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:41:09 PM): The money you spend [sic] for those printing supplies will surely be reimbursed...

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:41:20 PM): it will be added to your first payment...

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:41:22 PM): But I'm afraid that if those checks are fraudulent, I might find myself in trouble.

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:42:01 PM): The only thing I want is to wait two week from the time I deposit the first check.

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:42:15 PM): this is not a fraudulent check.....

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:43:49 PM): I'll be emailing you a sample check soon

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:44:00 PM): Ok I will be waiting

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:44:53 PM): You should have it by tomorrow

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:44:55 PM): Ok

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:45:26 PM): Who is Pat? (Name on signature image)

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:45:52 PM): One of our staff members...

(Light-bulb flashes: Since when do staff members sign checks?)

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:46:10 PM): Okay

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:46:42 PM): Will I be working on a 1099?

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:46:58 PM): Am waiting for the sample check...

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:47:35 PM): I can't do it right now. I'm already leaving the office. You will have it by tomorrow morning.

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:48:11 PM): 1099?

(Light-bulb flashing with dazzling red glare: 1099? Huh?)

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:48:27 PM): Ok… No problem...

(17 seconds for a wiki? That’s quick! But wait! You forgot to ask me for my SSN.)

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:49:08 PM): What is the working arrangement with your other employees?

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:51:15 PM): I will inform every one of them that they will be receiving there [sic] payments on Friday....

(He didn’t get my question)

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:51:16 PM): since you will start the check printing tomorrow...

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:51:40 PM): Okay

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:52:03 PM): One more question

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:52:20 PM): The company name is Pacer Furniture?

Not-Tony·..·´¯)--» My Only Love ... (4/1/2009 6:52:49 PM): Yes...

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:53:01 PM): Oh, okay

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:53:35 PM): Because the company name to print on the checks is Swiss America Trading Corp.

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:53:42 PM): So it confused me a bit

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:56:12 PM): Yes I understand you....we have different account names.....

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:56:22 PM): and we have some other company also...

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:56:37 PM): just be filling them the way I email them to you...

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:56:40 PM): with no mistakes...

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:57:39 PM): I sure will

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 6:57:56 PM): just keep following the instruction...

Hershey (4/1/2009 6:58:03 PM): I was just curious, because Swiss America is an established financial institution

Not-Tony (4/1/2009 7:03:33 PM): this is just for sample check only

(Excellent, Tony, Crook, or whatever your name is. You provided a good excuse, but I’m not impressed.)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Pacer Furniture Manufacturing
Address: 2035 E 37th St
Los Angeles, CA,
90058-1414
Phone: 323-235-3900
Fax: 323-235-1400

Found it online. Not-tony brobably picks a company from a online bussiness diractory eachtime he finds a new victim.

Here is a phone and fax. try to talk to Tony W Adams.