Very weird reply to a job

Burkie7

Hi guys,

Been busy looking for a job and just got a e-mail back from this job description from a job advert on Gumtree.

Ad/Job Title: Office/Admin Assistant Required

Description

We are seeking a hardworking, energetic and optimistic individual with great organizational skills to take care of list, provide time-saving solution for busy schedule. The candidate must possess an excellent work ethic, a positive attitude and proficient skills with Microsoft office applications (Excel, Word and Outlook). Position includes cleaning the office, filing, mailing, database entry, light customer service duties and other administrative duties. Hours are flexible, 10-20HRS per week, Eur22/HR

To apply for the role, email your resume for consideration and qualified applicants will be contacted for a preliminary phone interview. To be considered for employment, all candidates need must have:
•Proof of Eligibility to work in Ireland
•Updated Resume
•One or Two references

Prepare for a one on one interview. Candidates should have recent and work experience in these fields.

I sent on my CV and Cover letter and got a e-mail back a few mins ago saying this.

Hello Dean,

Sorry for late response and how are you doing today? I flew out of the country yesterday afternoon so I have just received your message regarding the Office Assistant role. In addition to working in my office, I will need your assistance with running my errands. As an independent contractor with a focus in international business, majority of my clients are out of State/Country. I need help with my errands, as a matter of fact, I'm currently on a business trip to England, Auckland and New Zealand. I will prepay you in advance to do my shopping, bill payments, placing and expediting orders, picking-up and delivering items to my PO Box. I will pick the items up from the post office when I return on the 15th of September. You will start working permanently in my office when I return, In the meantime I want you to run my errands while I am away.

I'll pay you €220 for your service for 10 hours every week. I'm prepared to pay for mileage/travel expense. I will provide clear set of instructions for each task I need done and sufficient funds to cover all errands. How soon can you start running errand? I would love to meet with you upon my return in September to discuss the job and possibility of making this arrangement long term. Well, let me know if you can do the Job.

Greetings

I got a e-mail of someone yesterday that was something similar to this from someone else but it went into my Junk folder.

Anyone thing this is a scam of some sort?

nibtrix

I'd say it's a scam, they'll probably pay you by cheque for all their "errands", then cancel the cheque after you've paid for stuff.

Also, they're going to Auckland AND New Zealand?!? Magic!

Burkie7

nibtrix wrote: »

I'd say it's a scam, they'll probably pay you by cheque for all their "errands", then cancel the cheque after you've paid for stuff.

Also, they're going to Auckland AND New Zealand?!? Magic!

Yes thought so just wanted to make sure thanks for the reply.

Annoying as I got excited when I first start reading it thinking I had got a job ha!

Anyway the search continues.

CrookedJack

Certainly a scam. If it's too good to be true...

Burkie7

CrookedJack wrote: »

Certainly a scam. If it's too good to be true...

Some poor chap is going to fall for it to which is the sad thing.

longhalloween

Probably a scam. Just going by the language and the lack of personal information in the email.

BeerSteakBirds

definitely a scam . you should be meeting an employer in person and never should ever have to spend your own money for some invisible promise maker.

Recondite49

Burkie7 wrote: »

Hi guys,

Been busy looking for a job and just got a e-mail back from this job description from a job advert on Gumtree.

Ad/Job Title: Office/Admin Assistant Required

Description

We are seeking a hardworking, energetic and optimistic individual with great organizational skills to take care of list, provide time-saving solution for busy schedule. The candidate must possess an excellent work ethic, a positive attitude and proficient skills with Microsoft office applications (Excel, Word and Outlook). Position includes cleaning the office, filing, mailing, database entry, light customer service duties and other administrative duties. Hours are flexible, 10-20HRS per week, Eur22/HR

To apply for the role, email your resume for consideration and qualified applicants will be contacted for a preliminary phone interview. To be considered for employment, all candidates need must have:
•Proof of Eligibility to work in Ireland
•Updated Resume
•One or Two references

Prepare for a one on one interview. Candidates should have recent and work experience in these fields.

I sent on my CV and Cover letter and got a e-mail back a few mins ago saying this.

Hello Dean,

Sorry for late response and how are you doing today? I flew out of the country yesterday afternoon so I have just received your message regarding the Office Assistant role. In addition to working in my office, I will need your assistance with running my errands. As an independent contractor with a focus in international business, majority of my clients are out of State/Country. I need help with my errands, as a matter of fact, I'm currently on a business trip to England, Auckland and New Zealand. I will prepay you in advance to do my shopping, bill payments, placing and expediting orders, picking-up and delivering items to my PO Box. I will pick the items up from the post office when I return on the 15th of September. You will start working permanently in my office when I return, In the meantime I want you to run my errands while I am away.

I'll pay you €220 for your service for 10 hours every week. I'm prepared to pay for mileage/travel expense. I will provide clear set of instructions for each task I need done and sufficient funds to cover all errands. How soon can you start running errand? I would love to meet with you upon my return in September to discuss the job and possibility of making this arrangement long term. Well, let me know if you can do the Job.

Greetings

I got a e-mail of someone yesterday that was something similar to this from someone else but it went into my Junk folder.

Anyone thing this is a scam of some sort?

Hi Burkie,

I'm sorry you've received an offer like this. I'm a member of the "Name and Shame Recruitment Scams" group on Facebook and offers like this are fairly common.

I think a little Occam's razor could help us to find out if this is a scam or not. Let's imagine you're a jetsetting businessman who likes to shop online - would you pay a complete stranger 220 Euros a week to place orders for you, or would you just prevail upon a close friend or family member to hold your packages for you until you return?

Alternatively let's say you have a stolen or forged cheque. You know that you can't use this directly to order anything online and if it's paid into your own bank account, you'll be arrested as soon as the fraud is detected.

As such you need a way to realise the value of the cheque without your own name being involved - the solution is to pay the cheque into someone else's account, a total stranger and have them place an order for you on their own credit card, which you can then in turn ship to an anonymous PO Box overseas.

I wish you best of luck with finding work, I've been down and out in Dublin before, anything I can do to help, send me a message.

Burkie7

Thanks very much lads I was 99% sure it was a scam just wanted to make 100% sure as I'm not really in a position to turn a job down at the moment but I should have knowing when something is too good to be true then it is.

I might hold off on using Gumtree to apply for jobs from now on if this kind of thing is going on there.

jhegarty

99% chance it's a advance fee scam.

1% it's collecting packages of drugs from the post office.

Mr. Loverman

The really stupid thing about this is they could make it much more believable.

It's like when I watched "Banged Up Abroad" a voice inside me is screaming "Take a beta blocker! Approach customs with a coffee and croissant like you've not a care in the world!" Etc.

Luckily criminals tend to be stupid and lazy.

mickdw

jhegarty wrote: »

99% chance it's a advance fee scam.

1% it's collecting packages of drugs from the post office.

I'd say it's a bit higher chance of drugs being involved.

Recondite49

Burkie7 wrote: »

Thanks very much lads I was 99% sure it was a scam just wanted to make 100% sure as I'm not really in a position to turn a job down at the moment but I should have knowing when something is too good to be true then it is.

I might hold off on using Gumtree to apply for jobs from now on if this kind of thing is going on there.

Hi Burkie,

Believe me I feel for you buddy but you're unlikely to find steady work via Gumtree. A legit company is more likely to use a site like jobs.ie

Recondite49

mickdw wrote: »

I'd say it's a bit higher chance of drugs being involved.

If the person in question wants to launder drug money through purchasing goods though, why not just pay cash for them? I think cheque fraud is more likely.

Burkie7

I replied that I would do the job just to see what he would reply and this was it!

Hello,

Everything sounds good. The hours are flexible so you can spread those 10 hours a week on your own time. Let me reiterate, this position guarantees €200/week and I will have work for you every week. I will provide you with sufficient funds and adequate instruction for every task. You will get directions at the beginning of each week of what needs to be done for the entire week and for clarification, the errand running part of the job is through September.

We will meet to discuss longer employment upon my return, fill out the employment forms and from there you will be working in my office doing more office oriented tasks. Starting from September 2014, I will be needing you for 20 Hours per week so I need to know you are great at following instructions and that you can be a great addition to my team.

Also, I will be sending money for my errands inclusive of payment for your service through one of my bank channels. The money will arrive inform of a cheque. How should your name go on the cheque? What address should I have it mailed to? You will start working immediately you receive the payment in the mail. Email me with:

Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Country:
Mobile Number:
Age:

Since there will be money involved for both your services and my purchases, would it be possible to exchange copy of our ID's just to put a face and credibility to this arrangement?

I will be expecting your respond towards my request. Hope to read from you as soon as possible.

Greetings

Recondite49

Burkie7 wrote: »

I replied that I would do the job just to see what he would reply and this was it!

Hello,

Everything sounds good. The hours are flexible so you can spread those 10 hours a week on your own time. Let me reiterate, this position guarantees €200/week and I will have work for you every week. I will provide you with sufficient funds and adequate instruction for every task. You will get directions at the beginning of each week of what needs to be done for the entire week and for clarification, the errand running part of the job is through September.

We will meet to discuss longer employment upon my return, fill out the employment forms and from there you will be working in my office doing more office oriented tasks. Starting from September 2014, I will be needing you for 20 Hours per week so I need to know you are great at following instructions and that you can be a great addition to my team.

Also, I will be sending money for my errands inclusive of payment for your service through one of my bank channels. The money will arrive inform of a cheque. How should your name go on the cheque? What address should I have it mailed to? You will start working immediately you receive the payment in the mail. Email me with:

Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Country:
Mobile Number:
Age:

Since there will be money involved for both your services and my purchases, would it be possible to exchange copy of our ID's just to put a face and credibility to this arrangement?

I will be expecting your respond towards my request. Hope to read from you as soon as possible.

Greetings

Who needs P45 these days after all? :-D

silly

Ha, I got this email too from George something - about a year ago - again from gumtree...do people seriously believe this stuff?

Nody

silly wrote: »

Ha, I got this email too from George something - about a year ago - again from gumtree...do people seriously believe this stuff?

It was a while ago (as in 2008 or something like that) but at least in US the measured reply rate to spam was approximately 1 %. As the time investment is minimal and with lets say 1% chance of success I could see why it continue as there are people who're not as experienced who'll think they got a great deal going here.

TimeToShine

Scam scam scam, ffs once you see 22 euro per hour for a part time office assistant you should have alarm bells ringing, let alone the rest of that crap.

Ficheall

Reminded me of this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventure_of_the_Red-Headed_League

(Probably not what's going on with the OP, granted...)

Recondite49

Ficheall wrote: »

Reminded me of this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventure_of_the_Red-Headed_League

(Probably not what's going on with the OP, granted...)

You're right, I have never trusted a ginger since...!

TheBlock

Burkie7 wrote: »

Since there will be money involved for both your services and my purchases, would it be possible to exchange copy of our ID's just to put a face and credibility to this arrangement?

Greetings

Ask him to send you a photo of himself holding up a copy of today's newspaper whild standing on one leg with his trousers rolled up and saluting. Just so you can verify that it is in fact a recent picture you see....

http://www.419eater.com/html/links.htm

starlit

If a job sounds dodgy run a mile! I've had a few issues like that before.