Craiglist “Job” Scam

15 thoughts on “Craiglist “Job” Scam”

1. 

   John Myers December 11, 2010Reply

   I just got taken in by this scam. I lost $3200. I’m an unemployed PC tech so the deal looked tempting.

   Looking back on it, I can’t believe how stupid I’ve been. There were a few alarm bells that went off, but I did a little checking and things looked legit. Mission Australia is a real organization. The name on the check was from a law firm Zeldes, Needle & Cooper, a real law firm.

   When I deposited the check, I asked the bank how long it would take before the funds cleared (2-3 business days), and I waited that amount of time. I checked my bank balance and the money was still there. It wasn’t until two days later that my bank informed me that the check had bounced.

   The details you listed above are exactly the way it happened to me. To the word.

   I looked this up on Snopes, but they didn’t have anything. I’m glad your site has published something on this scam. But it was too late for me.

   Thanks,
   John Myers

2. 

   Jose December 13, 2010Reply

   Hey there, I got the same issue with this email from Ronald Lang from Mision Australia. I’ve received today and I almost got in the trap. I just asked him for more information about him and his organizacion Mision Asutralia with the “S” missing (lol).

3. 

   Sane Thing December 15, 2010Reply

   Only this was from a David Skinner. The letter is verbatim, even the repairs needed, him being in Lima, Peru, etc.

   I will turn the check over to my bank with all of this info, maybe they can catch one of them if they slip up.

4. 

   Barbara December 20, 2010Reply

   Interesting, I received a job offer to be a “virtual personal assistant” from David Skinner. Sounds like he’s changed the scam a bit but still a scam!

5. 

   Vigilante December 21, 2010Reply

   The scam mail:

   “Subject: [Bulk] Personal Assistant Needed
   From: “David Skinner”

   Hello,

   My name is David Skinner, I am a Mission Australia(USA) Regional Coordinator and also
   a Business Tycoon. I’m looking for someone that can be trusted and reliable to work very
   well and with good understanding. I apologize for randomly contacting you as I got your email
   address from a Job survey in which you provided your email address for future participation.
   This position is home-based and flexible, working with me is basically about instructions
   and following them, my only fear is that I may come at you impromptu sometimes, so I need
   someone who can be able to meet up with my irregular timings.

   As my personal assistant, your activities among others will include:

   *Running personal errands, supervisions and monitoring.
   *Scheduling programmes, flights and keeping me up to date with them.
   *Acting as an alternative telephone correspondence while I’m away.
   *Making regular contacts and drop-offs on my behalf.
   *Handling and monitoring some of my financial activities.
   *Basic wage is $1000 a week .

   QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

   *Good planning, communication and organization skills
   *Must be honest, reliable & dependable
   *Excellent verbal & written communication skills
   *Must have strong problem solving skills
   *Must be organized & extremely detail oriented
   *Experience working with the internet, email, MS Excel and MS Word
   *Ability to multi-task and self manage 24/7 mindset
   *A willingness to do whatever needs to be done is a must

   NOTE: The above qualification requirements can also be learned if you are willing to take up the challenges.

   Kindly respond if interested in the Offer!

   Very Respectfully,
   David Skinner
   Mission Australia (USA).”

   Let´s play with this guy. lol Scam baiters, attack: dskinner01@misionaustralia.com

6. 

   ozduc December 21, 2010Reply

   Received the same scam as above from david skinner so I thought I’d have a little fun. Here is my reply:

   Hello Mr. Skinner,
   I would be happy to be your personal assistant. however I really hate running personal errands.
   I am terrible at scheduling programs and hate dealing with flight schedules. You know how bad airlines can be.
   When it comes to speaking on the phone on your behalf, I am sure I will piss off all your clients as I can be a real arrogant prick, although some would say my verbal and written communication skills are excellent. As far as regular contact and drop offs on your behalf, I will only do those if they are for major drug, or arms deals as I am not very honest and I am sick of pussy footing around with honest jobs. I will handle and monitor your financial activities as long as your bank account is in the 8+ figures. Anything less than that it is not worth it for me to skim my percentage from. As for the weekly wage, you are being such a scab as I know that doing everything I will need to do, whatever it is that needs to be done, is worth a lot more than $1000 a week.
   Sincerely.
   Your new assistant.

   From: David Skinner
   Sent: Tue, December 21, 2010 5:52:50 PM
   Subject: Peronal Asst. Needed

   Hello,

   My name is David Skinner, I am a Mission Australia(USA) Regional Coordinator.
   I’m looking for someone that can be trusted and reliable to work very well and with good understanding.
   I apologize for randomly contacting you as I got your email address from a Job survey in which you p
   rovided your email address for future participation.
   This position is home-based and flexible, working with me is basically about instructions
   and following them, my only fear is that I may come at you impromptu sometimes, so I need
   someone who can be able to meet up with my irregular timings.

   As my personal assistant, your activities among others will include:

   *Running personal errands, supervisions and monitoring.
   *Scheduling programmes, flights and keeping me up to date with them.
   *Acting as an alternative telephone correspondence while I’m away.
   *Making regular contacts and drop-offs on my behalf.
   *Handling and monitoring some of my financial activities.
   *Basic wage is $1000 a week .

   QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

   *Good planning, communication and organization skills
   *Must be honest, reliable & dependable
   *Excellent verbal & written communication skills
   *Must have strong problem solving skills
   *Must be organized & extremely detail oriented
   *Experience working with the internet, email, MS Excel and MS Word
   *Ability to multi-task and self manage 24/7 mindset
   *A willingness to do whatever needs to be done is a must

   NOTE: The above qualification requirements can also be learned if you are willing to take up the challenges.

   Kindly respond if interested in the Offer!

   Very Respectfully,
   David Skinner
   Mission Australia (USA).

7. 

   WFischer December 21, 2010Reply

   FYI,

   STAY FAR AWAY FROM DAVID SKINNER of MISSION AUSTRALIA

   I just got the same scam email from “David Skinner of Mission Australia” with the following:

   [Message Header]
   X-Originating-IP: [200.38.250.200]
   Authentication-Results: mta1039.sbc.mail.mud.yahoo.com from=misionaustralia.com; domainkeys=neutral (no sig); from=misionaustralia.com; dkim=neutral (no sig)
   Received: from 200.38.250.200 (EHLO nlpi099.prodigy.net) (207.115.36.115)
   by mta1039.sbc.mail.mud.yahoo.com with SMTP; Sun, 19 Dec 2010 16:41:45 -0800
   X-Header-Overseas: Mail.from.Overseas.source.200.38.250.200
   X-Originating-IP: [200.38.250.200]
   Received: from mail.palmas.net (axis.palmas.net [200.38.250.200])
   by nlpi099.prodigy.net (8.14.4 IN/8.14.4) with ESMTP id oBK0fZ2T012644;
   Sun, 19 Dec 2010 18:41:45 -0600
   Received: from User ([178.162.151.54]) by mail.palmas.net with Microsoft SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.4675);
   Sun, 19 Dec 2010 09:06:27 -0600
   Reply-To:
   From: “David Skinner”
   Subject: P.A
   Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2010 07:07:08 -0800
   MIME-Version: 1.0
   Content-Type: text/plain;
   charset=”Windows-1251″
   Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
   X-Priority: 3
   X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
   X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2600.0000
   X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2600.0000
   Bcc:
   Message-ID:
   X-OriginalArrivalTime: 19 Dec 2010 15:06:27.0748 (UTC) FILETIME=[4F75BE40:01CB9F8E]

   Hello,

   My name is David Skinner, I am a Mission Australia(USA) Regional Coordinator and also
   a Business Tycoon. I’m looking for someone that can be trusted and reliable to work very
   well and with good understanding. I apologize for randomly contacting you as I got your email
   address from a Job survey in which you provided your email address for future participation.
   This position is home-based and flexible, working with me is basically about instructions
   and following them, my only fear is that I may come at you impromptu sometimes, so I need
   someone who can be able to meet up with my irregular timings.

   As my personal assistant, your activities among others will include:

   *Running personal errands, supervisions and monitoring.
   *Scheduling programmes, flights and keeping me up to date with them.
   *Acting as an alternative telephone correspondence while I’m away.
   *Making regular contacts and drop-offs on my behalf.
   *Handling and monitoring some of my financial activities.
   *Basic wage is $1000 a week .

   QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

   *Good planning, communication and organization skills
   *Must be honest, reliable & dependable
   *Excellent verbal & written communication skills
   *Must have strong problem solving skills
   *Must be organized & extremely detail oriented
   *Experience working with the internet, email, MS Excel and MS Word
   *Ability to multi-task and self manage 24/7 mindset
   *A willingness to do whatever needs to be done is a must

   NOTE: The above qualification requirements can also be learned if you are willing to take up the challenges.

   Kindly respond if interested in the Offer!

   Very Respectfully,
   David Skinner
   Mission Australia (USA).

8. 

   rohan perry December 23, 2010Reply

   I have just received an almost similr letter to the one above only that they are seeking a personal assistant and its from one “David Skinner”. All i did was typed in “David Skinner Mission Australia” and i saw where you said stay away from David Skinner. Thank you fr this information i will spread this info to all the persons in my address book

9. 

   rohan perry December 23, 2010Reply

   Hello, My name is David Skinner, I am a Mission Australia(USA) Regional Coordinator. I’m looking for someone that can be trusted and reliable to work very well and with good understanding. I apologize for randomly contacting you as I got your email address from a Job survey in which you provided your email address for future participation.This position is home-based and flexible, working with me is basically about instructions and following them, my only fear is that I may come at you impromptu sometimes, so I need someone who can be able to meet up with my irregular timings. As my personal assistant, your activities among others will include: *Running personal errands, supervisions and monitoring.*Scheduling programmes, flights and keeping me up to date with them.*Acting as an alternative telephone correspondence while I’m away.*Making regular contacts and drop-offs on my behalf.*Handling and monitoring some of my financial activities.*Basic wage is $1000 a week . QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: *Good planning, communication and organization skills*Must be honest, reliable & dependable*Excellent verbal & written communication skills*Must have strong problem solving skills*Must be organized & extremely detail oriented*Experience working with the internet, email, MS Excel and MS Word*Ability to multi-task and self manage 24/7 mindset*A willingness to do whatever needs to be done is a must NOTE: The above qualification requirements can also be learned if you are willing to take up the challenges. Kindly respond if interested in the Offer! Very Respectfully,David SkinnerMission Australia (USA).

10. 

    Rich December 26, 2010Reply

    ((((( Thanks for the heads up guys…. )))))

    Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2010 05:08:16 +0100
    Subject: Re: P.A
    From: dskinner01@misionaustralia.com
    To: xxxxxx@hotmail.com

    Hello,
    Thanks for the swift response and interest in working with me as my Personal Assistant. Well I’m sure you’ll understand I tend to have a very busy schedule at this point, the organisation distributed few computers to a missionary home in Lima, Peru, which i am incharge of and the objectives is to hold a free computer training section for the kids at the Mission Home, we got information that the computers all malfunctioned so i had to go there to supervise, so I am presently in Lima Peru, I will be back in Three Weeks. I think you’re the right person for this position, Please note that this position is not office based for now because of my frequent travels and tight schedules, it’flexibility means that there will be busier weeks than others, so it’s a little difficult judging the exact number of hours you’ll be doing per week.
    I do have lots of works piled up presently and a number of unattended chores which you can immediately assist me with, I hope we can meet up with the workload eventually. Permit me to use this week to test your efficiency and diligence towards all this, also to work out your time schedule and fit it to mine. I really need to find the perfect person for this job, I’m confident you can take up the challenge and on the long run we should have a relatively sound working relationship between us. I’m online most of the time as I am hard of hearing so I prefer we contact each other through E-mails, but if there is need for me to call, I will be glad to do that by using a hearing device. I am glad you are willing to work with me and i promise to be a good boss, I am also glad on the commitment in working.
    I have been checking my files and what i would want you to do for me this week is to run some errands out to some of the Foster Homes, I do that every month. I will have some funds sent to you inform of a Certified Company Check to complete the assignment I have some lists to email you once you received the funds, You will make some arrangements by buying some stuff for the kids in the Foster Homes at any nearest store around you so you can mail them out. I will get you more information on that, Kindly get back to me with your Mailing Address such as:

    Full Names:
    Mailing Address :
    City, State, Zip Code :
    Cell Phone Number:

    The employee,acknowledged the Detailed Job Description
    and signed ______________________
    (First Name and Last Name of Employee)

    Once I have received your contact information, I will get back to you with the task for this week, Understand you will also be paid as well as its important for me to make the necessary steps before i get back from my business trip back to the states. Hope I am clear with that.

    Very Respectfully,
    David Skinner
    Mission Australia (USA).

11. 

    jaz February 11, 2011Reply

    Thanx for the heads up u guys! Thts really cool of u guys to stop this guy or whoever he is I almost got taken but I thought it seemed sketchy so I googled him. “)

12. 

    fff aaa cc ttt ooo rrr February 22, 2011Reply

    I got my big chek $ 3,200, and I asked him to deposit the bank and then sends the rest to another via westerunion idreccion. I thank my wife who insisted me to search google about david skinner and well I found this page …. hopefully more people aware and not fall into the trap.

13. 

    chris July 19, 2011Reply

    I received this “job interview” request from an “Andrew Jackson” sounds like the scams listed on here.

    Good Day!

    Hope you’re having a pleasant day? You contacted me applying for the position which I advertised on Craigslist.

    Do take time to go through this introductory mail and feel free to pass any questions on.
    Andrew Jackson is my name. I am a Senior Project Manager and my responsibilities include the day-to-day

    oversight for the planning, design, pre-construction and construction process through project completion. My

    responsibilities also includes preparing responses for proposal requests from various outside sources.

    Andrew Jackson’s Specialties:

    I have experience in office building construction including government projects (both Tenant Improvement and

    Base Building design and construction), and commercial clients (Starbucks, Lockheed Martin, SiloSmashers,

    Starbucks). In addition I have been the Project Manager for third party parking garages located at the University

    of Maryland and St. Joseph Medical Center. I also have little knowledge about photography and i often hold

    lectures on construction as a subject as it is the rudiment of civil engineering and it’s an aspect that is of great

    importance to civil engineering which is my profession. I have been into civil engineering for over 30 years and at

    the moment, I am in a work right now in Japan As nuclear Engineering authorities to avert a nuclear meltdown,

    so i will be here for a month because we are working aggressively to support our Japanese ally at this time of

    extraordinary challenge after which I will fly down to our Headquarters in Pennsylvania for a report and series of

    lectures with some students. I bring a unique teaching style to students which will guarantee creative and fun

    learning by all civil engineering students while elevating them to new, exciting engineering heights that they have

    only dreamed of.

    YOUR DUTIES AS MY OFFICE ASSISTNACE/ PERSONAL ASSISTANT.

    While I am out of the states, I need some one who can stand in the gap for me. His/her duties will be the following.

    1.To receive letters and mails on my behalf.
    2.Receive checks and money orders from clients who want to attend the forth coming workshops or Live shows.
    3.Schedule appointments for me.
    4.Book my flight tickets.
    5.Send letters and mails from my clients.

    This position is home-based and flexible part time job,you can be in any location to carry out any of the activities.

    All you need do is to check your emails twice daily and keep your phone on most times in case i might need to call

    you from anywhere i may be.I do have a number of things you could help me with this week if you will be

    available to start.This can act as a stable foundation to our working relationship.Let me know if you have any of

    the office equipment (If not, I will make arrangements to send them to your address)

    Printer:
    Personal Laptop/Desktop:
    Internet Access:
    Scanner:
    Fax machine:
    Laminator:
    Paper Cutter:

    For proper review(since i am not available now to set up a face-to-face interview) supply out correctly the

    information below:

    Why did you apply for this job?

    Do you have any knowledge of Admin Personal Assistance job because it involves money management?

    Can you check your email messages at least 3 times daily?

    Do you have a Yahoo messenger or MSN messenger for chatting Online?

    Do you have a chatting email address and can you chat online with customers?

    what is your current job?

    FIRST NAME …………………. SURNAME……………….
    ADDRESS Not P.O.BOX Address ……………..
    CITY …………STATE……………………….
    ZIP CODE…………COUNTRY………………
    PHONE NUMBER (S) ……………………
    Email………………..

    Scanned copy of your ID:(You can provide that later when you are employed)

    Note: It will be of added advantage if you can provide 2 references from your past employment.

    Qualification:
    1.Educational background is not a criteria.
    2.You must be Organized and able to take instructions well Dependable, Reliable, Trustworthy a must
    3.Must have excellent English language skills (both spoken and written)
    4.Have great work ethic and attitude, as well as people skills, pay-attention to detail, capable of multi-tasking, and

    works well under stress at times.

    Benefits:
    – Yearly performance bonus
    – Paid vacation/sick/personal days
    – Medical benefits
    – Salary: $500 weekly($2500.00 monthly)
    Also,there will be compensation for efficiency and hard working.

    Thanks
    Andrew Jackson
    Email:onlinejob1925@hotmail.com

14. 

    tommi August 10, 2011Reply

    Does anyone know what the “scammers” get out of this? If it’s identity theft, I don’t get it. I mean, they’re not getting SSN or actual IDs from the “applicant,” right? How can they get from this scam to identity theft?

    Clueless and looking for help.

15. 

    Rick Post authorAugust 10, 2011Reply

    Hello Tommi, the scam part is right here:

    “After some negotiated costs (pretty much an “OK, that sounds good.”) “Ronald” says he’s going to send me a check and the laptops. Simply cash the check, keep my fee, send the rest of the money to another address, and then fix the laptops when they arrive.”

    It’s the typical fake Money Order scam. You’ll cash the money order (or check,) which will go into your bank account. You’ll send them the rest of the money (usually several hundred to several thousand dollars,) minus your “fee” for doing so. A couple of days later the bank will discover that the money order is fake and reverse all the charges into your bank account. So you’ll end up loosing whatever money you sent to them, as the bank is not going to cover those charges.