Dateline (NBC) Investigation of More Work from Home Scams
Dateline’s work at home scam investigation aired in early April, (the full program available online), examines more cases of fake jobs obtained over the internet from what appeared to be major legitimate companies, like like Staples, Compac Computers and Goldman Sachs. One of an endless various scams perpetrated by Nigerians that all capitalize on banks adding to the depositor’s account, prior to the funds from the counterfeit checks “clearing” . Never wire a “surplus” or “fee” payment via Western Union until the check’s funds have transferred. (I would never wire money to strangers, under any circumstances)
For more info, check out the FTCs guide: Giving the Bounce to Counterfeit Check Scams
The Dateline program revealed a more sophisticated addition to the scam, hiring “payroll clerks”, individuals who use standard check creation software to unknowingly produce counterfeit checks, using bank account numbers provided by the scammers, one woman had sent out hundreds of checks totaling over $750,000 before realizing she was a puppet.
Fraud is said to be one of the top 5 sources of income in Nigeria, Dateline played an excerpt from a popular song: I go chop your dollar
“Oyinbo man I go chop your dollar,
I go take your money and disappear
419 is just a game, you are the loser I am the winner”