ALWAYS investigate
@GardenGerty (157546)
United States
November 14, 2018 7:51am CST
Early this morning, like before 6:30 a.m., I had a message request on Facebook, about a supposed work from home gig.
First red flag: It came from the LA area, that means four thirty a.m. which is somewhat early for most people and opportunities.
Second red flag: The person had a Facebook profile, with no friends. It has been there for a couple of years, but had no activity or information other than he is an entrepreneur.
Third red flag: It was talking about advertising on Craigslist. The amount I could earn being a booking agent for luxury rentals was pretty decent. Not impossible, but not bread crumbs either. I have heard that there are lots of scams involving Craigslist ads. But why would a person in a very small town in Kansas be a good choice to book luxury rentals in LA? Not particularly logical.
Fourth red flag: He wanted my payment details upfront, and had not even hired me.Wanted my PayPal address.
Told him I would pass.
Always do a background check or some looking around before you give any information away. Do not get scammed.
9 people like this
7 responses
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
14 Nov 18
It is sad how many scammy things are out there now. There have been several facebook jobs on offer that I found to be a bit... weird. Maybe not outright scammy, but quite weird.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157546)
• United States
14 Nov 18
Yes, this came through an opportunity group. Scammers go in and harvest names there it seems.
@GardenGerty (157546)
• United States
15 Nov 18
@ScribbledAdNauseum He got my name from a group for trying to earn from home.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
14 Nov 18
@GardenGerty It's also why I am picky about who I add to my facebook. I've added some friends here (as you well know) and some that are across the ocean. There was one time where I had to delete a few people because they were spamming me.
1 person likes this
@just4him (305965)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
14 Nov 18
I got scammed a few years ago working for an outfit that looked legit, but it wasn't, though I did get paid, not always one time, and often had to request it. I finally quit when they wouldn't give me any straight answers to my legitimate concerns about the job.
I agree you need to do your homework first. That company I worked with didn't have any of my personal information.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157546)
• United States
14 Nov 18
I used to write as a freelancer for someone I met here, until I found I always had to wait for pay and also some of what I was requested to write was not truthful or was against my morals.
2 people like this
@just4him (305965)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
19 Nov 18
@GardenGerty I would never write anything against my morals for anybody.
@GardenGerty (157546)
• United States
15 Nov 18
This is a jobs and opportunity group on Facebook. They all post what they have. Contacting me was a little beyond the routine.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157546)
• United States
15 Nov 18
Yes, I am too. It was pretty early in the morning and I could easily have gotten fooled by not paying attention.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157546)
• United States
14 Nov 18
There are similar ones in the US. Would not deal in iTunes cards for anyone.
2 people like this
@paigea (35680)
• Canada
14 Nov 18
@GardenGerty convenience store clerks will question people who are buying large numbers of itunes cards. But people will still carry on doing what the scammer asked. Have to shake my head.
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171936)
• Agra, India
14 Nov 18
I never join any group or share any personal information on social media
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171936)
• Agra, India
14 Nov 18
@GardenGerty I always avoid unknown people and groups
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62085)
• United States
14 Nov 18
In reading this the red flag that popped up for me was the fact that he wants to hire someone to put things on Craigslist, when he can do that himself. I think you're very wise to pass this up.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
14 Nov 18
Hiring someone to copy / paste things on craigslist based on templates or something similar, that isn't impossible. Of course that would pay pennies on the dollar, and nothing more.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62085)
• United States
14 Nov 18
@GardenGerty — that makes things worse, because any fraud comes back on YOUR account, not his.
1 person likes this
