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What is this advanced fee scam for sysadmin jobs?

3 points by tomcam ↗ HN
An acquaintance has applied for a sysadmin job that supposedly advances $4,500 from a Wells Fargo account. For context, this person is 62 and has no sysadmin experience. Obviously a scam--but how does the scam work?

5 comments

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FilthyAnalyst
They will need to send them money back or purchase something to send to the scammer. Could be a computer that needs to be configured at corporate or something purchased from them posing as a vendor. A common thing is they send an overpayment and request money be sent back immediately. It can be considered participating in money laundering and I know of 'victims' who are unable to open bank accounts. And of course the original funds will turn out to be bad.
tomcam
Well that's evil. Thank you.
aziaziazi
Thanks. What if the victim does not sent back the overpayment ?
FilthyAnalyst
They'll still have a problem with the bank as the check will eventually be reversed. With the know your customer laws banks are getting pretty cautious dealing with people who deposit checks that are associated with money laundering scams. My mother has an aide who has fallen for a couple similar scams and is now unable to open a bank account with the major retail banks.
ksaj
I think the method is that they send you a transfer that will bounce because it isn't a real one, but you have to buy a laptop or development system that will supposedly be delivered to them for software installation and configuration before your bank notices the problem.

They then cancel the purchase before it is delivered (or they may even be the supposed equipment vendor) so no delivery occurs, and the money is refunded to their offshore unnamed account, instead of to the job seeking hopeful.

They get the return money since that's what the company name on the invoice will specify, and you get stuck with the bill because you paid for it with your own money or credit.