Overseas Artist Job Offer Scam

Outline:
Emails claim that an artist needs a part time employee to process foreign cheques and money orders and will pay the employee a percentage of all funds processed.

Status:
False

Detailed Analysis:
According to this email, an artist based in Sweden is facing difficulties processing foreign cheques and money orders submitted by overseas buyers of his works. Therefore, claims the message, the artist needs a part time worker based in the US who is able to bank the funds locally and then wire the balance back to Sweden. And, as payment, the worker can deduct and keep 10% of each transaction.

However, the “artist” in question is in fact a scam-artist, not the type that paints or sculpts. To some recipients who are unaware of the nefarious ways of Internet fraudsters, this scheme may seem legitimate and an easy way to generate extra income. But, in reality, the scheme is nothing more than a money laundering scam designed to help criminals convert the proceeds of fraud to untraceable cash.

Any cheques and money orders that the hapless “worker” receives and processes are likely to be fake or stolen. The financial institution handling the transactions may actually release the funds and only find out later that the cheques or money orders are bogus. By that time, the proceeds, minus the 10% “commission”, have been wired overseas to the criminal responsible. Thus, while the criminal can simply disappear with his ill-gotten gains, the recipient may be left out of pocket. Worse, if the police are able to track the movement of the stolen funds to the “worker”, he or she could even be convicted of theft or fraud.

If the worker has been tricked into divulging enough sensitive personal information, he or she may become a victim of identity theft as well.

Regardless of the cover story put forward, people should be very cautious of any funds-processing job that instructs them to deduct a percentage of the received funds and wire the balance to an overseas destination. It is very doubtful that any legitimate business would operate in such a way. If a legitimate business did need an overseas-based worker to process funds, it is exceptionally unlikely that it would hire someone for such a sensitive position, sight unseen, via an unsolicited email. If such workers were required, they would be carefully vetted beforehand. If they were found to be suitable for the position, they would be officially hired and then subsequently remunerated via legitimate channels such as a set wage or a separately payed commission. They certainly would not be instructed to “self-pay” by deducting a specified percentage from processed funds.

There are several variants of this “overseas artist” ruse that use different names and countries. The following example claims the artist is based in London. Other examples I have received claim to originate from Tokyo and various other cities in the UK, Asia and Africa.

Subject: JOB OFFER(Earn 10% Representing Us)

Dear Friend,

My name is Terry Dickson , I am an artist base in the united kingdom. I own Terry ART WORLD in London (United Kingdom)I live in London United Kingdom. I have been doing artwork since I was a small child That gives me about 28 years of experience I majored in art in high school and took a few college art courses Most of my work is done in either pencil or art brush.

I have recently added designing and creating artwork on the computer AND sculpture , I have been selling my art for the last 3 years and have had my work featured on trading cards, prints and in magazines, I have sold in galleries and to private collectors from all around the world. I am always facing serious difficulties when it comes to selling my art works to Americans, they are alwa ys offering to pay with momey order or casher\’s cheque, which is difficult for me to cash here in London United Kingdom.

I am looking for a representative in the United States Of America who will be working for me as a part time worker and i will be willing to pay 10% for every transaction, which wouldn\’t affect your present state of work, someone who would help me receive payments from my customers in the states, I mean someone that is responsible and reliable, because the cost of coming to the state and getting payments is very expensive, I am working on setting up a branch in the state, so for now i need a representative in the United States Of America who will be handling the payment aspect for our company.

These payments are in order or casher’s cheque and they wouldcome to you in your name if you are willing to assist as a representative, so all you need do is cash the money order deduct your percentage and western union Charges then wire the r e st back.

NOTE: All charges of the Western Union money transfer or Money Gram.will be deducted from the money, so you are rest assured that you wouldn’t spend a dime out of your personal money.If you are interested, please get back to me as soon as possible via email.

N: B, Please send to me the listed information below to this email address
tdickson1759@yahoo.co.uk :

#Your full name:
#Your full home address,
#Your age
#Occupation
#marital status,
#direct contact telephone number

I will be needing your home address, so that I will forward it to my customers to send you the casher’s cheque . via Fedex or overnight shipment.

Thanks for your assistant and God bless.

Terry Dickson .
CEO Terry ART INC,
London, United Kingdom.

+44 701113 8755

Please remember to send your information to this email address
tdickson1759@yahoo.co.uk

 

Regardless of the supposed location of the “artist” all such job offers are scams. For more information about money laundering scams, see: Payment Transfer Job Scam Emails – Laundering Scams

Last updated:  5th November 2007
First published:  5th November 2007
By Brett M. Christensen
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Original Source : https://www.hoax-slayer.net/overseas-artist-job-offer-scam/