What is the scam?

Question

I have received a couple "Job Opportunities" all with different stories but the basic job is the same. Namely, receive a check or money order and an address to western union the money to while I collect 10% of the original amount sent. What are these people trying to scam?

This is a clip out of one of these "opportunities".

Guang Dong LianSu Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd. manufactures and sell plastic piping, extrusion facilities and other raw materials to extrusion engineering firms. We need you to work with us as our offshore payment agent who can help us eastablish a medium of receiving payment on our behalf for Goods and raw materials we supplied to our customers in your country. Will we pay 10% of any amount you receive for us and the balance will be paid into an account the Company will avail to you.

Answer 1

The check/money order is counterfeit so it will bounce after a week or two and the bank will come after you.

Answer 2

Be wary of offers of employment that require you to deposit money into your account and then wire it to a third party.

Forward the email to [e-mail]
To Avoid scams here is what i tell people...
All spam emails/unsolicited phone calls/letters and faxes are scams.
As a general rule - ANYTHING involving Western Union/money gram = Scam.
my Advice: Don't deal with anyone from a foreign country or Accept checks from strangers and never use wire/bank transfer services.. you risk losing your $$ and your mind.
Remember, if it sounds too good
to be true, it probably is! NEVER(ever) give out your personal information to strangers online or offline! Always be on guard.

Answer 3

I been slapped with the same scam a few months ago.Scams like that are usually from someone in Nigeria.I seen an ad on craigslist about processing money orders from their customers that live in the US because they have trouble cashing the moneyorders in their country.They sent me 3 $850.00 money orders and told me to cash it in my bank,take out 10 percent from each check then western union the rest of it to a name in Nigeria.Of course it wasn't his or her real name.The bank will cash it but when the check clears in a week or so you will have a BIG FAT overdraft.It's too good to be true.My advice to you is stay far away! I never tried it,but a friend of mine did.

Answer 4

You are wise to check out these crooks who may operate to get money for terrorism.
They send you a phoney money order or check, take your pick, but you sir, will go down and buy a real money order using whose money? Why, your own, of course. Their check hasn't cleared yet, it fack it is phony as a three dollar bill. Turn the scam over to the FBI. Im sure they know of this one but it maybe a different operator. Billions are going out of the US on this scheme, Can you beli8eve it?

Answer 5

They send you a check or money order that will bounce, and you have sent them their 90% by the time it does so you'd be out that much money. The first few items they send you might go through OK just to gain your confidence, but then there will be a big one that will bounce.

Answer 6

You get a check, cash it, and wire them money -- then the check bounces and you're out the money, the fee for the bounced check, and have some explaining to do to the bank and authorities.

Answer 7

Have you heard of "laundering money?" Terrorist have a cunning way of fooling the best of them. I wouldn't get involved if I were you.