I know it's a scam, but is it illegal?

Question

Please be advised that I am not attempting to pull off this scam, a friend was "taken" and wants to know if what transpired was illegal.

Basically she answered a data entry/application processor ad on Craigslist. The person contacted her back and asked her to pay a measly $7 to get started...this was the "training" fee. So my friend paid the $7 on paypal and received information on how to send out the same scam to other people...no data entry, just taking peoples money....
The problem is the ad was for a "Application Processor" which is what she would be doing (she's NOT), processing others applications for the same $7 fee...to train them to do the same thing....so the ad wasn't really lying.
So is this legal? Please give me legit advice, not just what you assume to be true or untrue. If you could provide legal information or websites that deal with this kind of scam that would be appreciated.

I know it's only $7, but she wants it back on principal!

Thanks

I always report scammers on here...it's usually very obvious.
I was surprised she was scammed...usually she has a good head on her shoulders, but she REALLY wants to work from home and was looking for a real data entry position. She was hoping this was it.
It's sad, because I don't know where she should turn for a real job she could do from home=(

Normally I give a best answer, but I couldn't pick one...so into voting it goes

Answer 1

Yes - it is illegal to scam people. This particular scam is as old as can be --- just a different variation of the old "earn money stuffing envelopes." In that one, they send you information telling you to run the same ad in other papers offering to teach people how to make money stuffing envelopes and that is by sending them the same information that was just sent to them.

Can you do anything about it? Probably not.

1. Where did the crime take place? Your friend may live in Florida and the person they sent the money to may be in California. Is your friend going to fly to California to file charges? If not, your local police are (when they finish laughing at you) going to do absolutely nothing.

2. Have you contacted PayPal to ask if they can do anything? Probably not but at least they can close out the other person's account.

Why did they only charge $7? Probably because they've found out that if they charge more than that, people won't fall for it. I had a friend who operated a "postal mail station" that was basically a forwarding station for people to send mail to a phony address (lots of them around). He had boxes that would get 25-30 pieces of mail per day that he would simply drop back in the mail to another mail drop place. They might go to 8 or 9 different mail drop places in different states before they'd ever get to the scammer. Paypal just makes it so much easier.

Sorry - but be glad it was only $7 that your friend lost.

Answer 2

Without reading the wording of the ad on craiglist, it is hard to state that advertiser has commited an illegal activity. If the advertiser claimed that data entry/application processing work will be provided then he has commited a fraud as he is not doing that and asking your friend to find other people and ask for money.

I would advise that read the ad carefully and then talk to the advertiser about it. He might refund the money to your friend.

Answer 3

She might be able to make a case for theft by deception - and yes, it's illegal to scam people. But the law enforcement agencies aren't likely to spend much time chasing the scammer for $7 - that's what they count on.

And you're right, sometimes the ads are carefully enough worded that even if the scammer is caught, they could play innocent and claim they did exactly what they said they would for the fee.

Answer 4

Unfortunately it will probably cost her more that $7 (even if only in time) to recover it, which is what the scammers trade on..

So, instead, tell her to do her part here. You can help too.

Every time you find an obvious scammer on Y! Answers, hit the report button and write "scam" in the comments box. Make them go away and save other people from being taken like your friend.

Answer 5

A scam is a fraudulent business scheme; a swindle.
All scams may not be illegal !!
Some scams may involve unlawful conduct. There have been cases where people have been convicted of of fences relating to a scam.
In this particular case it is an illegal act and you can book the culprit for that !!

Answer 6

Yes, I think this would be a fraud. People are looking for a real job with a steady paycheck. This would be false advertising in many jurisdictions, and might also be criminally fraudulent.

Good luck,
Dana (attorney)

Answer 7

your friend should contact the state attorney general's office in the state where she lives. She should be able to find a phone number by googling "state attorney general"+(name of state). They can help her determine if there is anything she can do.