First off, we have the classic spam scenario. They mail from a nonsense name at a totally unrelated address [email protected], but ask you to reply to an address at a free web-mail service like Gmail or Hotmail. That is a prime red flag. If they're mailing you from one domain and asking you to reply to another, your spider sense should be tingling.
Second, processing payments for foreign companies is one of the oldest and most common scams around. It's not money laundering like some people might think. The payments you're receiving are forged checks and transfers from hacked paypal accounts. You cash them, send the money, and then a few days later the bank or PayPal identifies the check/payment as fraudulent. Now they come to you and want their money back, and you're on the hook because you cashed the fraudulent payment.
Legitimate foreign businesses can handle their finances through legitimate banks for reasonable fees and don't need regular Joes and Janes to process payments for them.
On the flip side, they might tell you they need information about your bank account so they can transfer money to you. Then they'll engage in a little identity theft and clean you out.
If this "comes up your alley, " you should ignore it. No good is going to come of it. Sorry to disappoint you.
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