April 4, received email from Ben Andrews ([email protected]) offering part-time job evaluating comppanies, hotels, stores, industries. Requested and receivedinfo on the company and job. April 11 received "appointment as company's Evaluator" and first assignment with instructions to evaluate a Western Union wire transfer at a site in my area (my choice of sites. April 11 - I received via Priority Mail a cashier's check for $1,950.00 with instructions to cash the check, deduct $200 for my expenses, wire $1,600 to a Paul George Annkrom, 1618 E. 47th, Cleveland, OH 44103. April 12, I deposited the check into my checking account via ATM. April 15, I withdrew $1,750 (retaining $200 as instructed) from my checking account, then I went to a local Currency Exchange, where I sent the wire transfer to Mr. Ankrom, and paid the transfer fee ($146.00). Soon after I returned home, I received a call and email from Ben Andrews informing me that the recipient was no longer in Ohio and I should return to the Currency Exchange and have the cash re-routed to a James Hollabaugh in Ohio. I returned to the facility as instructed, changed the name and was told the wire went through in 3minutes. I sent a report via Email to Ben Andrew who responded that I would receive another assignment. The second assignment was received via overnight FedEX April 17 at approx. 11A.M. With the same instructions only that i use another Western Union facility (2 were suggested - both nearby). I went to my bank with the intention of actually cashing the check, but it did not clear. The teller suggested that I deposit it, which I did. When I checked my account online this morning, the check had not cleared, my account was debited for $1,950 plus returned check charges. I received a call from my bank informing me of the overdrafts and advised me to report the apparent scam. I have saved all of the email messages that I received and sent to Ben Andrews. As I was preparing this report, Mr. Andrews called and asked if I had completed the assignment (I responded that I had not) and asked if I would do it today. I responded that I would try and did not indicate to him that I am aware of the scam. Please advise.
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