I applied to a virtual assistant job on Elance.com for Lisa on 5/29. I received an email to contact her via Yahoo Messenger to go through an interview. Not unheard of. So, I did, but she was unavailable (it was after 5 pm CST). I emailed her my email address and Yahoo Messenger information. She emailed me the next day with the interview questions (nothing weird. Just general questions). I promptly answered. She advised later that afternoon that I got the job and asked me to look into some items for the home office related to the job that they would be paying for. Again, nothing too weird (software, laptop, fax machine, and a server). I gave her the prices I had found and was advised that they would be sending me a check to cover the costs. She also advised that I needed to deposit the check ASAP and send them a copy of the ATM receipt. Since this sounded fishy, I told her my bank didn't do that, but I could get her a counter receipt, which she was fine with. I got the check in the mail this morning, 6/6, and took to the bank along with my gut feeling. Within six hours, they had called me to let me know that they check was indeed counterfeit and would be transferred to their loss prevention department. I will be delivering the mailing envelope to them in the morning as well.
Although 'Lisa' never asked for money back or anything yet, the sudden urgency to deposit and send a copy of the receipt was weird. Then, the envelope was shipped from Georgia, USPS says it was shipped from Texas, and the check is from a California bank with the 'owner' having an address in California.
: watch out
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