Christopher Larson & Kirsti Ollilainen of Erwido Oy, Helsinki, Finland — MAJOR RIPOFF ARTISTS!
I posted my resume at HotJobs.com and was scrolling around the site looking for good jobs to apply to when I spotted something to the effect of "Work at Home: Payment Processing/Debt Collection Representative". It sounded pretty interesting so I applied.
About a week or so later, I heard from Mr. Larson via email and a contract was attached. (I still have it, by the way, for evidence.) I filled it out but did not attach my NY State ID card or reveal my SSN before faxing it—I attached a copy of my phone bill instead.
I faxed it to the US fax number and was contacted a week or two later by Ms. Ollilainen, who emailed me explicit instructions on what to do with the checks I would be receiving: I was to deposit them into my checking account, allow them to clear, then wire the cash (less my $600 and Western Union's charge) to the Czech Republic.
I was informed that I would receive the first check on Feb. 22 via FedEx. I did, in the amount of $4,710.75. I deposited it that day and was told it would take about 5 business days to clear. Not counting Saturdays & Sundays, this meant the clearance date would be March 1. When the check didn't clear by March 3, I got a bit suspicious; I phoned the bank and learned the check was being returned to me.
It arrived about a day or two later, stamped "COUNTERFEIT". I emailed Ms. Ollilainen about this—zero reply. Ditto Mr. Larson. I consider myself lucky that all I lost was $40 in bank fees ($10 for the bad check; $30 for being overdrawn); it could've been MUCH worse. But I'm still pissed about losing that $600 I should've gotten!
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