I had an experience very similar to Carol from Knoxville's. I answered the same advertisement on Craigslist, and did the same online interview for Lockton's Computers. I searched the company name on Google. It came up in several business directories, and there was at that time no complaints filed online. The agent, calling himself James Gary, mentioned that there was a website in progress, which checked out, and gave a London address and phone number. The name of the company was mentioned in the Craigslist ad, and a gmail account was given [notoriously hard to spam from]. The interview stressed honesty and was worded quite formally. I was sent official-looking documents to electronically sign and Mr. Gary was quite adamant about receiving them all at once. He requested me to be online at 9 am each morning, and was not available weekends. I was not asked for my social security #, checking account #, or any other sensitive information. I was asked to find prices for several items, including timekeeping / recordkeeping software, and the list was very detailed and specific. Two of the software companies I found online; the other, "Gage", did not have an online listing. I received a $1500 check after several delays and deposited it at my bank, which put a 9-day waiting period on it. I figured if the check cleared, the company would be legit. The name on the check was simply that, a name, and I considered that it was probably a subsidiary or outside company handling accounts. Meanwhile, once the check cleared, I was to send it via Western Union to the representative from Gage. This company was supposedly installing software on a computer that would be shipped to me once completed. The check looked completely legitimate. This roundabout way of doing business didn't seem smart to me but it didn't really seem suspicious. I was under the impression hiring overseas representatives was a new project for the company and all the kinks hadn't quite been ironed out yet. The check cleared, and the transfer was made. Then things got strange. Gage was requesting more money, Mr. Gary told me. I asked why it was costing so much, and why they weren't listed online, and he basically said he didn't know, he was just hr and I'd have to take that up with the financier. The 2nd check was immediately suspicious. It was written off a chiropractic clinic, which I searched online & then called. The owner told me someone had essentially stolen the identity of his business and that the check was fraudulent. I sent back an email to Lockton's asking for an explanation, and my concerns were dismissed.
These people have gone to great lengths to make Lockton's appear as a real business. It may possibly BE a real business, but if it is, James Gary is NOT a real representative.
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