Does this sound shady to you?

[kevyn]

I posted my Dependable Strengths Report on the resumes section of Craigslist his week. Mostly I'm just getting spam from get rich quick schemes.

The response I received this morning seems downright shady. It's a work-at-home plan, as an "Independent Receivable Clerk," coordinating payments and receiving cheques from clients of "Midwest Research Institute," depositing and processing cheques at my local bank, and taking a 10% cut.

Sounds like a cheque laundering scheme to me.

From: dllyordz@gmail.com
Subject: Employment offer ( part-time Midwest Research Institute)
Date: March 28, 2009 7:08:18 PM PDT (CA)
Reply-To: drroberkippa@gmail.com

My name is Robert A. Kipp . It's a prividledge in offering you a part-time
paying job in which you could earn an reasonable income. I just re-signed my job
as a research scientist for MRI (Midwest Research Institute) but I still work as
a freelance consultant for the Institute. Presently, I have just been granted to
head a research project in the tropical regions of America and Europe regarding
Agriculture & Food Safety and this would be commencing very soon. Meanwhile, We
are currently seeking part or full time employees for our up-growing research
institute for position of Accounts Receivable Department.

Through extensive demographic research, we have discovered a wealth of untapped
human resources that for one reason or another, need the freedom to work from
home. If this sounds lively to you please read on, and consider becoming part of
our company family for expanding future growth.

We seek capable individuals to work for us as our representative.You can easily
make $700-$2000 or more in a week by working for us as Independent Contractor in
your geographical location, you will be in charge of collecting payment on
behalf of our affiliates that will fund the project ahead.

Your Duties as an Independent Receivable Clerk:
Co-ordinate payments from our clients
Receive payments (US BANK Drawn Money Orders, Travelers Cheque or Cashier

Cheque)
Process payments at your local bank, withdraw 10% of the total amount on these
payment as your commission {10% from each operation!}

For instance: You receive a payment of 7000 USD via cheques or money orders on
our behalf. You will cash the money and keep $700 (10% from $7000) for yourself!
At the beginning your commission will equal 10%, though later it will increase
up to 15%!

The offer is open to you and i believe the requested duties are not much for a
Work from Home/Part Time Job, Kindly Email me back at:

drroberkippa@gmail.com so we
can make concluding arrangements.

Please note when replying fill the form below:
Name:
Full Address:(not p.o.box):
City:
State:
Zip code:
Phone Number(s):
Age:
Sex:
Current job:
Email:
Nationality:
What is your preferred mode of communication? Phone/e-mail:

Thanks for your anticipated action.And i hope to hear back from you.

Robert A. Kipp
Board of Directors / Trustee Group
MRI Kansas City Facilities
425 Volker Boulevard
Kansas City, Missouri 64110-2241
drroberkippa@gmail.com
http://www.mriresearch.org

Comments

Does it sound shady?

[gmjambear]

Do bees buzz?
Is the sky (usually) blue?
Does a bear defecate in the woods?

Caveat emptor.

A reminder

[gmjambear]

From Chicago Tribune.com:
Beware of the scammer

Re: Does it sound shady?

[kevynjacobs.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I thought so, but I needed a reality check. Being flat broke can make you make rash decisions, sometimes.

Re: A reminder

[kevynjacobs.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that!

[ursomniac.livejournal.com]

I can't accept any company seriously that doesn't use a spell checker.

A prividledge sounds like something that's attached to the outside of a penthouse outhouse.

[kevynjacobs.livejournal.com]

Good point!

[detailbear.livejournal.com]

1. Freelance consultants do not legitimately receive Receivables from their employers' sponsors. I wonder if MRI even knows about this.
2. Legitimate businesses do not generally deposit cheques on a commission basis. If they need an in-state banking clerk, they hire one. Or maybe this is a division of Halliburton?
3. There is a former City Manager of KCMO and an UMKC Engineering grad named Robert A. Kipp. He is the Robert A. Kipp on MRI's Board of Directors, retired from Hallmark Cards.
4. Why doesn't Dr. Kipp have an MRI e-mail?
5. "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

Journalism skills a little rusty, dear? Maybe you should contact MRI's accounting department and ask them if the person representing themselves as Dr. Robert A. Kipp and handling their receivables is actually their Board member? Maybe he's an imposter. Maybe he's lining his pockets. Maybe they really do have an unusual business model. Maybe you would become completely liable for all debts if the cheques were to bounce.

Hmmm?

[kevynjacobs.livejournal.com]

I emailed MRI's HR department, asking about the scheme, and the email bounced. That was enough evidence for me.

> Maybe you would become completely liable for all debts if the cheques were to bounce.

THAT'S what I'm worried about.

Not to worry, I suspected this was bad news up front, just wanted a second opinion. Thank you!