Blind to the red flags
Are you currently looking for a job? Do you have your resumé posted on job sites? Well, be careful. I was recently a victim of an online scam and lost $2000. I felt like such an idiot. There were red flags everywhere, and I did not see them. It didn't help that I was tending to this scam over Skype at the same time as I was discussing "medical aid in dying” with a doctor right here in my apartment! I told the doctor that I had just been hired. He was thrilled for me, and we agreed that we would put my request for M.A.I.D on hold for now. I was distracted and fell for the trap.
What Happened
I received an email telling me that my resumé had been seen on Indeed (which it is) and that I had been selected as a candidate for an interview for a graphic design position. It sounded like a perfect fit–a remote work-from-home job and just 20 hours a week—exactly what I'd been looking for. I was told to contact the person in charge of hiring by Skype. I did that. I was sent an interview (in writing), which I filled out and submitted. Shortly after that, I received an email confirming that I had been hired. There was no video / in-person interview, which was the first red flag. I was very excited as I had been trying to find a job for several months, so I was not paying attention to the signs that this could be a scam. (They have a beautiful website, which you can see here: www.func.media.) Then, they sent me a list of items that I needed to have to do the work, such as a laptop, iPhone, Camera, Software, etc. I was asked to let them know what I needed from the list, which I did. I was then told that the HR department would be sending me a cheque in PDF format (via Skype), which was the second red flag. (I learned later when I went to my bank that cheques can not be sent as PDFs.) So, I received a cheque for $3,445.44, and I was asked to print it out and then deposit it using my mobile app. I should have known right there that something was off, but I didn’t see it. These guys are incredibly clever. I was asked to sign the official letter of employment, which was as professional as could be. It was really authentic looking. I put my address in, signed it, and sent it by email. In my mind, I thought that the task of hiring people had evolved and that it was relatively normal or common to be hired just by having a good resumé and answering a list of "interview style" questions. It’s a millennial world out there, and they do things differently! So I went along with it.
Scammed
I was then asked to send $1,000, supposedly from this $3,445, to an “approved vendor” to order some of the equipment that would be delivered the next day. I was asked to send another $1,000 to another “approved vendor.” which I did. But I started to smell something fishy. I called my bank and explained what was happening. Their fraud department confirmed that it was a scam and that I should go to my branch to file an official report. Keep in mind that I have now sent $2,000 from a bogus cheque. So I tried calling the company using the 1-888 number on the site, and guess what? There was no service, the third red flag. At that point, I told the “interviewer” that I was chatting with on Skype that I had figured out that this was all a scam. He tried everything you can think of to try and reassure me that it was all legit. I know that when you read this, you ask yourself, “How did you not see this?” I ask myself the very same question—I just didn’t. I was so caught up with having been hired that I didn’t see the signs. These nefarious characters are smart—they know how to snake you in without you even noticing what's going on. They got me.
The teller at the bank told me that the way the bank sees the situation, I sent the money, so I’m responsible for it. I was in shock. After speaking with the teller, who broke the news to me that I had been scammed out of $2,000, I was bent over in my chair, holding my head in my hands. I asked if the bank had a policy to protect their customers and reimburse them in such situations, and the answer was NO. (Credit card companies do reimburse you if your card is compromised and used to make purchases—I know because it happened to me.) I could not believe that I had been scammed and that I was out $2000. I don’t have $2,000 to throw out the window! The bank highly doubts I will get the money back. The teller told me to call Interac to see if they could do anything, but they couldn’t. They told me it was a banking issue and that I should take it up with them, which I had already done. It was also recommended that I file a police report. The police officer who filed the report told me that they receive 10,000 online scams per year and rarely solve any of them. In my case, in particular, there was very little they could do.
I wrote to my bank manager, whom I’ve known for 30 years, and told him what happened. I asked if he could see if the bank would cover the funds I had lost. But he couldn’t do anything. As some of you know, I have not been working for several years, I have no income, and I’m living on my savings, which will run out by next year. So this really put a dent in the budget.
Plus, two weeks ago, I was involved in a minor accident in a parking lot that put my car in the shop for ten days. I was not at fault; I was parked and had opened my door to get out when a giant Audi SUV turned into the empty space beside me and rammed into my door, pushing it past its normal range, effectively bending the door. Due to the age of the car (2010), the insurance adjuster wasn’t sure if the car would be salvageable or if it would be declared a write-off. Thankfully, the repairs were approved, and I didn’t have to go shopping for another car—it was just that it was a hassle to go running around to use a rental car for a few days and then switch to a courtesy car until my car would be ready.
I was really down. Nothing was going my way. I’m trying so hard to rebuild my life despite my serious health problems, and with these things happening, I was really feeling battered.
A Happy Ending
However, things turned around the next day. The day after the scam, I opened my mail. There was a letter from Revenu Québec. About two months ago, I applied for the Shelter Allowance Program. This program helps people with low incomes cover their rent. I had no idea how much I would be entitled to until I opened the letter. I was informed that I would receive $2,040! I could not believe my eyes.
Although it would have been nice to have an extra $2,040, I’m more than satisfied with knowing that the scam cost me “0” dollars. Aside from it being a giant waste of a day and the stress I went through, at least I can feel better about not being out two grand.
I couldn’t think of an appropriate song for this chapter, so I Googled “Songs about Thieves.” There aren’t any songs about internet scams (yet). I was torn between “Shoplifter” by Green Day and “Listen Like Thieves” by INXS. I eventually settled on “Listen Like Thieves” if only for the Mad Max apocalyptic totally “eighties” video they produced! Note that the music doesn’t start till 1:15. You might want to listen to "Shoplifter” just for kicks.
Patrick Franc - A.K.A. Your Friendly Neighbourhood Bionic man
Listen Like Thieves – INXS
On the talk back showOn the radio
At the local bar
In the hot traffic by the red tail lights
Everybody's down on their knees
Listen like thieves
But who needs that
When it's all in your hands?
And we take it down
To the end of town
Where they have control
But they're losing touch when the lights go out
Everybody's down on their knees
Listen like thieves
But who needs that
When it's all in your hands?
Everybody's down on their knees
Listen like thieves for the answers
But who needs that
When you got it all in your hands
It's all in your hands
It's all in your hands
You are all you need
You are all you need
And that is everything
So don't hesitate
There's no time to waste
You just, just do it for yourself
I said everybody's down on their knees
Listen like thieves
But who needs that
When it's all in your hands
You got it all
You got it all
It's all in your hands
You got it all, you got it all
I said everybody's down on their knees
Listen like thieves
But who needs that
When it's all in your hands
Diane
Hi Patrick: I am so very sorry you were scammed. You are right, the scammers are getting too smart. My son had been on Indeed and someone tried a similar thing with him, but he caught on before sending any monies. And of course there are the supposed "cra" and "visa" scams. I no longer answer my phone unless the person calling is identified. I am happy you at least were able to have a bit of a bright spot, by receiving money from the assistance program. Although you said your bank wasn unable to help you, in Ontario various television channels, like CTV Toronto and Global all have someone who can help people get money back, so perhaps you could still try that. Good luck!