A complex, social engineering attack exists and it targets job seekers. Folks make bad decisions when they are desperate and scared, criminals know this. Numerous intricate social engineering cons happen, look out for one called a “Mule Scam.” These attacks target the unemployed, mostly through job boards, LinkedIn groups, and resume posting sites.
An acquaintance of mine shared his story with me to help others protect themselves. This man is an intelligent, conscientious man, that was scared and desperate, who saw what he wanted to see, and, in the end, it cost him thousands of dollars. Before you judge, understand the fear and anxiety that goes through the mind of a successful individual that can’t provide for his family.
The con started with a foreign business asking him to translate communications between their European business and the “new,” American market, they are trying to penetrate. He simply took email messages and re-wrote them into proper English. He performed this task about a half dozen times and earned a couple hundred dollars. The deal seemed harmless, turns out, this was the hook.
The email messages were basic, telling the story of a European online auction site that provided high priced items to collectors. Some notes thanked customers for their purchases. Other communications discussed activity with “representatives” who were “financial intermediaries” that took money from buyers and, after taking a small cut, sent the remainder, via wire transfer, to the business based in Europe.
My source was happy with this small amount of money and hoped the business would ask him to become a “representative” as he would make ~$2,000 per month in addition to the commission on all transactions, simply by taking money into his PayPal account and transferring it via wire to their business in Europe. He believed the activity was a good will gesture as, he was told, PayPal has low dollar limits in Eastern Europe. His work was “kindness” as this business wanted to supply their goods to American’s and “nice” people allowed them to do this by acting as a “financial intermediary” to get around PayPal’s limitations.
After a couple of weeks rewriting bad English, the offer came forward. My acquaintance provided screen shots showing his PayPal account had no limits and that he was a “preferred” member. He also sent a photo of a redacted driver’s license showing his new employer that he was a human being and did exist. He even had a phone interview and discussed the opportunity. He did Google searches on the company and the position and even found Scam Advisor rate the business as 100% safe.
The first deal came forward. A simple eBay transaction for goods that cost around $2,250. His contact with his new “employer” provided shipping information and when the buyer received the merchandise, he sent the money, minus fees, from PayPal to his bank account. After the money arrived, he then wired the money to a bank in Eastern Europe. He was allowed to keep hundreds of dollars for the typing and his commission. It all looked great.
The following week another transaction came into his PayPal account, this time for a larger sum. He was pleased. This meant another couple hundred dollars in “salary” after PayPal took their cut, money for his family, or so he thought. The “employer” contacted him with shipping information and his American contact called to follow up as well. The phone call made sure he would promptly move the money to his bank account and wire funds as soon as possible. No problem, all was on the up and up, as far as my associate was concerned.
While the money was in transit from PayPal to his bank account he received a call from eBay. The customer service department noticed strange activity on his account and wanted to know what was happening. After about 30 minutes on the phone, and validating through questions that eBay was really eBay, it turns out my acquaintance is the victim of a “Mule Scam.” He’s the middle man for criminals, taking money for false transactions and then wiring the money to con artists in Europe.
Thanks to eBay, my contact was able to move the money for the second transaction back to his PayPal account. Unfortunately, since my acquaintance was neither a buyer nor seller, PayPal does not insure the money and he now owes PayPal for the first transaction. Since he already wired money to Europe, he has to come up with this money lest PayPal “take him to court.”
My contact is intelligent, diligent, and thoughtful. He failed to follow the basic tenant that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. He also didn’t pay enough attention to realize the con artists used email from a 3rd party, not the domain they were supposedly working for. Lastly, he should’ve wondered why eBay was involved when the auction house was supposed to be in Europe.
There are many morals to this sad tale, not the least of which is beware of social engineering. Con artists are smart, detailed, and they prey on scared and desperate people. Pay attention, be alert, and listen to your inner self, if something seems amiss, it probably is. Don’t fall prey to scams and be especially aware during desperate times.
Gungon Consulting 