Scammer Drains my Bank Account
I finally find myself a job that sounds appealing. Remote Graphic Designer with a company called TTEC. I can look after my new puppy, get things done around the house, and stay in when the weather is shit. I write a badass email with my interest in the position and send it off. I hear from the recruiter the next day. He wants to set up an interview; a chat based interview in Skype. It’s the year 2020, and everything is whack so I don’t think anything of this. Everyone hiring right now is interviewing remotely. Fast forward, I knocked the interview out of the park and was offered the job on the spot. 60K a year and new office supplies? I’d be an idiot to turn it down. The recruiter wants to get me trained immediately, but first he wants to make sure I’ve got everything I need at home to perform the job well. The company provides new employees with a starter check to invest in new equipment with their accredited vendor. Three days later I received a check in the mail for $3,850.00. No way is this real. I deposit the check and the funds are available in my account by the following morning. I hear from the recruiter. “Are the funds in your account?” “Yes sir!” He asks me to send the first $2500.00 through Zelle to their vendor. The next $1200.00 will have to be mailed by money order so the vendor can get my office supplies shipped out in a timely manner. Done. I hear back with good news the next day. “The vendor has received the funds.” “Great!” The recruiter then tells me that there has been an unexpected increase in the office supplies and the recruiter needs an additional $550.00. He assures me I will be reimbursed my first paycheck, so I Zelle another $550.00 off to the vendor. After receiving my final payment, the recruiter is never to be heard from again and my bank account reflects negatives. I’ve been scammed and handed a total of $4,250.00 over to some asshole that will probably never be caught. I immediately filed a claim with my bank, although they have not been so reassuring. I filed a police report, and haven’t heard anything from them. I approached my local news station and told my story on public television. I filed a complaint with the FIC. I started my own GoFundMe campaign with few people interested in donating. I get it though. I would feel badly if this happened to someone I know, but probably wouldn’t be financially capable to help them out. I am completely frustrated and beyond disappointed in myself. How did I not see this coming?
If you have read this far, at least let me give you a few pointers I have learned from this. Read employee reviews, and research the shit out of the company before even applying. Do not accept checks from people you don’t know, no matter how enticing it may sound. Always meet your potential employer in person, look at their LinkedIn profile, whatever. Just do your research. And whatever you do, DO NOT send money through Zelle, Venmo, or mail money orders to someone you have never met.
I hope my experience can at least save you from making the same mistake I did. Take care of yourself out there. Recovering is not an easy road.
