Hey, my name is Nicole, I currently am a stay home mom. I have the most amazing daughter, Mariah. I haven't had a steady job in about 7 months. My daughters father helps a lot. The economy these days has been awful, and I think everyone gets pretty desperate sometimes.
I posted an ad on Craigslist, listing my experience in work, looking for a JOB.
On July 11th, a man, by the name of Stanley Clarkes emailed me, subject was "CAN YOU START WORK IMMEDIATLY"
When I opened it, it was from a company called "Formations house"...in London. He emailed me all the duties, and the pay, and it seemed legit. I emailed him back asking for more information. He replied quickly and just told me that I would be filing paperwork for people who are clients with formations house, and that I would recieve doncuments in my email, file them, and then UPS them. So, I bought a printer, paper, manila folders, labels...and pretty much was EXCITED that I was about to start a job at home, and I can still be with my daughter.
He asked for a copy of a photo ID of me, so I sent him a copy of my Drivers License.
I didn't hear from him for 2 days. When he wrote back...he told me that my "Employee File" was active, and that I would be starting the next morning. I was so happy.
The next day, he sent me 3 documents in my email, and told me to print them off, file them, and label them as the people listed. I did so.
As soon as I was finished filing, I asked him for further instructions. He then told me that a package was being delivered to my house.
I received the package, opened it. There were 2 checks inside. One was for 380.00, and the other was for 400.00. I emailed him, and he told me to cash them and that as soon as the checks were cashed, to email him back. The 400.00 check was not cashed, because of insufficent funds in the account. The 380 however, was cashed. I went back home, emailed him back, and told him the deal with the checks. He then told me to take out 225.00 and keep that to myself. The rest was to go in file, and I would be sending it to him with the paperwork.
I put the money in the file and then emailed him and asked him for further instructions. He then told me that I had another job to do, and that a package was already on its way. He sent me another document, so I printed the paper work out, filed..and did the same thing. I receieved the package, and opend it up. There were 2 checks. Both of them were over 1,000.00.
I started talking to my parents about it, and they were concerned and told me to look into it more. I talked with my neighbor and they insisted it was a scam as well.
I contacted the Better business Bureau. They told me it was a scam. Why didn't I listen to these people? If only I could go back now.
I emailed "stanley" and gave him my thoughts on it being a scam. He emailed me back and made me feel very stupid. He said" MOST SCAMS ASK FOR YOUR BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER"...and " MY CLIENTS TRUST YOU WITH THEIR MONEY BECAUSE I DID A BACKGROUND CHECK ON YOU". I was questioning him about this, and I decided that I was just going to cash these last checks, take my money out, and then send him the rest and call it quits. I no longer wanted to be apart of it, because I was starting to get really scared.
On JULY 23rd, at 1:00, I went to BANK OF AMERICA, where the first check for 380.00 was cashed, and thumb printed these checks, and tried to cash them. The teller asked me for 2 forms of ID, and then said "I will be right back, let me verify this". My 3 year old daughter was with me. I waited, and waited, and waited. About 30 min later, a police officer walks in. The manager at the bank pulls me into the office, with the police officer. I sit down with my daughter, and then he holds up the check and says "maam, this is a fraud check". I put my head down, and just started to cry. My heart was pounding, and I just let it all out to the police officer. I told him everything. I actually printed off all the emails the day before I got arrested, and showed them to my mother. She told me to keep them, JUST INCASE. So the officer talked to me for about an hour longer, and then he sent more officers in. They told me that since I had cashed the check, I could be in serious trouble. I just couldnt stop crying. My daughter had to go to the restroom, and they wouldnt even let me take her, because they were afraid I was going to make a run for it.
The DA was called, and they decided they were going to press charges on me. I now have a felony on my record for forgerie. I went to jail on the 23rd, and was released early yesterday morning. I was bonded out. My court date is tomorrow morning, 8am. I have never been arrested in my life. I dont even have a record at all. I just couldn't believe that I was being arrested, and that I was being charged with a felony when I am INNOCENT. I thought I was working from home.
So as it stands now, I have these emails, for evidence. Thats it. I have no idea what's going to happen to me. So many people tell me that I'm going to be put on probation for a few years. I don't want to do time. I can't be away from my daughter. Two days was horrible for me, and I don't think I can emotionally handle all of this. I am a 23 yr old mother, who has never done anything like this before, and now I'm being charged for something that has only been going on for about 2 weeks. I am scared, I don't know what is going to happen. I am hopeing to GOD that the LORD is watching over me, and hopefully something GOOD will happen. The police officers actually heard me out, and felt really bad for me. They told me that they were going to write up my police report and that everything will work out for me. I really hope I don't serve time. I don't want a record either. If anyone has any advice, please....PLEASE...help me.
My friends mother is a lawyer, and she set me up with an appointment with her tomorrow morning after court, just to discuss all of this. Even though nobody knows me on here, Pray for me. Please. Or at least pray for my daughter. She needs me, and I need her.