So, you say you're looking for "counterfeit money order" victims? Well, I guess I'm the latest...
Matter of fact, below is a copy of the "employment offer letter" I recently received:
January 17,2008
GU Xiuying
Suzhou WestStation Weaving Factory
Dear Angela,
Further to your application and resume reviewed, I am pleased to offer you the job with effect from January 17,2008. This appointment is for six (6) months probation in the first instance. However, your appointment may be confirmed on or before the expiration of the probation period if your performance is satisfactory. Your total is $24,000 (Twenty Four Thousand Dollars) per annum subject to appropriate taxes NSITF contributions.
While you are on probation, your appointment may be terminated by either the company or you by giving two weeks notice or payment in lieu of such notice. The company however reserves the right to terminate your appointment summarily if your continuous stay is judge to be detrimental to operational activities.
On satisfactory completion of your probation, your appointment shall be confirmed in writing. Thereafter either the company or you may terminate your appointment by giving one month notice or payment in lieu of such notice. On conformation, you will be entitled to other benefits as applicable to permanent staff of your status in our establishment.
On exit from our services you are expected to undergo an exit clearance. You are expected to abide by the instructions given to you as our representative. Other conditions of service as contained in the employee's handbook will form and be construed as part of this contract of employment.
Please note that the company reserves the right to transfer you to other departments or assign other duties as deemed necessary. You will be reporting directly to me and you must obtain your job discription from me in good time, as this would facilitate your appraisal during probation.
You will carry out an assignment soon. A payment will be issued to you and you will process the payment as you will have it cash at your bank, deduct your weekly payment and transfer the remainder to a company manager in Ghana or kenya through Western Union Money Transfer.
Finally, we look forward to a mutually benefiting relationship with you.
Accept my congratulations!
Yours faithfully,
GU Xiuying
Suzhou WestStation Weaving Factory
So... here it is now, one week later and I receive almost 2k in USPS (United States Postal Service) money orders that I am to deduct my $400 for my weekly pay and send Western Union the balance to a "company" in Kenya. However, I DID NOT cash them, as I've been suspicious from jump... After taking them to my bank this afternoon and asking the favor of photocopying them (so that I have paper trail of everything), the bank manager happens to oversee the transaction and leans in and says "you do know the person who sent these to you don't you?"... so then I was like "uhhh, YA, why?"... he proceeds to tell me about these EBAY scams that have been taking place, both with WalMart money orders and USPS money orders where the buyer "accidently" sends too much money, then requests it be sent back via wire transfer.... so he just wanted to make sure that I did in fact know the payee and that everything was on the up & up. At that point, I didn't really know what to say, other than "well, ya, I've been doing some work for this company but that this was the first time he's paid me in money order form, rather than a check" ...and I proceed to tell him I will go ahead and take them to the post office to make sure they're valid. Good idea. Then again, this wonderful exciting day was just about to come to an end and I was gettin pissed! So, I went ahead and drove to the closest PO and took in only ONE of the 3 money orders (@ $650 ea.) to verify it's legitimacy. And guess what?... SURE ENOUGH, they're freakin FAKE!! Needlesstosay, he said he couldn't give it back to me but that it had to be confiscated and given to the Postal Inspector. And it was crazy because when he held it up next to a real money order, they look sooooo close.. no wonder the banks cash them! The fakes even have the Benjamin Franklin watermark and the security thread, just not exact to the color.
Anyway, I am now so extremely pissed off because when I received them this morning I was SO happy because I've been unemloyed now for 6 months, looking for work like a mad-woman!
And it's so hard because I'm a single mom with 2 kids and no child support, so this income would have really helped me out... so this A-HOLE really played with my emotions. Seriously, when my daughter got home from school this afternoon, she was SO excited when I told her that we finally got to go grocery shopping!! I know, PATHETIC huh!!??
If you have any suggestions of what I should do next, let me know. I still have the remaining 2 money orders and I don't know what to do first, call the news/media, the police... or curse out this jerk in an email! HELP!!!!