People beware of people like this! I came across an ad that read: Personal Assistant needed. I responded to the ad and was automatically "hired". The pay ranged from $300-$500 a week and they don't use the same name when scamming people but they are the same thing they tell you they will use the first week to test you then you get your first task they tell you that you will receive a cashiers check by mail and they need you to deduct your week pay then the remaining balance to either buy things for an orphanage or send the money through western union to the orphanage and it will usually be an orphanage over seas one of them was in Malaysia. I kept e-mailing back to get more information but when I asked them for a phone number and their home address for security purposes I never heard back. I wish I could give you more info on this but this was as far as I got. I knew from the first response to my email it was a scam how can you give some one a job and say your are the best person for it when you never submitted a resume or any information about yourself. I hope this will help people and keep them alert of scams!

I recently responded to an advertisment on E-Bay Classifieds for a part time bookkeeper in Fort Lauderdale: The response I received after submitting my resume was as follows and clearly a scam. I listened to my gut and did the search - wish we could catch these guys:

Thanks for your interests in the position i posted, I deeply appreciate your genuine efforts on applying for this job position.
I just went through your resume and i think you have all it takes to be employed for this job position, I need PA to help me monitor and keep up to date with all my activities.I have had a previous PA who has been very commendable in her activities and who has been part of my life for the past 6 months, she has since returned to her country. I sincerely hope I will be able to find someone again who will be as efficient as she has been.
I am Dr Alfred Spencer, 44 yrs of age, originally from Chicago, Illinois, I spent a whole lot of my life in Maine.I'm a lawyer by profession and I have been pretty successful in a handful of ventures I get involved in; from the Angel Investment Network in Canada and United States to various welfare and community service programs, I most very often get my hands occupied, so it is imperative for me to have a worthy bookeeper who can monitor and keep me up to date with my activities.
As my assistant/bookeeper, your activities amongst other things will include.
*Running personal errands, supervisions and monitoring.
*Scheduling programs, flights and keeping me up to date with them.
*Acting as an alternative telephone correspondence when I'm away.
*Making regular contacts and drop-offs on my behalf.
*Handling and monitoring some of my financial activities.

Basic wage is $500 a week

This position is home-based and flexible, working with me is basically about instructions and following them, my only fear is that I may come at you impromptu sometimes, so I need someone who can be able to meet up with my irregular timings.There is also a very sensitive issue on trust and accountability which I believe will resolve itself as time goes on. This is only an introductory e-mail, as time goes on we should be able to arrange a proper meeting to get things started officially.
I'm currently in the UK now for a summit, however, I do have a number of things you could help me with this week if you will be available for me. This can act as a stable foundation to our working relationship.If You will be available for this job position, send me a confirmation e-mail with the immediate effect.I look forward to hear from you.

Kind Regards
Alfred

Thanks to all the other complaints on this site, I got enough info to know that this is a SCAM! Do not fall for this guy! I applied for the job as Personal Asst Position posted on craigslist and got a reply back the same day:

Hello,
Hope you're having a pleasant day today You contacted me applying for the position which I advertised on Craigslist. Do take time to go through this introductory mail and feel free to pass any questions on.

My profile briefly:
I'm Michael J. David's, 52, and a father of 2 wonderful kids, a successful entrepreneur and investor, a member of the Angel Investment Network. I'm also a research journalist and I travel every now and then within and outside the US working on various independent projects, this is why I need someone who can help keep up to date with all of my activities especially when I'm away and amidst my busy schedule.

I have had a previous PA who has been very commendable in her activities and who has been part of my life for the past 6 months, she has since moved on with her personal life and it has affected me in a way. I found her previously on the craigslist website and I sincerely hope I will be able to find someone again who will be as efficient as she has been. Please note that you are being hired only on a personal level. All correspondences would be made and promptly reported to me personally. The position is part time and home-based meaning you can work most times from your home as long as you have a regular internet access. You are also hired on a trial basis for now until we are able to see how well we fit in, this however does not affect your weekly wage.

Most of your activities will be carried out locally and most official packages will be delivered via posts. You will be actively involved in my personal, business and financial life. In summary, your activities as my assistant amongst other things will include;

* Acting as an alternative telephone correspondence;
* Running personal errands, supervisions and monitoring;
* Organizing and maintaining diaries, memos and making appointments;
* Dealing with incoming email, faxes and post;
* Carrying out background research and presenting findings;
* A personal reminder for Schedules, programs, flights and keeping me up to date with them as they come up;
* Arranging travel and accommodation
* Carrying out specific projects and research;
* Taking on some of the my responsibilities and working more closely with management and other staff related to me;
* Making regular contacts and drop-offs on my behalf.
* Handling and monitoring financial activities.
* Processing and taking charge of weekly payments and purchases.
* You will also be a part of my household and a helping hand to issues as they arise.
* General clerical activities.

Basic wage is $550 a week.

Any extra personal expenses (transport, gas, etc) incurred by you while on an errand or otherwise will also be reimbursed by me at the end of each working week.

This position is very flexible and it is difficult judging the exact number of hours you will be doing, just bear it in mind that there will be busier weeks than others with a steady pay. Working with me is basically about instructions and following them, my only fear is that I may come at you impromptu sometimes, so I need someone who can be able to meet up with my irregular timings. There is also a very sensitive issue on trust, dedication and accountability which I believe will resolve itself as time goes on.

This is only an introductory e-mail, as time goes on we should be able to arrange a proper meeting to get things started officially. I'm currently in Thailand now for a project, however, I do have a number of things you could help me with immediately, prior to my arrival.

Due to the excessive number of responses to my Ad, do provide the following details about yourself for my personal record update and to filter applicants;

Full Names
Full Contact Address
City
State
Zip Code
Home Phone Number
Cell Phone Number
Occupation (if any)
Age

I hope you can be available for me immediately before I arrive, it certainly can act as a stable foundation to our impending working relationship.
Hope to hear from you again.
Regards
Michael

After sending him the above info, I received this second email which I found to be completely fishy. Who hires someone to take care of their personal business without meeting or speaking on the phone? Too good to be true...

Thanks for your reply, and hope this marks the beginning of a good working relationship all together.


From the details you have sent to me, I would like to give you the opportunity to be my new assistant; I do hope my decision will be worthwhile. I'll be using the next couple of weeks to test your efficiency and diligence towards this. I really need to find the perfect person for this job, and i hope you can take up the challenge and on the long run we should have a relatively sound working relationship between us.


I hope we can get a head start with things as soon as possible. I have had to put a hold on a lot and I would appreciate it if you can be available for me immediately. I do have a couple of urgent tasks for you which will include you making some purchases and payments on my behalf. You will receive a check payment and some money orders via mail which will also cover your wage bouns for the week as well as all other purchases payments needed to be made on my behalf. I will update you further on this giving you a comprehensive list on how to go about them.


My daughter also have a birthday coming up in 3 weeks, which i have a surprise party planned for her so you will also be working hand in hand with the plan in organizing gifts and anything else for the party. Kindly reply this e-mail as soon as possible to further signify your interests in working with me. Hope i have a confidence in you and I am looking forward to a good working relationship between us. I hope you will be up to, perhaps better than my presumptions about you.


Hope to hear from you again soon.


Regards.
Michael

Report Immediately if this happens to you...to IC3 complaints online.

Ughh I knew this was too good to be true!!! I found this ad on craig list about a personal assistant position.
"Mr. July Mofty" replied back saying he would pay $450 a week to assist him. I will admit I was Suckered in for a good minute mainly because I've been desperate for a job ;...
A couple of red flags came up especially his name...Why the hell would anyone name their son July unless the person forgot to change "father " into "mother of two". I know this sounds weird but also the part where he claims to have two beautiful children...50 with young kids somehow that made me wonder.

The great part about the message is in the beginning
"Do take time to go through this introductory mail and feel free to pass any questions on." and so I did take my time...I read and re-read the letter...every time I did it made me even more skeptical so I decided to do research. Their website was a dead give away, it didn't look professional at all and good thing I ran into this site...
thank god my research paid off ... Thank You Complaints Board ;}


=====================================================================
Hello,
Hope you're having a pleasant day today You contacted me applying for the position which I advertised on Craigslist. Do take time to go through this introductory mail and feel free to pass any questions on.

My profile briefly:
I'm July Mofty, 50, and a father of 2 wonderful kids, a successful entrepreneur and investor, a member of the Angel Investment Network. I'm also a research journalist and I travel every now and then within and outside the US working on various independent projects, this is why I need someone who can help keep up to date with all of my activities especially when I'm away and amidst my busy schedule.

I have had a previous PA who has been very commendable in her activities and who has been part of my life for the past 6 months, she has since moved on with her personal life and it has affected me in a way. I found her previously on the craigslist website and I sincerely hope I will be able to find someone again who will be as efficient as she has been. Please note that you are being hired only on a personal level. All correspondences would be made and promptly reported to me personally. The position is part time and home-based meaning you can work most times from your home as long as you have a regular internet access. You are also hired on a trial basis for now until we are able to see how well we fit in, this however does not affect your weekly wage.

Most of your activities will be carried out locally and most official packages will be delivered via posts. You will be actively involved in my personal, business and financial life. In summary, your activities as my assistant amongst other things will include;
* Acting as an alternative telephone correspondence;
* Running personal errands, supervisions and monitoring;
* Organizing and maintaining diaries, memos and making appointments;
* Dealing with incoming email, faxes and post;
* Carrying out background research and presenting findings;
* A personal reminder for Schedules, programs, flights and keeping me up to date with them as they come up;
* Arranging travel and accommodation
* Carrying out specific projects and research;
* Taking on some of the my responsibilities and working more closely with management and other staff related to me;
* Making regular contacts and drop-offs on my behalf.
* Handling and monitoring financial activities.
* Processing and taking charge of weekly payments and purchases.
* You will also be a part of my household and a helping hand to issues as they arise.
* General clerical activities.

Basic wage is $450 a week.
Any extra personal expenses (transport, gas, etc) incurred by you while on an errand or otherwise will also be reimbursed by me at the end of each working week.

This position is very flexible and it is difficult judging the exact number of hours you will be doing, just bear it in mind that there will be busier weeks than others with a steady pay. Working with me is basically about instructions and following them, my only fear is that I may come at you impromptu sometimes, so I need someone who can be able to meet up with my irregular timings. There is also a very sensitive issue on trust, dedication and accountability which I believe will resolve itself as time goes on.

This is only an introductory e-mail, as time goes on we should be able to arrange a proper meeting to get things started officially. I'm currently in England now for a project, however, I do have a number of things you could help me with immediately, prior to my arrival.
Due to the excessive number of responses to my Ad, do provide the following details about yourself for my personal record update and to filter applicants;
Full Names
Full Contact Address
City
State
Zip Code
Phone Number (H)
Phone Number (M)
Occupation (if any)
Sex
Marital status
Age

I hope you can be available for me immediately before I arrive, it certainly can act as a stable foundation to our impending working relationship.

Hope to hear from you again.
July Mofty.

I have to been contacted by this same gentleman using the same techniques. He is now using the name David Kent. I can't believe in these hard times that people are still trying to scam people. It's freakin job for christ's sake. Can you seriously not trust anything in this world.

Below is what he said to me. He is even trying to make himself look good by using starving children. Real Classy!

I received your resume in response to the ad on Craigslist for a Administration Personal Assistant I will deeply appreciate all genuine efforts to help me monitor and keep up to date with all my activities. I have had a previous Assistant who has been very commendable in her activities and who has been part of my life for the past 6 months, she has since returned to her country. I sincerely hope I will be able to find someone again who will be as efficient as she has been. I'm David, 52, originally from Australia, but I have spent a whole lot here in United States. I'm a lawyer by profession and I have been pretty successful in a handful of ventures I get involved in; from the Angel Investment Network in Canada and United States to various welfare and community service programs, I most very often get my hands occupied, so it is imperative for me to have a worthy Personal Assistant who can monitor and keep me up to date with my activities.


As my Administration Personal Assistant, your activities amongst other things will include;
* Running personal errands, supervisions and monitoring.
* Scheduling programmes, flights and keeping me up to date with them.
* Acting as an alternative telephone correspondence when I'm away.
* Making regular contacts and drop-offs on my behalf.
* Handling and monitoring some of my financial activities.
* Basic wage is $500 a week


This position is home-based and flexible, working with me is basically about instructions and following them, my only fear is I may come at you impromptu sometimes, so I need someone who can be able to meet up with my irregular timings.There is also a very sensitive issue on trust and accountability which I believe will resolve itself as time goes on.. This is only an introductory e-mail, as time goes on we should be able to arrange a proper meeting to get things started officially. I'm currently in the Queensland Australia now for a summit, however, I do have a number of things you could help me with this week if you will be available for me. This can act as a stable foundation to our working relationship.

Hope to hear from you again.
Cheers.

David Kent
GENERAL OVERSEER
Food Relief International Org
www.foodrelief.org