How on earth is this legal?
June 30, 2012 4:30 PM Subscribe
Is this a scam? Money laundering? Some other kind of shady deal? My housemate just had some weird money stuff going on and I can't see any reason anyone would do this unless it's something illegal.
Housemate is studying fashion design and also does some modelling. She recently applied to an advertising company and when she was accepted she received a letter containing a large amount of money in the form of 6 travelers' cheques - without having given any work except for a headshot photo.
She was asked to cash the cheques and immediately after, transfer 83% of this money to a Spanish bank account via Western Union. Due to a limit on daily transfer through WU she was instead given a UK account number and asked to send the 83% there.
It was explained that the advertising company were giving her a small advance and the majority of the money was so that she could pay the modelling agency's registration fees. She would then receive the remainder of her payment for modelling after the photoshoot.
The name given for the agency is 'Style Academy Model Agency Ltd'. She was not told the name of the advertising company. She initially applied through an advert placed on studentjob.co.uk.
My hunch is that this is money laundering. If there's any chance that it's not, please explain why any agency would use this crazy setup.
Housemate is studying fashion design and also does some modelling. She recently applied to an advertising company and when she was accepted she received a letter containing a large amount of money in the form of 6 travelers' cheques - without having given any work except for a headshot photo.
She was asked to cash the cheques and immediately after, transfer 83% of this money to a Spanish bank account via Western Union. Due to a limit on daily transfer through WU she was instead given a UK account number and asked to send the 83% there.
It was explained that the advertising company were giving her a small advance and the majority of the money was so that she could pay the modelling agency's registration fees. She would then receive the remainder of her payment for modelling after the photoshoot.
The name given for the agency is 'Style Academy Model Agency Ltd'. She was not told the name of the advertising company. She initially applied through an advert placed on studentjob.co.uk.
My hunch is that this is money laundering. If there's any chance that it's not, please explain why any agency would use this crazy setup.
absolutely sounds like a scam. the traveler's checks are probably not valid, so she'll be on the hook for the money.
posted by rmd1023 at 4:34 PM on June 30, 2012 [6 favorites]
posted by rmd1023 at 4:34 PM on June 30, 2012 [6 favorites]
Best answer: It sounds a lot like the classic money order scam - where you get a fraudulent money order for more than you're owed and are asked to return the balance. It'll take a bit for the bank to realize the order's bad, by which time you are already out the balance and have to eat the loss.
I think there is no question this is a scam one way or another. The actual mechanism doesn't matter quite as much as the fact that she should definitely not in any way do anything other than maybe approach her bank directly to verify the cheques - definitely wait for that before she sends any money anywhere.
posted by restless_nomad at 4:34 PM on June 30, 2012 [3 favorites]
I think there is no question this is a scam one way or another. The actual mechanism doesn't matter quite as much as the fact that she should definitely not in any way do anything other than maybe approach her bank directly to verify the cheques - definitely wait for that before she sends any money anywhere.
posted by restless_nomad at 4:34 PM on June 30, 2012 [3 favorites]
SCAM SCAM SCAM SCAM SCAM!!!!!
Good grief, it's a classic scam, too: she cashes the checks, sends the money, then finds out the checks are fakes and she risks being on the hook to the bank for the whole thing: tell her run, do not walk, from this as fast as she can!
posted by easily confused at 4:34 PM on June 30, 2012 [6 favorites]
Good grief, it's a classic scam, too: she cashes the checks, sends the money, then finds out the checks are fakes and she risks being on the hook to the bank for the whole thing: tell her run, do not walk, from this as fast as she can!
posted by easily confused at 4:34 PM on June 30, 2012 [6 favorites]
Response by poster: The only thing that made me unsure that this was a scam is that she checked with the bank after depositing and found that her account had been credited with the money - and this was nearly two weeks ago, there hasn't been anything strange since then, the bank haven't undone the amount credited. If it wasn't for that I'd already have told her to go to the police.
Does this mean the bank's been fooled too or what?
posted by fearnothing at 4:38 PM on June 30, 2012
Does this mean the bank's been fooled too or what?
posted by fearnothing at 4:38 PM on June 30, 2012
This is a scam. When someone you don't know suggests a transaction using Western Union, it is almost always a scam.
posted by Ragged Richard at 4:39 PM on June 30, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Ragged Richard at 4:39 PM on June 30, 2012 [3 favorites]
Example of this specific kind of scam in New Zealand.
posted by argonauta at 4:42 PM on June 30, 2012
posted by argonauta at 4:42 PM on June 30, 2012
Response by poster: Right, well this doesn't surprise me, but seeing as it's early on a Sunday morning there's no way to do anything about it right now. I'll help her talk to the police tomorrow and to her bank on Monday. Regrettably she sent the money a while back and only just told me about it now.
posted by fearnothing at 4:46 PM on June 30, 2012
posted by fearnothing at 4:46 PM on June 30, 2012
I don't know how long it takes travellers cheques to be cleared by the issuer, but I hope she hasn't already forwarded the 83%, because I'm willing to bet that the cheques will bounce eventually.
And this 'advance' was sent purely on the basis of seeing her headshot?
That studentjob.co.uk ad looks as dodgy as hell. Typo's galore, CAPS LOCK SHRIEKING THAT YOU DON'T NEED ANY EXPERIENCE AND THERE ARE NO HEIGHT, WEIGHT OR AGE REQUIREMENTS. Yeah, because people of all sizes, shapes and ages wanting to be models are in such short supply. Not.
I think your room-mate might need a lesson in "if it looks too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true".
posted by malibustacey9999 at 4:46 PM on June 30, 2012
And this 'advance' was sent purely on the basis of seeing her headshot?
That studentjob.co.uk ad looks as dodgy as hell. Typo's galore, CAPS LOCK SHRIEKING THAT YOU DON'T NEED ANY EXPERIENCE AND THERE ARE NO HEIGHT, WEIGHT OR AGE REQUIREMENTS. Yeah, because people of all sizes, shapes and ages wanting to be models are in such short supply. Not.
I think your room-mate might need a lesson in "if it looks too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true".
posted by malibustacey9999 at 4:46 PM on June 30, 2012
The checks will catch up with her eventually.
posted by SoftSummerBreeze at 4:46 PM on June 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by SoftSummerBreeze at 4:46 PM on June 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Does this mean the bank's been fooled too or what?
Nope. This is very much central to this type of scam. The bank has released funds (based on account holders history and past transaction amounts). When the bank eventually realizes these are fraudulent, she'll be on the hook.
If banks refused to cash them, this scam wouldn't really work (with all but the most gullible), right?
posted by special-k at 4:49 PM on June 30, 2012 [6 favorites]
Nope. This is very much central to this type of scam. The bank has released funds (based on account holders history and past transaction amounts). When the bank eventually realizes these are fraudulent, she'll be on the hook.
If banks refused to cash them, this scam wouldn't really work (with all but the most gullible), right?
posted by special-k at 4:49 PM on June 30, 2012 [6 favorites]
Response by poster:
Sadly she's a 19 year old kid who has every reason to believe a modeling agency would be interested in her, and no experience (until now) of dirty criminal tricks. I'll help her get through this as much as I can and her family can probably afford to bail her out if (when) the bank cancels the fraudulent cheques. I think her mum's already realised something fishy's going on.
posted by fearnothing at 5:02 PM on June 30, 2012
The bank has released funds (based on account holders history and past transaction amounts).NOW I understand why the banks would release money immediately. It's still a stupid setup though.
Sadly she's a 19 year old kid who has every reason to believe a modeling agency would be interested in her, and no experience (until now) of dirty criminal tricks. I'll help her get through this as much as I can and her family can probably afford to bail her out if (when) the bank cancels the fraudulent cheques. I think her mum's already realised something fishy's going on.
posted by fearnothing at 5:02 PM on June 30, 2012
I'm not sure why you think that you can't do anything right now? So far as I know, any large bank will have a 24-hour fraud hotline. Check their website and see if you can't find it. If you can't, just call any 24-hour customer service number and see if you can get a robot or human to point you in the right direction.
posted by kavasa at 5:03 PM on June 30, 2012 [16 favorites]
posted by kavasa at 5:03 PM on June 30, 2012 [16 favorites]
>When someone you don't know suggests a transaction using Western Union, it is almost always a scam.
The reason: there are serious Federal penalties for carrying out frauds using the mail. So beware of anyone who insists on Western Union, UPS, FedEx, etc.
posted by yclipse at 5:55 PM on June 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
The reason: there are serious Federal penalties for carrying out frauds using the mail. So beware of anyone who insists on Western Union, UPS, FedEx, etc.
posted by yclipse at 5:55 PM on June 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
In addition to reporting this to the police and the bank, there is probably some sort of national agency that this needs to be reported to as well. Hopefully she's kept all the documentation; although it won't get her off the hook for the money, it may still be useful.
posted by sm1tten at 6:06 PM on June 30, 2012
posted by sm1tten at 6:06 PM on June 30, 2012
Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (stopfraud.gov) -- although unfortunately they don't have anything that exactly fits this fairly common scam.
Since she has already "sent" the money, you need to know if those checks have already been cashed. If they have not then you can still put a stop order on the checks through the bank. If there is a possibility of accessing the statements/balance online then try to use that or set it up. But really, the 24-hour fraud hotline would be the best bet if they have one.
A number of state attorneys general also have hotlines for this sort of thing, although they might not have 24/7 staffing.
If banks refused to cash them, this scam wouldn't really work (with all but the most gullible), right?
Some banks wouldn't, and train their tellers and bankers to be on the alert for customers -- particularly the elderly -- who may be completely guilelessly under the sway of a fraud scheme. But if you just run transactions and use ATMs this may not come to anyone's attention at all.
posted by dhartung at 6:25 PM on June 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
Since she has already "sent" the money, you need to know if those checks have already been cashed. If they have not then you can still put a stop order on the checks through the bank. If there is a possibility of accessing the statements/balance online then try to use that or set it up. But really, the 24-hour fraud hotline would be the best bet if they have one.
A number of state attorneys general also have hotlines for this sort of thing, although they might not have 24/7 staffing.
If banks refused to cash them, this scam wouldn't really work (with all but the most gullible), right?
Some banks wouldn't, and train their tellers and bankers to be on the alert for customers -- particularly the elderly -- who may be completely guilelessly under the sway of a fraud scheme. But if you just run transactions and use ATMs this may not come to anyone's attention at all.
posted by dhartung at 6:25 PM on June 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
Here's the simple rule: anytime someone you don't completely and totally trust is paying you a bunch of money and asking that you deposit it and send a good portion of the funds to someone else who you don't completely and totally trust, it's a scam. This is especially true if the money is going overseas or you're asked to use some kind of strange payment method as part of the system. There is no legitimate reason why someone needs to pay you so you can immediately turn around and pay another stranger.
Think about it this way: suppose this was a completely legitimate business. They send her the advance, expecting her to send 83% of the funds to the agency (note: this is not how agencies work). What's to stop your friend from walking off with 100% of the money? No one would run a legitimate business this way. The only reason anyone would do this is they are scamming you.
posted by zachlipton at 6:43 PM on June 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
Think about it this way: suppose this was a completely legitimate business. They send her the advance, expecting her to send 83% of the funds to the agency (note: this is not how agencies work). What's to stop your friend from walking off with 100% of the money? No one would run a legitimate business this way. The only reason anyone would do this is they are scamming you.
posted by zachlipton at 6:43 PM on June 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
she checked with the bank after depositing and found that her account had been credited with the money - and this was nearly two weeks ago, there hasn't been anything strange since then, the bank haven't undone the amount credited.
It usually takes three to four weeks (at least in the US) before the fake checks go all the way through the system and the sucker's bank account gets dinged.
posted by Sidhedevil at 7:34 PM on June 30, 2012
It usually takes three to four weeks (at least in the US) before the fake checks go all the way through the system and the sucker's bank account gets dinged.
posted by Sidhedevil at 7:34 PM on June 30, 2012
Some banks wouldn't, and train their tellers and bankers to be on the alert for customers -- particularly the elderly -- who may be completely guilelessly under the sway of a fraud scheme.
My father's bank had signs up at every teller window with a notice from the FBI about not cashing traveler's checks or money orders for strangers, and why.
posted by Sidhedevil at 7:36 PM on June 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
My father's bank had signs up at every teller window with a notice from the FBI about not cashing traveler's checks or money orders for strangers, and why.
posted by Sidhedevil at 7:36 PM on June 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
i had two different roommates in art school who were involved in a local scam similar to this. the money launderers were investigated, which led to my roommates who both got arrested, charged, and given probation. that means they both have a conviction on their records.
if money is falling in your lap, that doesn't mean there isn't a price to pay.
posted by violetk at 8:12 PM on June 30, 2012
if money is falling in your lap, that doesn't mean there isn't a price to pay.
posted by violetk at 8:12 PM on June 30, 2012
Response by poster: dhartung - thanks for the pointer but we're in the UK :P
kavasa - nearly but not quite, the helpline is open 7am-11pm every day, so it was closed when I posted.
Thanks for the confirmation guys. I guess I really knew it was a scam, but for her sake I was hoping there was some way it might not be.
posted by fearnothing at 11:01 PM on June 30, 2012
kavasa - nearly but not quite, the helpline is open 7am-11pm every day, so it was closed when I posted.
Thanks for the confirmation guys. I guess I really knew it was a scam, but for her sake I was hoping there was some way it might not be.
posted by fearnothing at 11:01 PM on June 30, 2012
Assuming this is the ad, I have reported it to StudentJob as a scam. Hopefully they take it down quickly so StudentJob does not gain a reputation as a dangerous site full of scammers.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 1:22 AM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by furiousxgeorge at 1:22 AM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
kavasa - nearly but not quite, the helpline is open 7am-11pm every day, so it was closed when I posted.
I will bet you a hundred bucks (pounds, euro, etc) that the bank has a fraud helpline, probably a number that you have to google, that's open 24/7.
posted by suedehead at 2:11 AM on July 1, 2012
I will bet you a hundred bucks (pounds, euro, etc) that the bank has a fraud helpline, probably a number that you have to google, that's open 24/7.
posted by suedehead at 2:11 AM on July 1, 2012
I agree she needs to contact her bank's fraud department ASAP. The longer she waits, the more she will look complicit, and god help her if they contact her first.
posted by like_neon at 4:59 AM on July 1, 2012
posted by like_neon at 4:59 AM on July 1, 2012
You should also call Western Union's fraud line. They can't do anything about it but call them anyway. And write down notes about everyone you have contacted.
posted by cda at 6:26 AM on July 1, 2012
posted by cda at 6:26 AM on July 1, 2012
I would get a screenshot of that ad before it's taken down, since furiousxgeorge reported it. Gather all information possible!
posted by misskaz at 7:54 AM on July 1, 2012
posted by misskaz at 7:54 AM on July 1, 2012
I really don't think it will matter much if the bank contacts her first or not. From what I've been told most people don't even bother to report it to the bank, out of embarrassment, and just make restitution. She's still going to be on the hook for the money because she already sent it to the scammer. No bank is going to eat 83% of a "large amount of money."
posted by sm1tten at 9:57 AM on July 1, 2012
posted by sm1tten at 9:57 AM on July 1, 2012
Contacting the bank's fraud department is part of showing that you are a victim, not a perpetrator, of fraud. It will not get your money back, but it will help disabuse the bank of any idea that you were intentionally passing bad checks.
posted by Sidhedevil at 2:38 PM on July 1, 2012
posted by Sidhedevil at 2:38 PM on July 1, 2012
I'll help her get through this as much as I can and her family can probably afford to bail her out if (when) the bank cancels the fraudulent cheques. I think her mum's already realised something fishy's going on.
Nthing that she should stop being embarrassed and report to the bank ASAP exactly what happened and that she realizes that she's been scammed.
Go with her or sit with her while she's on the phone and help her out.
posted by desuetude at 11:38 PM on July 1, 2012
Nthing that she should stop being embarrassed and report to the bank ASAP exactly what happened and that she realizes that she's been scammed.
Go with her or sit with her while she's on the phone and help her out.
posted by desuetude at 11:38 PM on July 1, 2012
Response by poster: A strange twist to the tale: after being specifically asked to scrutinise the traveller's checks, the bank verified them as legitimate. The company apparently intend to rent a studio for half a day in the town centre to do the shoot, but have been a bit flaky about sorting it out. My housemate will probably go, but only accompanied by a friend, and only if they give her reasonable notice.
Is she still at risk of being short a whole bunch of cash even though the bank has assured her the checks are genuine? Answers on a postcard.
posted by fearnothing at 12:37 PM on July 13, 2012
Is she still at risk of being short a whole bunch of cash even though the bank has assured her the checks are genuine? Answers on a postcard.
posted by fearnothing at 12:37 PM on July 13, 2012
Yes.
Sorry, but banks are notoriously bad about this sort of shit, and even if they assured her the checks were genuine, she will still be fucked over when the bank tries to actually cash them and can't.
posted by jacquilynne at 1:27 PM on July 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
Sorry, but banks are notoriously bad about this sort of shit, and even if they assured her the checks were genuine, she will still be fucked over when the bank tries to actually cash them and can't.
posted by jacquilynne at 1:27 PM on July 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
Yes. Your housemate is continuing to walk down the cellar steps while the audience shouts NOOOOOO!
Think of all of the different and more sane ways this could have been arranged than by sending a huge amount of money out of the blue to a nineteen year old girl. This hasn't made any sense from the beginning and the time to walk away is now.
Particularly at age 19 there will be many more opportunities in life. In the off chance it is actually legit, she has little to lose and everything to gain by steering clear.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 1:32 PM on July 13, 2012 [2 favorites]
Think of all of the different and more sane ways this could have been arranged than by sending a huge amount of money out of the blue to a nineteen year old girl. This hasn't made any sense from the beginning and the time to walk away is now.
Particularly at age 19 there will be many more opportunities in life. In the off chance it is actually legit, she has little to lose and everything to gain by steering clear.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 1:32 PM on July 13, 2012 [2 favorites]
Unless your friend can get someone at their bank to attest in writing to the authenticity of the check and guarantee its value if bad, your friend shouldn't trust their bank any farther than they can throw it.
posted by Blasdelb at 1:59 PM on July 13, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by Blasdelb at 1:59 PM on July 13, 2012 [5 favorites]
The company apparently intend to rent a studio for half a day in the town centre to do the shoot, but have been a bit flaky about sorting it out.
Do not be shocked when more checks have to be sent in order to sort this out. She should go to law enforcement, they will assure her this is a scam. I'm appaled the job site hasn't pulled down the ad yet.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 3:38 PM on July 13, 2012
Do not be shocked when more checks have to be sent in order to sort this out. She should go to law enforcement, they will assure her this is a scam. I'm appaled the job site hasn't pulled down the ad yet.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 3:38 PM on July 13, 2012
99% chance that they will "cancel" the shoot at the last minute.
In addition to the fact that this is an obvious scam for all the reasons mentioned above, there are a lot of other red flags here.
Anytime a modeling agency asks a model to pay a "registration fee", that's bad news (and a scam in and of itself).
She was hired by this advertising company, and yet she doesn't know the name of it?
She was hired as a model without ever having to attend a casting session, just on the basis of her headshot?
She was paid "an advance" before the work was actually done? Nobody would do that. Even famous actors and supermodels get paid afterwards. Even if you get a per diem or something, you get it once you've actually shown up and it's confirmed that the work is really going to happen.
Other "not how it's done" examples:
Being paid in travelers' checks.
Getting handed a big sum of money and then being expected to pay the modeling agency their cut yourself, transfer X money to Y foreign bank account, etc.
The advertising company and the modeling agency being in cahoots, with the model being left in the dark/expected to jump through a bunch of financial hoops.
Being told by multiple legit businesses (an ad company, a modeling agency) to use western union to wire money internationally.
I've worked in some shady entertainment industry contexts, and I've never heard of anything like any of this. Run run run run. If it were me, I'd be on the phone to my bank, western union, their bank, the police, ANYONE to see if the whole thing could be stopped, yesterday.
posted by Sara C. at 4:27 PM on July 13, 2012 [2 favorites]
In addition to the fact that this is an obvious scam for all the reasons mentioned above, there are a lot of other red flags here.
Anytime a modeling agency asks a model to pay a "registration fee", that's bad news (and a scam in and of itself).
She was hired by this advertising company, and yet she doesn't know the name of it?
She was hired as a model without ever having to attend a casting session, just on the basis of her headshot?
She was paid "an advance" before the work was actually done? Nobody would do that. Even famous actors and supermodels get paid afterwards. Even if you get a per diem or something, you get it once you've actually shown up and it's confirmed that the work is really going to happen.
Other "not how it's done" examples:
Being paid in travelers' checks.
Getting handed a big sum of money and then being expected to pay the modeling agency their cut yourself, transfer X money to Y foreign bank account, etc.
The advertising company and the modeling agency being in cahoots, with the model being left in the dark/expected to jump through a bunch of financial hoops.
Being told by multiple legit businesses (an ad company, a modeling agency) to use western union to wire money internationally.
I've worked in some shady entertainment industry contexts, and I've never heard of anything like any of this. Run run run run. If it were me, I'd be on the phone to my bank, western union, their bank, the police, ANYONE to see if the whole thing could be stopped, yesterday.
posted by Sara C. at 4:27 PM on July 13, 2012 [2 favorites]
fearnothing: "Right, well this doesn't surprise me, but seeing as it's early on a Sunday morning there's no way to do anything about it right now. I'll help her talk to the police tomorrow and to her bank on Monday. Regrettably she sent the money a while back and only just told me about it now."
It's frankly insane that the bank even allows these transactions to go through.
Or that Western Union does. Western Union should basically ask, "is this your money, or did you receive it from someone else?" whenever someone attempts to transfer a large amount.
posted by Deathalicious at 8:41 PM on July 13, 2012
It's frankly insane that the bank even allows these transactions to go through.
Or that Western Union does. Western Union should basically ask, "is this your money, or did you receive it from someone else?" whenever someone attempts to transfer a large amount.
posted by Deathalicious at 8:41 PM on July 13, 2012
fearnothing: "A strange twist to the tale: after being specifically asked to scrutinise the traveller's checks, the bank verified them as legitimate. The company apparently intend to rent a studio for half a day in the town centre to do the shoot, but have been a bit flaky about sorting it out."
Unless the bank is willing to sign some kind of waiver absolving your friend from all financial liability, their assurances that these checks are genuine means nothing.
I don't care how flaky of an organization you are, if you have the ability to acquire travelers' checks in large denominations, you can even more easily pay for the thing using a credit card. If for some extremely far fetched reason your friend was expected to pay for the company's expenses (why?!?!?!?!?!?), then they could have sent her a credit card or better yet, they could have contacted the studio directly and, gasp, sent them the excess money.
Frankly, I blame Western Union and the banks. If someone tried to pull this kind of scam via a credit card company you'd better believe they wouldn't stand for it, because they are always held liable for credit card fraud, not the consumer.
Your friend needs to report the company to the police as a possible scammer to be investigated, and needs to get something in writing, signed, with a manager or higher's name on it, that the checks are genuine and that your friend cashed them in good faith and was assured by the bank that they would honor them. It's doubtful that this will absolve your friend from financial liability but at the very least it will help her credibility.
Then, when she does get charged by the bank, make a stink. Go to the local papers and report the story. Western Union should know better. The banks should know better. They should be held responsible. They're the ones making the mistake here, not your friend. They're the experts and should know about these scams. Although it's a good idea to be wary of things that seem to good to be true, or whatever, ultimately it should be the responsibility of supposed experts in the field to do the right things, which sometimes include saying, "Sorry, we can't cash that check."
posted by Deathalicious at 8:54 PM on July 13, 2012 [2 favorites]
Unless the bank is willing to sign some kind of waiver absolving your friend from all financial liability, their assurances that these checks are genuine means nothing.
I don't care how flaky of an organization you are, if you have the ability to acquire travelers' checks in large denominations, you can even more easily pay for the thing using a credit card. If for some extremely far fetched reason your friend was expected to pay for the company's expenses (why?!?!?!?!?!?), then they could have sent her a credit card or better yet, they could have contacted the studio directly and, gasp, sent them the excess money.
Frankly, I blame Western Union and the banks. If someone tried to pull this kind of scam via a credit card company you'd better believe they wouldn't stand for it, because they are always held liable for credit card fraud, not the consumer.
Your friend needs to report the company to the police as a possible scammer to be investigated, and needs to get something in writing, signed, with a manager or higher's name on it, that the checks are genuine and that your friend cashed them in good faith and was assured by the bank that they would honor them. It's doubtful that this will absolve your friend from financial liability but at the very least it will help her credibility.
Then, when she does get charged by the bank, make a stink. Go to the local papers and report the story. Western Union should know better. The banks should know better. They should be held responsible. They're the ones making the mistake here, not your friend. They're the experts and should know about these scams. Although it's a good idea to be wary of things that seem to good to be true, or whatever, ultimately it should be the responsibility of supposed experts in the field to do the right things, which sometimes include saying, "Sorry, we can't cash that check."
posted by Deathalicious at 8:54 PM on July 13, 2012 [2 favorites]
Everything about this says SCAM. I've hired countless models - from everywhere from Craigslist to the biggest agencies in the world. This is just so far removed from how legit business is carried out that its unthinkable that this could be real.
posted by blaneyphoto at 9:34 PM on July 13, 2012
posted by blaneyphoto at 9:34 PM on July 13, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by tomboko at 4:34 PM on June 30, 2012 [20 favorites]