TESTIMONIAL

Earlier this year, I was searching for part time customer service position. I was hoping I could find an opportunity that would compliment my current job, I was really looking for a second income. I searched for jobs using online career websites and my local newspaper. After just a little searching, I found and responded to one job by a company called LEPRIKO. The position sounded great. I could work from my own home and choose the hours I wanted to work. The company wanted someone who was a citizen of the United States and could service the financial transactions for their customers. Apparently, they are a international company, based overseas, with US based customers. They required little experience so I decided to give it a try.

Shortly after I emailed the company my interest in their position, they responded back by email to me and asked me to reply again with my resume. They also told me a little more about what I would be doing for them as a Financial Assistant. They went on to explain that many of their customers are US based companies. When these customers send checks to the overseas headquarters, the process of depositing the checks and waiting for them to clear took over a month. This was taking too long. As a result, they decided to try and make the process easier by sending the check to someone already in the US and have that person deposit the check into their own bank account. Once the check cleared the new employee in the US could withdraw the funds from the bank account and wire it overseas to them. They told me that my earnings was going to be 10% of any amount I deposit and withdraw for them. I could take this amount out before wiring the remaining funds.

Despite some of the concerns I started to have, I sent them my resume again. After all, I had a chance to make some really great money and this company seems to have a good explanation about their business. This time the company responded with a contract, instructions to print it out, sign it and send back along with a copy of my drivers license. The contract I was required to fill out quite a bit of information about myself, they wanted my Social Security Number. They told me that they needed all this to conduct a background check on me. Even though my new employer was not setting up an interview with me, not even one over the phone, I figured it was alright to give them my information since I really wanted this position. After all, they have been really great about responding to all of my emails quickly.

A few days later, I received another email and was told to wait for the first check to arrive. I received the first check and deposited into my account. I spoke to my bank a few days later when I realized that the funds were not yet available. The banking representative told me that the check appeared to be counterfeit so they needed extra time to verify the funds, the account and the company it showed on the check.

I did not hear from anyone for almost a month until I checked my account online and saw that I was overdrawn by almost $4000. I immediately called my bank. They explained that the check was fraudulent and that someone from their security department would be contacting me as soon as they received more information. The bank told me that because I did not withdraw any of this money from my account that I would not have to pay it back. I immediately emailed my employer to let them know about the problems I was having with their checks, they did not seem concerned. Instead, they sent me another check from one of their "customers". This is when I became suspicious and decided to see if I could find out more information about them. I searched on the internet and found out that this was nothing more than a scam. I found stories from other people who, like me, thought they really had a legitimate job but it backfired. I also learned I was relatively lucky. Other people wrote about getting to the point of withdrawing the fraudulent funds from their banking account and actually wiring the money overseas. Some were now being held responsible by the bank that was used to cash the fraudulent check and needed to come up with thousands of dollars in restitution. Some were being investigated by law enforcement.

Looking back, I can now see the warning signs. I wish I was smarter about my job search, maybe I should have asked this "employer" more questions. Maybe I should have researched them first. Now I know.

Pamela L.
New Hampshire