Fake personal assistant position from John Wiley

Ah, the great art gallery owner John Wiley.  No, I haven’t heard of him, either.  Not before he sent me this message, anyway.

From:  John Wiley (enriquezmary@aol.com)

Subject:  Personal Assistant

Hello,

 

My Name is John Wiley,and I own an Art Gallery, This time of the year

is exceedingly a busy time for me,and I find myself constantly

travelling out of

the Country for exhibitions,auctions, deliveries et all as such I sort

the services of a Personal Assistant to handle my business errands.

I do not require that you resume to an office,leave your current

employment or levacuate your convenience.

 

I am looking for someone that can handle my business errands during

his or her spare time.

Here are a list of responsibilities that I would require you bear on my

behalf:

 

1. Receive my mail and drop them off at the post office or shipping

center.All expenses and shipping charges will be covered by me.

2. Pay bills on my behalf.I would be providing funds for this.

3. Sit for delivery at home or pick up items at a post office near you

at your convenience.

When you get my mail or receive packages on my behalf you are free to

open them to check contents in order to gurantee your safety and

security.

 

The contents of the my mail and the packages are specifically art

materials and paintings as well as personal letters. No heavy packages

are involved.

If you decide to accept this position or you are able to offer me any

of the responsibilities I have listed above, Please provide me with

the following details

 

Full Name:

Full Address:

City:

State:

Zip Code:

Phone No:

Age:

Work Status:

 

EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS:

 

A. Being honest and trustworthy.

B. Ability to 15 to 20 hours a month

C. Ability to check your EMAIL 3 to 5 times daily.

 

REMUNERATION:

 

$350 Weekly.

 

Please note that this job DOES NOT require any financial obligation of

any sort from you as I would be catering for all expenses.

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Regards,

John Wiley

It seems innocent enough, right?  It is just a part-time position and he’s going to cover all job-related expenses.  And the salary is pretty decent.  Why do I think this is a fake?  For starters, the duties include shipping and receiving packages.  He gives permission for you to open them and he’s going to pay all expenses.  You might think that doesn’t sound bad, and it might not be.  But why would a gallery owner have art shipped to an assistant instead of to his gallery?  That smells funny.

Another red flag under job duties is that he’ll send you money to pay his bills.  Is he sending business checks or a company card for paying said bills, or is he going to send the assistant a check for deposit into the assistant’s account for the assistant to write checks? Or does he want the assistant to wire cash to his creditors?  This is pretty shady stuff and not worth talking to him for additional information.  Especially when his email address does not include any variation of his name.

What do you think?  Did you see the same red flags I did?  Have you received this email?

About my work – freelance food writer

People ask me about what I do from home, so I figured I’d share with a little more detail.  First up. food and freelancing. 

I love food.    I love eating, cooking, reading about, and playing with food.  I collect cookbooks and menus.  I love finding new twists on favorite recipes.  I love seeing the look on a loved one’s face when they enjoy something I prepared for them.

I wanted to find a way to do what I love and make money with it.  While searching for a new telecommuting position, I stumbled across a listing for Examiner.com.  I always wanted to write, so I decided to take the plunge.  After all, I had nothing to lose. They liked me, so I became Charleston SC’s Vegetarian Examiner.  I get to play with food more and write about it,

Homemade veggie soup – vegan, quick, and cheap. A standard in cooler months.

From Crazy Sexy Kitchen – a yummy salad of almonds, sunflower seeds, and veggies.

Chickpea Burgers from Grilling Vegan Style. Loved them and so did the omni hubby.

 

If you want to try your hand at writing, consider becoming an Examiner, too.

Finding my passion and finding a way to make it part of how I make my living was important to me.  It’s standard advice for those looking for the right business.  Or anyone looking for peace.  Find your bliss and embrace it.

What’s your passion?

Oy, Sunday was not my day of rest

I love having a flexible schedule, but hate it at the same time.  I love it because I can work whenever, but hate when I forget to take scheduled breaks.

Yesterday was family day all around. We celebrated a birthday and just hung out together.  Work was the last thing on my mind, but I made a mental note about what I needed to do today,  My to-do list wasn’t long, but it took some time.

How good do these look? Lindsay Nixon (Happy Herbivore) rocks! Lindsay Nixon photo.

First up, I wrote and published an Examiner article and blog post on an upcoming book release.

I love me some Happy Herbivore!   Sorry, fan girling.

Photo editing, proofreading, and some promotion went along with it.  In between those tasks, I did a little social media management for a client.  While doing so, I took note of ideas for blog posts for said client and performed a little customer service.   I checked the time and realized I was falling behind, so I grabbed a snack and went back to writing.  I finished up and started on my Saturday and Sunday blog challenge posts while noting that I missed the Panthers game.  Nice win, guys!

I also checked email, corresponded with clients, and checked sales circulars for dog food specials. What I haven’t done is plan menus or cooked Sunday dinner.  It’s just us girls at the moment and we know the routine when I’m working on weekends.

So, what’s your Sunday like today?

A day in the life

Curious about this telecommuting mom’s daily weekday schedule? It’s less exciting than you’d think.

5:15-5:30 am  crawl out of bed (yeah, right)

5:45 am  really crawl out of bed, scramble around like a crazy woman

5:50 – 6:30 am  make breakfast and lunch for man and boy, kick them out for the day

6:30 – 7:30 am shower, breakfast, coffee

7:30 am – noon work

noon- 1 pm lunch

1-2 pm exercise break

2-4 pm work

After 4, unless I’m swamped or distracted, I play around online for me. Pinterest, blogs, shopping for free e-books, finding recipes, clean, or whatever.  I start on dinner around 5-5:30 pm and from then on it’s family time.

I take stretch breaks while at my desk (because I pay dearly when I don’t) and am interrupted by dogs, the girl, package deliveries, and the occasional random visit.

On that note, don’t drop by without giving me a call first. It makes me a little cranky.

What does your day look like?

A little behind – sick days rule (kinda)

Ok, so I started this blogging challenge and have every intention of getting in 30+ posts in October.  What I didn’t count on is the pain flare from hell.  I’ve been barely moving for two days now.  Sitting hurts, lying hurts, standing is near impossible.  It’s typical for me to hurt a little more a few days each month, but come on! Times like this I’m really glad I have the flex schedule I’ve always wanted.

I work every day, but not a typical 8 hour workday.  I put in 25-40 hours a week depending on what I’m working on, and most days I keep my workload down to 4-6 hours.  When pain kicks in, I cut back.  I am no good to anyone when the pain fog meets pain meds fog.  I’m not sure how this will work outside of home or with a typical schedule.  Thankfully, right now, I don’t have to find out.

On sick days, I work a little via cell.  Have I mentioned lately how much I love technology?  And automation software rules!  I can schedule posts while lucid and not worry about it.  Not worry much, anyway.  I can check email and social media from bed.   My next purchase may be Dragon Naturally Speaking so I can get more done.

As for housework, that’s what kids are for.  🙂  And my pain + med fog makes me more entertaining.  At least I think so.

And now that i’m feeling a little better, it’s time to make up for lost time.   I have a feeling that my to do list will make me consider going back to bed.

So, telecommuters. how do you handle your sick days?

Inspiration via young-uns

Disclaimer:  Migraine-fueled posts are rambly.  

Oy, anyone else dragging?

Wednesday is usually a pretty good day.  It’s not Monday, which helps, and it’s usually a light-ish day as far as workload.  But this morning, a migraine hit.  I felt it coming last night and hoped I’d done enough to keep it away, but I failed.  A nasty one can last for days, but I do not have time for one.  I needed energy, so I stared with yoga. It relaxed me, but the aura was still there.  Coffee was my next move.  While yummy, it is not my friend and is sill kicking me in the gut.  I had no choice but to push through, so my workday started.

Blog posts, a newsletter, and article notes were all on my to-do list.  Three cups of coffee helped me through two of the posts (thanks in part to pre-written outlines), and a fourth got me through the newsletter.  Social media posts are easy when they’re mine, but my clients don’t really want chatter about my soap (General Hospital, ftw) or my geekdom.  After a stretch break, I decided to look to my kids for inspiration.  How do they beak up the day when they just don’t feel it?

My human kids game and listen to music. They keep a running commentary going as they do.  Chatter referring to game cut scenes, how hard an artist is rocking out, and groans when asked to quiet down a notch did nothing to inspire me today.  I don’t think my usual music of choice or the flashing graphics in a game will quite cut it today. Sorry, kiddos, and thanks for nothing!  Not really.

I looked at the furkids next.  My dogs are something else. I love how honestly they respond to whatever is happening around them. Old Man Oz, Stalker Victor, and Baby Girl Fred are always good for a smile, ‘aww,’ or ‘dang it, dog.’ Get treats? Bounce around happily.  Family leaves for work and school?  Pout and whine while watching the car pull out of the driveway. Mommy working?  Wrestle, bark at the UPS guy across the street, or sleep.  Raw, honest reactions.  I decided to follow their lead and take a quick nap.  It worked.

Do your pets inspire you?

See you tomorrow.

Yet another ‘widow wanting to fulfill her husband’s final wish’ scam

Stupid scammers.  Tugging at my heartstrings won’t help you get my money.  You need to stop.

—-

From:  My Late Husband Wish Fund (annablair@gmail.com)

Subject:  My Late husband wish fund

My Dear Friend,

Let me first of all inform you, I got your email address from a mail Directory and decided to mail you for a permission to go ahead. I am Mrs. Anna Blair from United Kingdom, married to Dr. Anthony R. Blair who worked with Texaco Oil Company in Malaysia before he died in a plane crash on his way to a Board
meeting. My Husband and I were married but without any children. Since his death I decided not to re-marry and presently I am 79 Years old.
When my late husband was Alive he deposited the sum of $11.5M. (Eleven Million Five Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars) with a Bank.

Presently this money is still with the Bank and the management just Wrote me as the beneficiary to come forward to receive the money or rather Issue a letter of authority to somebody to receive it on my behalf. I am presently in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment Cancer of the lungs. I have
since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live so I think the best thing to do is to use the money for charity purposes.

I want a person who is trustworthy that I will make the beneficiary of my late Husband’s Fund deposited with the bank so that the person can get the money and utilize 70% of this money to fund churches, orphanages and widows around the world.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact details of the Bank. I will also issue you a letter of authority that will prove you as the new beneficiary of this fund.Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated here in and Keep this contact confidential till such a time this funds
get to your Custody. This is  to ensure that nothing jeopardizes my last wish on Earth.

I await your urgent reply.

Regards,
Mrs. Anna Blair

—-

Just stop.  Random strangers do not offer 70% of $11+million dollars to others over the Internet.  Yes, there are random acts of kindness.  And sometimes these random acts involve large sums of money.   An email or letter like this one, however, is a scam. Please don’t not fall for it.

Be safe.

Happy Father’s Day!

debspoons photo

Go hang with your dad, even if it’s just a phone call.

Miss you, Daddy.  Always.

Fake job offer from Maggy Patterson

Yes, it’s just that obvious.  Oh, Maggy, I’m no that desperate, honey.

—

From:  Maggy Paterson (radaelliingaberg@yahoo.com)

Subject:  Current Open Position:  ID/J0NFQ9C758

Hello !

Please, have look at the following offer.

Deliver Goods Internationally incorporated has opened the position of a delivery employee. In case you have received this letter, that means the online recruiting department officers have seen your resume in the Internet, since our recruiting department is looking for nominees in the Internet.

Deliver Goods Internationally incorporated inc is a European company which is situated in Poland (Warsaw). This company provides retail sales and forwarding of a lot of goods (mostly modern electronics devices) and realizing it to European clients. We have been quite viable in this sphere since 2005.

Your duties will consist of receiving goods and forwarding them via United States Postal Service and many other agencies.

You do not have to put in any money from your pocket. The salary rate is $1,500 monthly minimum amount and it is derived from each task rate with unlimited peak.

The demanded qualification will be as follows:

– aged 18 years old minimum
– be situated at specified address on a regular basis
– a computer furnished with web option
– possess daytime contact dial number.

You do not need to have any additional space for storing the items.

This letter will be regarded as a formal offer of employment and it does not involve any suspicious activities.

If you are interested, please contact us via email.

—-

“This letter will be regarded as a formal offer of employment and it does not involve any suspicious activities.”

Bwahaahaaa!

If anything from that email seems like a legitimate offer from a legitimate company, please let me know.

Until next time, be safe and laugh often.

Happy Earth Day!

Do your part to keep her strong.  Love your corner of the world and inspire others to love theirs.  The more who care, the better.