Suspicious New Job

I was just hired as a personal office administrative assistant. Officially began work today and my first assignment. My client wants me to transfer funds (from a significantly large check) to another one of her clients, deducting my paycheck from the funds she's sent me.

Check was handwritten and was sent from yet another one of her assistants over priority mail.

Job posting was on a legitimate freelance data base site.

Assignment was to transfer funds to a client in Texas...for an orphange? Methodist Children's Home. Least that's real for sure. The orphanage.

I haven't gotten clear answers as far as her company website goes... What do I do? Am I possibly involved in a laundering scam?

 

No, basically I received a check for about 2 grand. Was supposed to deduct my paycheck (about 400 dollars) and then transfer the entire remainder through Money Gram in one straight up transaction.

 

Because 400 is my weekly paycheck and this was sent along with what I was supposed to transfer. Usual tasks are supposed to involve making phone calls and drafting emails.

And that's where my problem lies. I really really really need the money. Do I just do what she asks and keep careful records of any transactions just in case something does turn out to be illegitimate?

 

THIS IS BAD. Look at the check, look for any logos or distortion or anything unusual. Look for companies, look at the bank, look for anything that could possibly be illegitimate. This is bad!!!! Where exactly did you find the listing for this job? Can you be more specific without identifying yourself?

THIS IS BAD!!! Take that check to a bank and ask if it is suspicious or legitimate, you may have to bug someone in an office not a teller because they'll just cash it/do whatever without looking.

THIS IS BAD!!!

 

Yes.

Well I did some research and looked up the company this check is connected for. Couldn't find anything for it except listings on sites like Wysk and business directories. No site for the company. It's described as a "domestic limited liability" company established in 2006 and is listed as "inactive".

Site posting was found on a site called ODesk which is basically an escrow protected data base for freelancing positions. However, most of my contact with this client has been off-site and through emails.

I haven't done anything with the check yet. Got bad vibes as soon as I saw the payee was listed as "Commissions" and everything was handwritten in pen.

 

Absolutely not. I barely make squat now- this was supposed to be the job that was going to guarantee I finally had rent money. :\ No legal funds.

 

I'm sorry but this absolutely sounds like a scam, my brother got roped into a similar thing and we took it to a bank who said "this is a laundering scam, happens all the time". This is not a real legitimate job and even if you try to work with them they will just screw you later out of resources and run and you'll be SOL. You can check with someone at a financial institution to make sure but this probably won't end well if you pursue.

I am sorry, I know you needed the money.

 

Well, I resigned from the position. Offered to either void and shred the check or send it back. But guess it's better to abort it now than to get right into a possible scam, right?

 

Better in the long run, I am sorry it didn't work out. However you seem to have a huge skillset so I am confident you can find a good rent job soon :, ) Good luck~

 

^ That is what I wanted to explain but couldn't remember exactly how it worked and didn't want to get it wrong, so thankfully you got it AND are also better with words! :>