Jan 12

Monster Scam

My normal routine these days involves checking the various employment sites looking for future employment. Today I stumbled upon a job that at least in description fits what I’m looking for — PROGRAMMING/WEB DESIGN/SYSTEMS DEVELOPER. Once I started reading it I couldn’t help but think it was a scam. For the low price of $950 for ‘documents’ I could be making $30,000 a month for the next six months. Sign me up, I’m off to Lagos to work in the phishing industry.

I can’t help but think that this is just another variation of a 419 scam except the dollars involved are much lower. Has anybody out there seen these before? Could I really make $180,000 by July or would I likely be left for dead on the side of some Nigerian road? Nevermind, I think I answered my own question.

UPDATE - It appears as though Monster believes it’s a scam too. It’s gone. I did save a copy of it and here’s a small piece of the job description.

You are liable to make charges of about USD$950.00 for the procurement of your working and residential permit documents which covers:
  1. Administrative charges
  2. Diplomatic Courier Charges
  3. Working Permit charges
  4. Residential Permit charges
  5. Hard copies of the terms
[…] SALARY: Expatriates shall be entitled to a Net Salary of US$180,000.00 in six (6) months. This salary shall be paid monthly at US$30,000.00. Work time shall be 40 hours workweek for the 26 weeks contract term. Any work performed beyond the normal 40 hrs a week, work time, shall be due for an overtime benefit to be paid at $300.00 per hour.
A quick search for Addax Petroleum on Google turned up this. Apparently this guy actually applied and Monster contacted him directly. There are also copies of correspondence received from the company. Those Nigerians sure are crafty.
by Rob   January 12, 2005 8:28 AM   |

Comments

by Deane,   January 12, 2005 10:16 AM  

The job posting has been removed.

by Deane,   January 12, 2005 11:38 AM  

"...another variation of a 419 scam except the dollars involved are much lower."

The initial amount, yes, but I'm sure this is just the tip of the iceberg. I have no doubt that they'd start pumping you for more money once you sent the $950, dangling the job just out of reach.

Here's the thing: they want to pay you $30,000 a month, pay your travel expenses, pay $300 / hour in overtime...but they insist that YOU cover a measly $950 documentation fee? I would say that should tip anyone off, but I know there are too many people who would still go for it.

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