Dear Mrs. Bluth,
I am writing to you so that you can share my story with your readers in the hope that nothing like this happens to them or people they care about.
I don’t think I am naïve or gullible, but I found myself in dire financial straits and rather than stick my hand out for help, I tried every alternate means at my disposal to make some money – and fell victim to America’s favorite game. I fell for a scam that almost ruined my credibility and nearly made me a mail-fraud felon.
Eight months ago, after working in the same company for sixteen years, I was fired. Were I a young man with few to no responsibilities other than for myself, this would not have been so demoralizing. However, with a sickly wife and five children to support, this was devastating. And, being back on the job market after a smooth and steady paycheck for many years, found me with a boarder-line nervous break-down. At the age of 46, no matter how great one is at his profession, looking for another job wreaks havoc with ones mental state, to say nothing of a person’s self-esteem and self-worth. For the past eight months I tried, at first with a false sense of security that one with my storied record and skill set I would have no trouble finding another position in my field of expertise. However, as the days and weeks wore on and the savings in the bank dwindled down to zero, hysteria set in.
One day, about six weeks ago, my good friend and chavrusa, the person in whom I had confided all my fears and trepidations, called to tell me he had found something wonderful, a way to make extra money! He, too, was struggling in a dead-end job that paid barely enough to keep his head above water each month and so I knew he empathized with me and shared with me the same fears and worries. He explained that he had come across this wonderful “side-job” in an e-mail and had even gone so far as to check out this company to see if they were 100% credible and they were!
When I asked him what he was required to do, he explained that he was to go to the various businesses, such as restaurants, clothing stores and such, where this company would send him to do research on how to help better the sales ability of these enterprises, their clients, and to rate the service of the employees towards the customer base, so that they could determine who was a benefit or a deficit to their success. Every week this company would send him to a new place, pay all the expenses incurred for this task, plus an additional $200.00 dollars per assignment. All my friend had to do was follow their directions and answer specific questions in his report to the company.
He was so excited as he awaited the packet that would send him out on his first assignment. Hearing the uplifting, hopeful tone in his voice, I, for the first time in so long, caught the fever and asked for how I could do the same.
I applied and while I waited for my packet of instructions to arrive, I kept daily tabs on my friend’s progress. He had gotten his first set of instructions, along with a check for close to $3,000 which he had to cash at his bank in order to use for his “mission.” Every expense was itemized and $200.00 for each of his three assignments would be left over. I couldn’t wait to hear how it worked out. Two days later, I hadn’t heard from him, but had received my packet and check.
When I reviewed all the information sent to me, I realized I had been given the exact same assignments as my friend. Suddenly, I felt uneasy. I picked up and called him in the hopes that he had not as yet completed his tasks.
Unfortunately this was not the case, and my friend was now a felon, involved with the local authorities, the FBI and accused of bank and mail fraud – he was also out $3000.00 of his own money, which he could not afford. I couldn’t even feel relief; all I could do was try to help him clear his name. I enlisted the help of a former colleague, an attorney who dealt in business fraud, to help us extricate my friend from this nightmare.
To make a long story short, my friend was not charged with a crime but lost out on any chance of recouping his money. We also learned that these villains who prey on the destitute and the ignorant are an army of thousands and are based in South American countries. Baruch Hashem, I was spared the same fate as my friend, and am determined now to let others know to be aware. Can you help me spread the word?
Dear friend,
I’ll be happy to oblige. There are many criminals out there fishing for those in dire straits, much like you and your friend, who choose to look away from the probability of foul play in exchange for the dream of getting out of the pit of debt, destitution and despair.
There are very few free meals. There’s a price tag attached to everything and someone is always looking to make it rich on someone else’s back.
I hope everyone who reads this will remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t! Even though the safe route may not yield a steady or adequate income, at least you won’t be looking at years in prison and a ruined credibility.
As for the schemer, the cheaters and the thieves who ply their evil trade and reap their ill gained rewards off the poor and the weak, they are a breed of bottom feeders that are sadly a reality. Be wise and be cautious.