How I almost got scammed out of $10,000
A fake job offer gone wrong
TL;DR I got "hired" as a Remote Software Engineer by someone posing as AutoNation and was supposed to be shipped office supplies but "issues" cropped up leading me to cash a fake check and almost wire transfer ~$9k to buy office supplies from their "vendor", but I snapped out of it at the last minute! They sent fake check via UPS(1 day ship plan) that would not clear in 7 days and time pressure you to cash it in and then wire them.
My state of mind at the time:
Here are a bunch of reasons why I, someone who ignores various phishing emails from USPS and various others over the past several years, almost managed to fall to a job scam.
- I'm not too well accustomed with the job hiring process. I only had 1 other job before this which was not a big software engineering gig.
- Got the flu the week I was hired
- Brand new WORK ONLY EMAIL, I only ever used on indeed. No one knows this email exists, which made me think low chance of scam.
- I trusted indeed in that they actually audit employers before they let them post. I'd expect craigslist not to but indeed/linkedin? NOPE THEY DO NOT AUDIT/VERIFY EMPLOYERS? EDIT: I looked back at my job application history and it turns out I never applied here in the first place. Ohh the pitfalls of spamming resumes. Whoever got a hold of this email I can only assume came from indeed? Or something else I'm not aware of...
- Less than 5 hours of sleep per day for past the week I was hired because of the flu and waking up at 6AM PST to match their 9AM EST. Once I wake up, I often can't fall back asleep.
- I mass sent out applications on indeed that I sorta lost track of them! So used to getting ghosted, not to mention I was very busy.
- STUPID busy in the middle of writing a big patch for my game, in the programming-zone, I wanted to get it done before I leave for work in case work was too heavy, which lead to a lot of quick skimming.
- My attitude was that of renewing my drivers license at the DMV. Ugh, just get this all done already, I'll adapt to whatever situation arises but atm I'm on a bit of roll right now finally getting some headway on my game project. I'll just try n dedicate at least an hour to brush up on some of their listed topics.
- Looking forward to the job since I've never worked in software as a team, so I skipped half the interview questions relating to team dev(red flag I know but I thought it wasn't a big deal, learn it on the job! Their company software dev reviews seem so nice)
- Company Software Dev reviews were pretty nice and welcoming. Kinda weird they aren't testing me at least a little on C# or w.e the job is requiring but I guess maybe this is why they have high reviews? Onboarding is easy and they treat software devs not as leetcode monkeys but as actual adaptable humans. Still very weird though....
- I saw a ton of red flags in regards to grammar and spelling but brushed it off, maybe it was just some foreign recruiter, whatever, I make typos all the time. I mindlessly skimmed and autocorrect as I read.
- Can you even fake a check these days? Like no sane person would ever want to fake a $100 bill, all the green ink, cotton paper, watermarks, and being on the run is WAY too much. Surely we have as much advanced check counterfiet detection tech as we do the dollar check! Who would even risk it?! (We do but their fake check clears in 7 days and they try to time pressure you).
- I'm gaining money and benefits from the job, I'm gaining money from this check, the thought of loss did not enter my mind until I had to wire back.
- Why did @gmail email not throw you off? I had just watched a bunch of youtube interview vids where some advice given was to cut the middleman, go find the recruiters email directly! So I thought I got lucky that this recruiter is giving me their personal email. This guy was actually the VP
- Why did the poser Marc Cannon, the executive vice president, interviewing you not raise flags? I did look him up and found it a bit odd but my previous job was a small company of 50-200 had the CEO interviewing me so it wasn't too weird. I thought huh, maybe they're short staffed atm.
- I didn't even know job scams existed till now! Let alone ever use the two words in a sentence before.
- THEY COULD NOT HAVE PICKED A BETTER OPPERTUNITY TO SCAM SOMEONE GIVEN ALL THE REASONS ABOVE! Well, if I had kids that'd raise the probability higher...
The details:
Here is all the email exchange, google chat logs, receipts, and timestamps.
The email exchange:
Download the interview questions pdf. I skipped half the questions relating to team software dev and communicating in a team
| JEST <myemail@gmail.com> |
AutoNation Remote software engineer
12 messages
| JEST <myemail@gmail.com> | 30 November 2022 at 17:48 |
|
From: AutoNation . autonation@applyonlineworks.com via sender.zohorecruit.com |
|
|
Good Evening A LASTNAME JEST Our company AutoNation received your resume and application in respect of our job posting for the position of a Software Engineer (Remote) posted on indeed and our website. https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Autonation/jobs?jk=c4ac1f45cdb27378&start=0&clearPrefilter=1 Base on your Experience, Happy to inform you that you're among the applicants selected for an online interview on Thursday DEC 1st. The interview is scheduled for Thursday 12/01/2022 from 8AM EST to 4PM EST. You're to contact the Corporate HR representative Marc Cannon Ap. On Email at ( aprylhtks@gmail.com ) to confirm and acknowledge the receipt of this email and to schedule your interview and confirm your availability for the interview. You are to be available on Email ASAP for the interview on Thurs, Your swift and timely response to this position matters a lot as the job interview starts between 8am to 4pm EST, Contact Marc Cannon Ap to let him know your Availability between this time. Have a great Evening. Looking forward to hearing from you. All the best HR TEAM AutoNation |
|
| JEST <myemail@gmail.com> | 30 November 2022 at 17:48 |
|
To: aprylhtks@gmail.com |
|
|
Hello! I am here to schedule my
appointment I
will be available starting 9 AM to 4PM tomorrow on
12/01/22. |
|
| Marc Cannon <callhrr@gmail.com> | 1 December 2022 at 05:57 |
|
To: JEST <myemail@gmail.com> |
|
|
Good morning, My name is Marc Cannon Ap (Aprylhtks@gmail.com)
I'm
Thank you again for your interest in employment at
AutoNation,
We
are
We have carefully considered your application during the
initial
In order for us to move ahead with the selection process,
please
reply
Name :
I will email you the Screening Test/Interview Questions as
soon
I
Thank you [Quoted text hidden]
|
|
| JEST <myemail@gmail.com> | 1 December 2022 at 09:24 |
|
To: Marc Cannon <callhrr@gmail.com> |
|
|
Name: JEST Phone Number:
MYPHONENUMBER City and State Location: SOMEWHERE [Quoted text hidden]
|
|
| Marc Cannon <callhrr@gmail.com> | 1 December 2022 at 09:25 |
|
To: JEST <myemail@gmail.com> |
|
|
Thank you for your information.
Please find attached the Screening test/Interview Questions
for
the
The Screening test/Interview Questions are designed to gauge
your
Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any
questions.
Best of luck with the test,
[Quoted text hidden]
|
|
| Marc Cannon <callhrr@gmail.com> | 1 December 2022 at 10:47 |
|
To: JEST <myemail@gmail.com> |
|
|
I acknowledge the receipt of your answers.
Our team will review your answers and forward the same to
the
Hiring
You will be having a virtual meeting with a representative
from
the
HR
This is going to be strictly an online remote (work from
home)
job
and
Furthermore you will be undergoing training before you start
working
How much do you want to be considered for this job hourly
?
Let me know when you received this email and reply back with
desired
pay rate. [Quoted text hidden]
|
|
| JEST <myemail@gmail.com> | 1 December 2022 at 10:49 |
|
To: Marc Cannon <callhrr@gmail.com> |
|
|
How much do you want to be considered for this
job
hourly ? [Quoted text hidden]
|
|
| Marc Cannon <callhrr@gmail.com> | 1 December 2022 at 11:28 |
|
To: JEST <myemail@gmail.com> |
|
|
After serious consideration, I am glad to inform
you
that due to your
We believe that your knowledge, skills and experience would
be
an
We are starting you with $45 per hour and you will receive
your
pay
We are going to be communicating virtually till after 5 days
of
Before you start work, you will receive a payment(check)
which
will
be
You will be receiving your Employment Offer Letter from HR
via
email
For confirmation purposes, kindly forward the following
information
to
Your Legal Name to be on check:
Please email the requested information to the IT department
above
to:
For clarification and Confirmation purposes, please provide
me
with
Congratulations! [Quoted text hidden]
|
|
| JEST <myemail@gmail.com> | 1 December 2022 at 12:22 |
|
To: Marc Cannon <callhrr@gmail.com> |
|
|
Thank you very much. I'm very excited to get
started. Name: JEST [Quoted text hidden]
|
|
| Marc Cannon <callhrr@gmail.com> | 1 December 2022 at 12:36 |
|
To: JEST <myemail@gmail.com> |
|
|
We look forward to welcoming you to AutoNation,
You
will
be having a
After equipment purchase has been made, the Company's
accredited
Note: Kindly install google chats on your mobile phone and
also
add
me
Enjoy the rest of your day and please do stay safe .
Kind Regards.
Kindly let me know if you've receive and signed your offer
letter [Quoted text hidden]
|
|
| JEST <myemail@gmail.com> | 1 December 2022 at 15:00 |
|
To: Marc Cannon <callhrr@gmail.com> |
|
|
I have received and signed my offer letter,
thank
you
very much. Would you prefer I contact you over google
chat
instead of email? Or is either fine? [Quoted text hidden]
|
|
| Marc Cannon <callhrr@gmail.com> | 1 December 2022 at 15:53 |
|
To: JEST <myemail@gmail.com> |
|
|
add me on google chats
[Quoted text hidden]
|
|
Google chats chatlog

PDF signing that I did:

They sent me a check via UPS urgent shipping, I cashed in the check.

With the help of friends and remembering wirefrauds were dangerous from crime shows, I held out and realized what was going on, wuv yall
The following emails and domains need to be taken down:
These are up as of: Dec 9, 2022
- allhrr@gmail.com
- callhrr@gmail.com
- https://applyonlineworks.com the email they sent the initial job offer from.
- Retracing my steps, other than indeed my work email leak might have came from here? More
investigation is needed:
- https://www.ondemandassessment.com/
- https://braze.com/Might be legit but I may have gave out my email to them
- http://brassring.com/Might be legit but I may gave out my email to them
- https://www.criteriacorp.com/Might be legit but I may gave out my email to them
This has happened before to others:
KPRC 2 Investigates: Fake employer on Indeed steals thousands from job applicant
New mom looking for remote work scammed on Indeed
Story Time: scammed on Indeed, An employer on Indeed Scammed Me
Scammers using LinkedIn, Indeed to prey on people searching for employment
They have my drivers license which contains a lot personal information but eh... probably somewhere
based
in india or something, I dunno. I will be moving soon. If you have any advice please
send it to me. Also on the offchance that someone is looking to hire or want to add more to this page,
please
email me:
my contact email:
jestarray@gmail
my contact email:
jestarray@gmailI have already filed a report to the FTC, FBI's internet crime division, etc. Thanks for reading, I rushed to type this out cause I don't want anyone falling prey to this so there may be typos. Please share this to spread the word, thank you.
Discussion:
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