Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Last week My Boss told me he had found a new opportunity, and if it worked out he’d turn me on to it.

This opportunity could make an extra $3,000 a month (who couldn’t use that?)

It seems he’d been talking to someone about shipping package overseas.

People in other countries want things from the US but can not get US companies to ship this stuff to them.

So the plan is this guy will have packages sent to my Bosses home. Where my Boss will repackage the stuff and ship it over seas. And then be paid handsomely for this.

RED FLAG

This didn’t feel right and I started to warn my Boss to be careful of a scam but he assured me he’d checked it all out although he did admit there was one thing that made him wonder, (why not have this stuff shipped to his own house or warehouse?) but he was going to do it anyway to see what happens.

I’ve seen so many scams on the internet over the past 10 yrs I’ve been online I just don’t trust people handing out money for almost nothing.

Well I did some checking and sure enough it’s a scam.

When I first suggested it might be a scam my Boss became defensive. He is a bit arrogant and tends to underestimate me anyway.

So should I warn him or let him fall? Do I risk him getting mad at me because he’s been a fool and I now about it? Something he should have been a bit smarter then to get into.

I’ve thought of telling him anonymously but since I’m the only one his told he’d know it was me anyway.

His arrogant way makes me reluctant to approach him. I mean I could lose my job because he is embarrassed at being made a fool.

But if I let him sink knowing this is a scam I am I just as wrong? Or do I say he should of known better and keep my mouth shut?

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The most interesting information comes from children, for they tell all they know and then stop.
Mark Twain

A while back my neighbor got a call from Best Buy asking if he had recently made a two thousand dollar purchase; he had not.  The package was to be delivered to a hotel room where they were repackaging merchandise bought with stolen credit cards and shipping them off to Latvia.  The police actually had my neighbor take part in the sting.  When the package in my neighbors name was delivered to the room the police asked the person why this was not the address of the person who had purchased it.  They said they had an arrangement with him.  Then they pointed to my neighbor and said "do you know this man?"  They said no, and were immediately placed under arrest.  The room was full of all sorts of packages to be shipped overseas. 
I don`t know if this is the same kind of scam, but it sounds eerily similar.  Whatever you do, make sure you are not involved in any way.

I would email him the materials to show it`s a scam if he still chooses to go that route sit and laugh. I say email because he may be to arrogant to admit it in person but privately he might be willing to accept its a scam.

I noticed recently all these, Mr.(name) your relative in X country has a Will and your entitled to x amount. They used to be just text now they`re in PDF format. Like I`m even going to open it, LOL. I hate these bastards. Matter of fact I thought of targeting them with my ad "We found a loop hole and can make you a US citizen.....please send me 5,000 American to start the process." take that! HEHEHE...

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He who gets greedy like a pig, gets slaughtered like a hog!

Depends on your morality.

For myself, I hold that it`s part of my obligation to stand up for reality. When I encounter a situation in which I believe someone else has failed to see or understand reality, I think I have an ethical duty to at least tell them, 1 time, my perception of what`s going on. It`s then up to them if they agree or disagree.

I sleep better at night knowing that I made a statement in favor of reality, to my best ability to understand that reality. I remember well, the historic lessons of many past events, with WW II standing out the most. I wasn`t in the war, I read the histories.

The reason so many Jews were destroyed is because so few people stood up and made a statement---took a stand. The result was that many of those who said nothing couldn`t live with the guilt aftewards.

It`s often helpful to have a really big example, because it highlights the underlying concepts better than with really small examples. Your situation is really small, taking place between 2 people--you and your boss. But conceptually, it`s hardly any different from those who stood by and did nothing when people were being arrested for simply existing.

I would either email the info or print it out and hand it to him.  I would NOT get involved in it in anyway. When it seems to good to be true, it usually is too good to be true.  This pertains to matters both business and personal.   Also, the emails ToddF receives are very common . . . I get them multiple times a week.  They are money laundering phishing scams according to the U.S. Treasury Dept., which is where I forward them.  I love ToddF`s idea, but it too would be considered a felony fraud scam.  Well . . . darn  . . . but, hey ToddF . . .maybe you`ll come up with something else!

Jilly

I saw this scam on dateline a couple of months ago. I would definately steer clear of it. Also I have a client who was asked to cash a check from a foriegn person oversees and for her to take some of the money and then she sends a wire back with remaining money...God Bless her, she is a sweet person and did it, not even thinking it would be an issue..well she was arrested. She definately should of realized this was not a good thing but did not. Some people are just naive to these scams I guess. But they are scams and illegal.

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Our Goal Is Your Success!
Founder Girls with Goals

Here are some resources:

National Fraud Information Center  U.S. Secret Service: 419 alert   U.S. Secret Service: 419 alert   FBI Internet Fraud Complaint Center 

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Our Goal Is Your Success!
Founder Girls with Goals

I`d look for a new job - your boss isn`t the sharpest knife in the drawer.  Anyone who thinks it`s legit to make $3k a month mailing packages has a hole in their head. 

But, myself, I`d let him know without argument.  I heard of some group of phone vigilantes who call people about to be scammed on CraigsList or eBay.  All they do is call and say, "Don`t buy that car - it`s a scam" and hang up.  They found that if they actually stay on the phone to try to convince people, they will get an argument, but a "drive-by phoning" seems to work because people have to think about what just happened (weird phone call...what could it mean...).  Then the potential victim starts REALLY looking into the situation and often will see that it IS a scam.

I`d print it all out and plop it his desk and then NEVER say another word about it. 

~Kim

run away

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James Lindon, Ph.D. Patent Attorney
Lindon & Lindon, LLC
Cleveland, Ohio
Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Pharmacy Law, Litigation
[this is not legal advice - provided for discussion only]
Intellectual Property for the Individual and Small Business: Identify, Protect, Enforce, Defend.
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."
http://www.LindonLaw.com

Hi curi,

This is a common scam used in trafficing stolen merchandise.  But, it`s not up to you to stop your boss.  You`ve already warned him.  If he still insists on going through with this venture, he will be solely responsible for the outcome. 

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The older we get, the more excuses we make for not chasing after our dreams. But truth is, goals are attainable at any age.