Is this a scam?

[Velvetee]

Someone I know has applied for a "job" advertised on Gumtree, where the advertiser claims there to be a client, who is coming to the UK, who will need a driver for several weeks. The job pays �600 per week.

An E Mail was received today, claiming the money would arrive at the home address of this person, but then it went onto say they should go to a Western Union office and draw funds. It's all in broken English and I don't fully understand what this person is saying, but it all sounds scam like to me.

can anyone decipher, what the following is?

"How are you doing today.It's good to inform you that the payment will deliver to you this morning via Priority Mail(its going to be delivered to your mail box). Once you receive the payment kindly process it and deduct �600 fora week,so you can be sure of this job and stick to it till we arrive in town and deduct extra �50 as compensation and immediately visit the nearest WESTERN UNION OUTLET around your area with the total sum amount of �1850 and have the excess funds sent to the Traveling Agent for him to get all necessary thing done for the trip to take place. Here is the information below in which the funds will have to be sent to:
NAME...........Wendi Ferrell
Address........ 133 Plymouth Ave
City............Columbus
State......... Ohio
Country..... USA
Zip code.......43232
You are to deduct the western union fees from the sum of �1850. Do get back to me with the MTCN#(10 Digits Number on the WESTERN Union reciept), Sender's name and address, Exact amount sent out to the Travelling agent so that i can forward it to him for comfirmation reason to let them know that there funds has been wired to them and immediately they receive the funds he will be making all necessary arrangements before my arrival.I will be looking forward for the western union details as soon as you have the transaction done to them in the morning .

[redcrx]

CON!!!!

"have the excess funds sent to the Traveling Agent for him to get all necessary thing done for the trip to take place" they rely on people withdrawing the funds, paying other people and then they bounce the cheque!

[dasherman]

Of course it's a scam!

[logic]

yes

[dzug]

Yes - a scam.

Victim receives payment, pays it into his bank account

Goes to Western Union, sends (not draws) money for the travelling scumbag sorry agent to pick up.

Some time later payment into bank account bounces as forged/stolen etc

Victim is out of pocket

[andy-hughes]

There's a golden rule that applies to messages like this -

"If it looks too good to be true ... it probably is.

Why would a complete stranger involve someone they don't know from Adam in complex financial transactions involving other strangers?

My advice? Leave it well alone.

[cazzz1975]

contact gumtree so they can warn people

[sn�gged]

You know that saying... 'if something seems too good to be true etc.'...

[Rollo]

Of course it is a SCAM.

The scammer will appear to send �2500, but it won't be legitimate. The payment will appear to clear, but later it will be found to be fake/fraudelent and the �2500 will be clawed back.

In the meantin the scammer has been sent �1850 of real money via Western Union, where it becomes untraceable once the scammer has got his hands on it.

[mrs_overall]

Scam!

[sn�gged]

scum!

[tamirra]

Hi, im trying to sell a large house on gum tree and since ive had it advertised on there i get nothing but scam mail from people all over the wrold wanting my property and what is my lowest offer on the property and lots of other cra p questions, just forget it and delete it.

[Davethedog]

Hi Velvetee.

I have a large amount of many in a bank in Mombassa.. I can make you rich....

[Velvetee]

Thanks everyone. I don't think the person in question is very bright unfortunately.

It's so obviously a scam to me, but I guess there's a sucker born everyday.