Well, duh. . . how do you suppose anyone can tell THIS is a scam? I'd think that anyone stupid enough to follow those directions should be arrested for being too idiotic to walk around free in public. . .


Con Artists Using Forged Arkansas Checks
August 15, 2005

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A check scam operation is sending job seekers forged checks from the state of Arkansas and asking them to wire the money overseas, state officials said Monday.

Some checks were successfully cashed, but state officials did not say how much money was involved. The checks are not honored when they reach Arkansas, and the state has not lost any money in the scam, state Treasurer Gus Wingfield said.

Reports of the forged checks have come in from 18 other states, officials said.

"These scam artists are using Arkansas' name to commit their crime," Attorney General Mike Beebe said. "Our state agencies will continue to investigate and trace these checks to put a stop to this activity."

The con artists are targeting job hunters posting resumes online. Job seekers are "hired" by a company calling itself Void Computers Inc., and are then asked to help the company cash checks worth $5,200 from Arkansas, which it says is one of its clients.

Checks were mailed from Turkey with instructions to cash the checks and wire the money to an address in Latvia, minus a 10 percent fee the consumer may keep. Applicants are urged to avoid banks, and instead go to a check-casher, liquor store or similar business.

No arrests were announced, but Beebe said his investigators have consulted with the U.S. Postal Inspectors Office and the FBI.