| Another day, another dollar...or at least, another | | | | I think I'll go test drive a Toyota Prius. It's a |
| stolen dollar. | | | | very energy efficient car. After all, it's my moral |
| Well - I've had my own company for about two | | | | duty to save the planet. |
| weeks now and I've made a couple thousand | | | | A Little More Information About This Kind of |
| dollars skimming off the deposits. The boss | | | | Scam: |
| hasn't noticed. As far as he's concerned, all of | | | | This scam is commonly referred to as a shell |
| the invoices are paid, and I'm doing my job | | | | company scam because the embezzler is paying a |
| incredibly well. In fact, I just passed the three | | | | valid company for services that were never |
| month trial period, and the boss gave me a $0.50 | | | | rendered or products that were never delivered. |
| an hour raise. When he told me that, I felt like | | | | Thus, the company is solid with a banking history |
| saying, "Really? A whole $0.50 an hour. You're | | | | while the transaction is nothing but air. Any teller |
| too kind. Now I can buy that car I need." But | | | | will cash that check without qualms and hand over |
| instead, I didn't. | | | | the money to whomever's name is on the |
| Still, I do need a new car. Fifty cents an hour is | | | | account. |
| only an extra $1,040 per year. That's not even | | | | This scam is also often pulled when a payment is |
| going to pay for a cup holder. My car is breaking | | | | made to an individual or an employee. The |
| down and dying in the most inconvenient places, | | | | embezzler's excuse might be that this person was |
| so I really just want to get a new car. I don't | | | | just a subcontractor for the day and was paid |
| really need anything fancy, but the best cars are | | | | under the table. Many times, the embezzler will |
| at least $20,000. I need to figure out how to | | | | even go so far as to pay someone they are |
| get a bigger down payment. I want to put | | | | friends with, and then let the friend take a portion |
| down at least $5,000, but the way things are | | | | of the embezzled funds. They can steal for a |
| going, that's going to take a couple more weeks. | | | | long time this way without getting caught, |
| I have no idea if my car can make it a couple | | | | especially because the owner gets used to seeing |
| more weeks. | | | | that name. |
| I thought about starting another business, but I | | | | To Stop This Scam: |
| don't really want to pay another $100 or so for | | | | It's important to do your homework. If you |
| the licenses...plus, the time it takes to go to the | | | | don't recognize the name of a company, or know |
| bank and get another account...I'd rather not. | | | | anything about the transaction that took place, |
| But I did come up with another idea. I wrote a | | | | then ask questions - lots of questions. Ask who |
| check to Johnson Hauling for $1,500. | | | | ordered the product or services. Whoever |
| "What's this check for," the boss asked me when | | | | requested the order - sometimes it might be |
| I gave it to him to sign. I had been hoping he | | | | another employee - it's important to ask them |
| wouldn't notice it, since I slipped it in with a bunch | | | | why they placed that order. Ask to see a |
| of other checks. But since he had... | | | | Purchase Order, Shipping Receipt, or an Invoice |
| "That's a new vendor we're using," I told him. | | | | from the company. Go and look at the service |
| "We needed to haul away a bunch of left over | | | | that was done or the product that was |
| trash and remnants from the newest renovation | | | | delivered. Talk to someone at the company for |
| project, and they were the best deal. They | | | | which the check is written too and make sure |
| delivered a trash can to the project, then hauled it | | | | that they actually delivered the product or |
| away when they were done." | | | | service. A good rule of thumb is this... If the |
| In case I didn't mention it, the company I work | | | | payment is for a new account - whether a |
| for buys, renovates and sells houses. So paying | | | | vendor, employee, subcontractor, or customer - |
| $1,500 to haul away remnants was not that | | | | demand proof. Make contact, or ask for |
| uncommon. | | | | paperwork. |
| "Okay," he said, distracted as he signed the next | | | | Warning Signs: |
| check, and then the next. Finally, he handed me | | | | If someone is colluding with the embezzler to |
| the pile of checks and gave me a dismissive | | | | steal from you, they may look you straight in the |
| wave of his hand. | | | | eye and lie about what they've done for your |
| I left the office triumphant. The truth was, I | | | | company. That's why it's important to go with |
| didn't need to create another company because | | | | your gut when you meet someone. If you don't |
| Johnson Hauling is my husband's company. The | | | | like them, "fire them." |
| check that he had just written, I was able to | | | | Also, if you ask for paperwork and it doesn't |
| cash at the bank because I'm a signer on the | | | | have an address or phone number, be |
| Johnson Hauling bank account. My husband will | | | | suspicious. Valid companies automatically put |
| never know that I got this money because I can | | | | their contact information on all their paperwork |
| just cash the check. And the boss has never | | | | because they want to make sure they get paid - |
| met my husband, so he has no idea that my | | | | and if you can't call them with questions, you |
| husband and I have different last names. The | | | | won't be paying. So, ask for the invoice or |
| result... I am now $1,500 closer to buying my new | | | | statement, and be very, very slow at paying |
| car. | | | | anyone you're suspicious of. |