scam - Blogs - Black Business Women Online

My BIG dream is to be a model and I will strive towards that until I reach success. I started off in the absolutely wrong direction by taking up an offer from Model Productions, a model search agency, that were promoting their search throughout the malls. This will be Tip One: Mall model searched are most likely scams. I was young and about 13 and begged my mother to pay the $250 for the CD and the registration for some convention where all the "top model agencies" were going to be. This includes Tip Two: Don't pay for ANYTHING... and I mean ANYTHING! It just makes sense that if an agency was really legit and REALLY wanted to work with you, they would NOT ask for money, because well... they really shouldn't need it. At the most, the only somewhat "OK" payment is a registration fee, but that is still pushing it!

Okay, so after realizing that all of these model agencies and schools that make everything sound OH SO GOOD on the radio and their "interviews" (which hundreds of people come to and not even get a chance to get "interviewed") was all... excuse me... BULL!, I decided that maybe craigslist was a good choice to find opportunities. Wrong! Tip Three: Don't use craigslist! It is full of scams and people who are very unprofessional just looking for money; about 90% of these people probably do not care about your dreams for being an actress or model. Let me tell you... I went to a 'meeting' for the selected models for a photo shoot with the Atlanta Falcons bird mascot... tell me why this so called "mascot" was an very old lady dressed in a red and black home made costume that looked like she was a Broadway performer with a Vegas theme with all those darn feathers. It was a mess ! I could tell many stories from scams ALL from Craigslist.

But let me tell you guys something that DID work. Keeping my faith not only in myself that I would someday live my dream, I always kept my faith in God. And well, I fasted for 3 days by giving up just one item that I love the most... chewing gum.LOL It sounds simple and its probably funny to you, but I chew gum so much... I may even chew it in my sleep. Its just something that I HAVE to have. and I'm telling you... day one from the fast.. I got a call from my friend about a agency having an open call and (long story short) , I went and they sent me the contract in the mail and I am now a signed talent ! : ) They never once asked me for a dime and they instantly started sending me auditions and model/acting training courses! I felt the need to tell this story because ONE... models and actresses really become serious and determined and its so hard to not fall for these scams because we really really want it. And I would have never thought I'd get signed that day!

God bless to all aspiring models and actresses reading this and please keep these tips in mind because you don't want someone to take advantage of you and your will to reach success. Trust me.... I have been through it all. And even if modeling/ acting is not your goal.... try your faith in the lord anyways and see what happens! : )

Love,

Joslyn Shavonne

http://www.bronzediva.ning.com

Although I am in business for myself I continue to look for full time employment with benefits. So I have my resume posted on CareerBuilders. I am not saying that CareerBuilders is running a scam. However, someone is putting CareerBuilders name on the line. Well I received an email the other day stating that the company was very interested in me. The job description entailed me depositng checks into my account, taking money off the top, and forwarding the rest to the company. For a lot of people that have been let go from their jobs and can't seem to get on their feet, this job sounds really good. Times are hard and some people are getting desperate to have a nice income to bring home.The company stated they needed my address information. Please be leary and think before you give out your information. These people can probably look up any type of information on you once they have your address. This could lead to all types of trouble. You don't want to end up in court over something you didn't do or take the time to research before doing.Below is a copy of the letter that was sent to me. And remember if it sounds to good to be true or seems to easy then it is. Be careful.We are glad that you showed an interest in an opening in our company. My name is Diana Horn, and I am the HR Manager of AFI Development International. I would like to say a few words about our company and its area of activity.Our company was founded in 2007 in United Kingdom, AFI Development International is one of the largest equipment selling companies to millions of our customers - businesses, groups, hospitals individuals and processing payments. The AFI Development International logo is a trusted symbol of dependability. Naturally, you have great expectations regarding your career and that means you will need plenty of room - to grow, to explore your potential and to realize your goals. HR Manager of AFI Development International needs a responsible, honest, self motivated and reliable individual to work for the company as our Representative in US.JOB DESCRIPTION, TERMS AND CONDITIONSOur problem occurred when we had to receive the payments for our work. We cannot receive the payment in a timely manner due to high delay with U.K. based banks, check clearance and other forms of payment. As long as we need the money real fast we have agreed and came up with a solution. Our clients could pay us where we want by sending checks to an US Address. What we need you to do is to to provide us an address where we can receive our customer checks. We asked for feedback from our customers and they said this is safer and faster working directly with their bank by sending checks. We need someone who can receive the money through this method of payment. Regarding the check process all you have to do is to receive the checks our customers will send to your address, take them to your bank, cash them and send the remainder amount to us. All fees for transferring money will be supported from our share. Bonuses will apply for cashing checks in same day or within 24 hours. You will always take your percentage upfront.PAYMENT AND SALARY:1. 10% from all our sales if you agree to receive our customer’s checks. Percentage will be raised to 17% within 2 months, if you will provide good feedback with us and you will manage to cash checks in a timely manner. An estimate salary per week will be between $900-$1,000 receiving checks from our customers.PLEASE NOTE: It should take up to 10 business days for you to receive the first payment as we need to forward all customers to use this method of payment.Every month bonuses and benefits will apply to your salary.1. Within one month after receiving the first check you will get an extra $1,000 if you will manage to cash checks in a timely manner, also this bonus includes internet bill, phone bill, gas/bus tickets. We will support all bills you have to pay for your internet and cell phone. PLEASE NOTE: This bonus will apply after one month starting the day you will receive the first check.2. After two months of working with us, a secondary bonus will apply. You will get 15% from all our sales. If everything works as we will expect and it will, you will be able to do up to $1200 - $1300 per week + the bonus of $1,000 every month.3. Bonuses regarding cashing checks are as follow:a) Cash the check same day and you will receive a bonus of $150 for each check cashed.b) Cash the check within 24 hours and you will receive a bonus of $100.c) Cash the check within 48 hours and you will receive a bonus of $50New offices will be opened in United States, as we recently launched our products to the US Market and most of our customers and we had a big impact working with US Customers. The estimated time frame for opening the new offices is between 2 to 4 months. This is why we are trying to find someone capable to help us administrate all the US Area.JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:- Communication is one of our main goals, so what we need from you is to check your email more often than usual when we announce you that a payment has been confirmed as we will send further instructions to you as soon as they hit your account, also provide a phone number where you can always be reached so we can hit base in case of any urgent matters we have to solve regarding payments- Trying to find better ideas for the best of the Company, this will help us maintain good relationship between us and our customers and also new ideas are always appreciated from a self motivated person eager to grow incomes for the Company and themselves.- We prefer the cashing method to be faster, just chosen the best way to have the funds cleared same day you receive them. We will support all fees and commissions if any.WORKING HOURSThis depends of how many checks you will receive but it won't take more than 2 hours to deposit the check and send an email as soon as the check arrives to you. Also as soon as checks are cleared we will send you further instructions and all details in order to complete the process with Western Union. All we need from you is to deposit the check immediately after you get it and let us know the time frame regarding the clearance of the check.JOB OPPORTUNITIES:- Working with our company can be done from home too. If you have an internet connection until new offices will be opened over there.- Learning new techniques was always a challenge for us and we hope that will be for you too. Our specialists will be able to teach you everything they know if you have time and patience as soon as our offices will be opened there. Two of our best specialists will be sent in order to provide new skills to the future employees our company will have and also to maintain our productivity line in shape. This will not affect your Manager Position for US area will just help you learn something new.QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS1. Q: Why don't you receive checks directly to your address and you need me?A: Because within three months all our customers will forward US payments to our US headquarters and we decided to find a person who can handle all our business over there. Cashing US checks over here might take up to 30 days and some of our customers will chose to make this kind of payment and we can't afford to lose so much time.2. Q: When do I get my share when I cash a check?A: You will take your share instantly, as soon as you have cash in hand, you take your percentage and then send the rest of the funds to us. You will take your share as soon as you will manage to get the check cashed.3. Q: Do I have to pay for the Western Union fees?A: No. Western union fees will be taken from the reminder amount after you will take your share from checks or withdrawals4. Q: Where will I be sending the money after a check gets cleared?A: As soon as you will have cash in hand all you have to do is to notify us via e-mail and we will provide you all the instructions needed in order to complete the Western Union process.5. Q: What information do you need from me so we can start work together?A: We will need your address, email and phone numbers where you can be reached. The address is needed so we can let our customers know where to send the checks.6. Q: What name will appear on checks at PAYABLE TO field?A: Checks will be made payable to you so you can cash them. This will be done until we will be able to come over there establish our business and open a business account with the company's name on it. Making checks payable to you will not make you liable for paying any taxes to the IRS. Every year we will provide forms and papers proving that you have to pay the income taxes only on the funds you will earn percentage from this and NOT THE TOTAL AMOUNT you will receive.7. Q: Who will be my main contact until one of your representatives will come over here to open new offices?A: I, Diana Horn, I will be your main contact and you can e-mail me at any time with any questions you might have.8. Q: How long does it takes for the first payment from your customers to arrive to me?A: First payment will come within 10 business days after you will provide us your contact information. We will let our customers know where to send the checks. It takes within 3 to 7 business days for the check to arrive with USPS.9. Q: What are the amounts on the checks I will receive?A: Check amounts are between $1,000-$3,500/each.10. Q: Do I have to pay any taxes for the amount of the checks I will receive?A: NO. You will only pay taxes for the money you will earn (10% from total amount). At the end of the year we will provide you all forms and papers to prove that you sent the money to us like we said.11. Q: Will I be doing anything illegal according to the US LAWS?A: NO! Our company is a respectable one and we just want to launch our products to the US MARKET not defrauding our employees and customers so you can rest assured that nothing is illegal.12. Q: If I would like to be paid once a month can I do that?A: As soon as we will arrive over there and if you will get good feedback with us we will re-negotiate your contract and set up a monthly salary for you if this is what you want. We will also add benefits as soon as the offices are opened over there. All we have to tell you is that you will earn up to $85,000/year in any way you will choose. It will be a little harder until we will start rolling all this process but from what we estimate from our sales this will be the highest you will get in a year.13. Q: Will your company ask me any sensitive information such as, Bank Account Numbers, Credit Card Numbers, SSN, etc.?A: We will never ask or need any of your private information, such as SSN, Mother's Maiden Name or anything. We do not want you to believe that this is a trick in order to get your personal banking information or credit card information. We are just trying to get along and extend our services and this is why we need someone who can take care of this thing!14. Q: Can you please explain how the entire process works does?A: Of course, I will use a simple example for a check of $1,000. Let's say you agree to work with us and you email us your name and address where you can receive the payments from our customers. As soon as we will receive the contract filled and signed from you and will have CONFIRMATION that you agree all our terms and conditions we forward your address to our customers in order to make the payments. The checks will be made of in your name so be careful when you send your name. The name must correspond with your bank account name where you want to cash the check. Our customers will let me know as soon as payments have been sent. Most of them will use USPS as a shipping and handling and this is why it might take a little until you will receive the first check, and we won't be able to track it, so we just have to wait. As soon as I get the confirmation from my customer that the payment has been sent I will also email you and let you know that a payment is on its way. As soon as you will get the check you have to let me know that you received it so i can also update my customer. If you will manage to get the check cleared same day this will be great and you will apply for the bonuses mentioned. Now, as soon as you have cash in hand you have to email us and we will send you an email with full instructions regarding the transfer of the funds. As soon as you will get our email, you will take your share from the total amount UP FRONT (E.G.: Check value is $1,000 you will take your share immediately ($100)) and then take all other fees for transferring the funds along with the bonus from our share that will remain. Basically all you have to do is to check your email daily as we will keep you updated from time to time and also as soon as payments will start to come we will let you know. You can also continue with your other job if you want to along as you can handle ours too.15. Q: I am interested. Can we setup an interview regarding this position?A: If you still have further questions try to see if you can find your answer within these ones if not please email us. Unfortunately we cannot setup any interviews now as we do not have any representatives in US. We will be able to come and meet within the next few months when the new offices will be opened in you area!16. Q: I agree with all terms and conditions, what is the next step?A: Email us using reply to this email your Name and Address where you can receive checks with the following subject:I AGREE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS - PLEASE SEND CONTRACT.Also include phone numbers and email address where you can be reached. Within 24 hours after we will receive this information we will forward you a copy of the contract you have to fill in, sign and email back to us.IMPORTANT:AS SOON AS YOU WILL RECEIVE THE CONTRACT YOU HAVE TO EMAIL US BACK AND LET US KNOW AN ESTIMATE TIME WHEN THE CONTRACT WILL BE SEND NY EMAIL.WE PREFER THAT THE CONTRACT TO BE SENT WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER YOU WILL RECEIVE IT. WE CANNOT LOSE TIME AND WE WON'T FORWARD YOUR DETAILS TO OUR CUSTOMERS UNTIL WE WILL HAVE THE SIGNED CONTRACT EMAILED BACK!If you want to work for AFI Development International, please reply to this email and answer a couple of questions:1. Did you work for a company over the internet in the past? If yes, why did you quit?2. Did you ever cash out on a check using your bank account?3. How old is your account?We wait for your answers and if you meet our requirements and you are still interested, in the next email we will send you the contract.Diana HornAFI Development International3 More London Riverside, London, SE1United KingdomFAX 011-44-258-654-3526FAX 011-44-110-256-0778

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.