FiberElectronics Reports & Reviews (1)
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SCAMPULSE
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SCAMPULSE
If you know any contact information for FiberElectronics, help other victims by adding it!
Type of a scam Fake Check/Money Order
In the e-mail, signed by a Noam Napolitano, I was also provided with a text interview form asking me for such information as my previous work experience, area of expertise, ways of staying motivated while performing repetitive tasks and ensuring accuracy during routine work, etc. I filled it and sent it in, and was told the next day in another e-mail that I'd been selected, that I'd be performing such duties as writing/sending e-mails and handling purchases and essentially anything else that'd ease higher-ups' workload, and I was assigned to work with Mr. Razvi, who I should expect a text from. I was asked for more information with which to process my hire, namely my name, age (which seemed odd, but I bore with it at the time, as I wasn't asked for my date of birth), address, phone number, and availability, and provided it, content with the sensitivity level of the information.
(Note that the supposed Noam Napolitano also typed with some odd capitalization and syntax, though less than Mr. Razvi would go on to, and I've worked with enough sloppy typists in the past that I didn't feel like it was fair of me to think much of it.)
I did receive a text from the supposed Mr. Razvi on Saturday, May 23rd, but I was too busy to converse at the time, and after I sent a few texts which weren't responded to in the afternoon, I was texted again on Sunday, May 22nd. Mr. Razvi stated that he'd continue communicating with me primarily by text to ensure easy and prompt communication, and asked me a few questions - mostly repeats of the interview questions. He then said that I'd be starting work on Monday and that he'd be communicating with me as I worked while I was still starting out, and asked me to check in every workday at 0800. This was essentially everything before the conversation ended.
On Monday morning, I woke up shortly before 0800 and found I already had texts from Mr. Razvi, from as early as before 0600, bidding me good morning and asking where I was. I texted to check in at 0800, as agreed upon, and Mr. Razvi said that for my first task, I'd be helping with a charity donation to an orphanage around where I am, namely by purchasing and facilitating the sending of a batch of supplies such as wheelchairs. This was another thing which I found odd and suspicious, but when I looked it up, I found out that there are, in fact, orphanages in my broader area, and I rationalized it by telling myself it was reasonable for a previously-closed business to be getting its name back out there through charity. I said that I assumed I'd be given more information on the orphanage and exact amounts and sources for the supplies purchased when it was time to actually make the donation, and was told that I would. I was asked what my bank is (to check that it was compatible with the FiberElectronics side of things, essentially, was what I was told), and I answered. I was then sent a cut-out check for $1,750 to deposit via mobile. I cut it out and signed it, sending a photograph to Mr. Razvi by text as requested to confirm that I'd done so, then deposited it and texted another image - a screenshot with my bank account number whited out - to confirm that it was pending. After that, I was told that that would be all for the day.
The next day, I again woke up shortly before 0800, found I already had a couple of messages bidding me good morning and asking if I was there from Mr. Razvi, and texted back at 0800 exactly, this time with a screenshot (again, with my account number whited out) confirming that the check deposit had been processed. After this, Mr. Razvi asked if I had Zelle, which I said I did not. He then asked if I had Venmo, which I said I did - but Mr. Razvi then sent me a name - Chinonso Stanley - and the routing and account numbers of a Bank of Texas account, along with an amount to send ($1,700), saying that directly wiring money would be easier. Confused, I said that I'd been under the impression that the money from the check was for the orphanage donation. Mr. Razvi said that it was, but that if I sent the money to the vendor, they'd handle everything. I asked who the vendor was, and rather than have my question answered, I was essentially told again that the vendor would handle everything and that I didn't need to worry about anything, and that it was needed out of the way soon. I asked for the name of the orphanage and the vendor company again, stating that I just wanted to be sure that everything was going to the right places through the right channels and to be aware of what I was doing. Mr. Razvi still didn't answer, saying that "well it's an easy task" and saying that he had a flight to catch. I asked if there was someone else I could contact for the name of the orphanage and vendor company if he was busy... and he provided me with an e-mail address with his name on it - [email protected]. Exasperated, I made a call to my local non-emergency number, unsure off the top of my head who else to call, and left a message stating that I'd been dragged into a scam while Mr. Razvi texted asking if I was there and saying he'd sent me an e-mail. The e-mail was also unhelpful, and I responded to it saying again that I just wanted to know the orphanage and vendor name before I proceeded with anything. Mr. Razvi then told me that the orphanage was Feeding America - which, to my knowledge and according to a quick Google search I did right then to double-check, is NOT an orphanage organization. I thanked him so as not to come across as "overly" suspicious and then asked again about the vendor company, which he still hadn't given. In his next e-mail, he stated that the vendor was an individual entrepreneur, not a company. I again thanked, to come across as "normal", and restated that I just wanted to keep myself and the company's funds (not meaning that part) safe, and would go ahead and process the money transfer.
I did go to my bank website, flustered and not sure off the top of my head what else to do but wanting things to be done with, and realized that I didn't know how to wire money to accounts not banking with the same organization as me anyway. I called my bank's customer service - and while I was on the line with them, I explained my situation. They agreed that everything sounded extremely suspicious and uncomfortable, asked me if the check I'd cashed the previous day was from the "employer" I was talking about, and offered to check if it was fraudulent when I said yes. After a brief hold, they confirmed that it was, indeed, fraudulent, and reversed the deposit. Mr. Razvi continued to text me, asking if I was there, saying that I should have completed the transfer already, and reminding me that he supposedly had a flight to catch as I submitted an FTC report and blocked him.