Michael Brian

This response was posted on a Facebook group that I belong to.  I don’t know where the original job advert was posted, nor do I know what it said.

This is clearly a scam, so my online alter ego is going to email and see what response is received. I’m suspecting that the scammer will offer to pay my “expenses” in advance and try to send me a cheque for extra money, asking me to forward the extra to a third party.

Let’s see what happens.  Meanwhile, ignore this idiot.

(Edit – this scammer seriously needs to go back to scam school. They can’t remember what they’ve said. Currently they are saying I will receive my check on Thursday, but have already arranged to meet me tomorrow. A meeting that the scammer now appears to have forgotten about. Just for fun, I’ve reproduced the entire conversation to date below.

All the address, names and other information are entirely made up. Actually my “sister’s” address is a Police Station)

Dear Applicant,
Greetings,I hope this beautiful day finds you doing well?I received your resume in response to the my text Thanks for the confirmation of your availability and sorry for the delay in response. Your resume has been reviewed and you sounds great with your past experiences .

About Me:
Micheal brian is a digital media strategist, Moving Picture Producer, Video Editor, Photographer, Videographer, Video Artist, Interactive Designer & Illustrator. Also i specialize in landscape and night-sky photography, motion-controlled time-lapse, and creative dSLR film-making. I also hold private and group workshops and classes, as I love to teach other people how to achieve their creative Editor.

I really feel I need some assistance at this time that’s why I need someone who can work with me hand in hand throughout the production period. We are presently working on a short film which I’m directing the production aspect, although work hasn’t commenced and we should start working on the film in next 3 weeks.

As the Editor, You will assists the film director by establishing the visual look of the movie.

You will work closely with me and other crew throughout the production process, Duties basically would be

. receiving a brief, and maybe an outline of footage and/or a shot list, script, or screenplay

. assembling all raw footage, with camera shots either recorded or transferred onto video tape in preparation for inputting into the computer

. inputting uncut rushes and sound, and synchronising and storing them into files on the computer;

. digitally cutting the files to put together the sequence of the film and deciding what is usable

. creating a ‘rough cut’ (or assembly edit) of the programme/film and determining the exact cutting for the next and final stages

. reordering and fine-tuning the content to ensure the logical sequencing and smooth running of the film/video.

Additional tasks may include:

. overseeing the quality and progress of audio and video engineering and editing;

. experimenting with styles and techniques including the design of graphic elements;

. writing voiceover/commentary;

. suggesting or selecting music.

You may also carry out online editing duties, which involve finalising technical aspects such as correcting faulty footage, grading and colouring and adding special effects.

NOTE:

Your present job doesn’t affect the Status of the job because i need to place you on trial period i need someone who can perform his or her duties with resourceful and proactive in dealing with problems and queries, All i need you to do is to complete all task in a timely manner. I am being thorough and explanatory here because i have hired people in the past who did not live up to what i expected and this time, i do not want to make the same mistake. I have decided to offer you a probationary offer (trial period). Here i want to see how you would demonstrate your skills and how exceptional you are and how efficient and on time you will be. I will need you to perform a couple of tasks for me during this coming week, which are part of basic duties you will be performing before the project fully start and if i am impressed and convinced that you are right for the job, I will be setting up a meeting with you once am done with this shooting am presently working on. Successful completion of the trial period qualifies you for an interview and Temporary weekly wage for the trial period will be Eight Hundred Dollars/weekly and full employment details and permanent salary package + bonuses will be discussed in our meetings.

If the above work with you, I will take all necessary step and make my financial adviser have payment for these purchases and tasks, mailed to you. The trial period runs for a week or two. If you want to sign up for this, Kindly provide the details below …
Available Position: Editor
Type: Part-Time
Hours: 9 Hours per week/3 Hours Daily
Days: 3 days per week
Weekly Pay: $800

BENEFITS:
• AD & D Insurance
• 401(k)
• Medical, Dental, Vision

Willing to take this job position, I will take necessary step to have my financial officer have payment for the purchase and allowance to carryout the task, mailed to you. The trial period runs for a week or two. If you want to sign up for this, Kindly provide the details below …

Your Full name :
Mailing Address :
City :
State:
Zip Code :
Direct Phone# :
Two Work or Personal References:

Best Regards

michealbrian120@gmail.com

As I suspected, the scammer wants to over pay me and ask me to forward some to a third party. Below is his reply. I will let you know what comes next.  (For the avoidance of doubt I don’t live in Santa Barbara – I’ve never even been there)

Hi Fake Name,
Thank you for the reply and willingness to work with me and also for the wealth of information you have given about yourself. You will be starting the trial tasks Early Next three Weeks, which will qualify you for oral interview and I am putting things in place for everything to work well . I will get back to you shortly with important updates.

– Picking up of paperwork.

– You will Purchase some equipment on behalf of me for the project and for office use,The payment will be send to cover all the equipment ( Panasonic HC-MDH2 AVCHD Shoulder Mount Camcorder,RPS Studio Digital SLR Camera FloPod and SOLOSHOT3 Optic65 Camera ).

– You will be handling a donation to a charity organization which I am a Primary Donor.The details of this will be highlighted in my subsequent emails to you. You will also be sent upfront,your weekly payment which will be mailed to your address on file along with the donation to handle and a more detailed specification of duties for the week will be sent to you as soon as possible.

I have been in touch with my associate and I have arranged payment to carry out the tasks stated in the job description to be mailed to you and will be expedited to arrive in the next coming days. These tasks have to be done on time and in the best way possible.

Thank you so much for your time. Kindly make sure you check your email daily at least twice to three times in a day for regular updates.

I will like to confirm your information’s before i proceed to mailing the check payment to your address. Kindly confirm that the below information is correct so i can forward it to the payroll department for immediate processing of your check.

Name: My Fake Name
Address: 274 Somewhere, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
phone: no number? give me your number

I will like to know if we can meet at a restuarant in McDonald’s, 29 N Milpas St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103 by 6:00pm third week on (18th of April) if that works for you?? just to make it clear, for a brief discussion. The check will come in the amount of $3,000. Kindly note that
you are to have the check deposited in your bank account for
processing then you can deduct your $800 which goes for your first
week deposit and have the balance of $2,200 paid to the equipment seller for delivery of the equipment ( Panasonic HC-MDH2 AVCHD Shoulder Mount Camcorder,RPS Studio Digital SLR Camera FloPod and SOLOSHOT3 Optic65 Camera ), I will look for your email soon to ensure everything is clear so i can forward
your information??.

A simple reply to my e-mail is greatly appreciated so that I’ll know it was received.

As I said above, and just for fun, here is the rest for the conversation following on from the above.

I’ll be in on Thursday, but we’re meeting tomorrow at 6pm, so you can update me then.

However, I seriously think we can’t work together. You clearly aren’t reading my emails, nor are you remembering what you told me.

I totally fail to understand why you are asking me “what info do you want again?”

I haven’t asked you for any information. You arranged for us to meet tomorrow, at 6pm, at MacDonalds, as CLEARLY stated in your email of 7th April.

I have to say, that I don’t like your attitude. You are coming across as extremely rude and are unlikely to be the kind of person I can work with.

I guess we will find out tomorrow when we meet.

Annie

On 16 April 2017 at 22:18, micheal brian <michealbrian120@gmail.com> wrote:

hope you understand??

On Sun, Apr 16, 2017 at 1:11 PM, micheal brian <michealbrian120@gmail.com> wrote:

and also, the check payment is been mailed with your sister name on it Lucia Maria Santana, i hope there won’t be problems while depositing?

On Sun, Apr 16, 2017 at 1:08 PM, micheal brian <michealbrian120@gmail.com> wrote:

what info do you want again??, i already told you all you need to know, am kind of busy, you will get the check payment on or before Thursday okay, are you in or not??

On Sun, Apr 16, 2017 at 1:04 PM, Annie Smith <xxxxxxx2013@gmail.com> wrote:

Sorry, I don’t understand.

On 7 April you clearly wrote “I will like to know if we can meet at a restuarant in McDonald’s, 29 N Milpas St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103 by 6:00pm third week on (18th of April) if that works for you?”

Are you saying you can no longer make that meeting?

On 11 April you said “Okay good, I will keep you posted okay”

Apart from “checking” on me, you’ve told me nothing since then. I’m beginning to think you don’t actually want people to work for you.

On 16 April 2017 at 20:25, micheal brian <michealbrian120@gmail.com> wrote:

No, I already told you the details, please if you’re not convenient with the job kindly let me know OK, don’t stress me too much, at least have explained severally in the previous emails
On Apr 16, 2017 19:43, “Annie Smith” <xxxxxx2013@gmail.com> wrote:

What are you stressing about? I’ll see you in MacDonalds on Tuesday. You can update me then. I presume you’ll bring the equipment?

On 16 April 2017 at 18:47, micheal brian <michealbrian120@gmail.com> wrote:

are you there??

On Sat, Apr 15, 2017 at 2:03 PM, micheal brian <michealbrian120@gmail.com> wrote:

hello, how are you doing??just checking on you??

On Fri, Apr 14, 2017 at 5:00 AM, micheal brian <michealbrian120@gmail.com> wrote:

Don’t worry, you will get the check payment by tomorrow okay, just keep calm, I will update you okay
On Apr 13, 2017 22:32, “Annie Smith” <xxxxxxx2013@gmail.com> wrote:

Sure. Just waiting to hear from you. Otherwise, I’ll see you Tuesday.

On 13 April 2017 at 15:25, micheal brian <michealbrian120@gmail.com> wrote:

hello, hope you’re good?

On Tue, Apr 11, 2017 at 6:48 AM, micheal brian <michealbrian120@gmail.com> wrote:

Okay good, I will keep you posted okay
On Apr 11, 2017 14:07, “Annie Smith” <xxxxxx2013@gmail.com> wrote:

415 555 2671 but she usually has it turned off. Best just to email me. We’ll meet next week anyway.

On 11 April 2017 at 08:37, micheal brian <michealbrian120@gmail.com> wrote:

yeah, i mean if i want to reach your sister, i mean her direct mobile number?

On Tue, Apr 11, 2017 at 12:16 AM, Annie Smith <xxxxxx2013@gmail.com> wrote:

Sorry, I don’t understand. Why does the check need to include a mobile number? There’s nowhere on a check to put info other than a name.

On 10 April 2017 at 22:52, micheal brian <michealbrian120@gmail.com> wrote:

okay, give me your sister mobile number, it needs to be included in the check, so that there won’t be any problem

On Mon, Apr 10, 2017 at 2:41 PM, micheal brian <michealbrian120@gmail.com> wrote:

okay good, i will keep you posted okay…

On Mon, Apr 10, 2017 at 1:14 PM, Annie Smith <xxxxxx2013@gmail.com> wrote:

Ok. I’ll let you know when the equipment arrives
Annie

On 10 April 2017 at 15:11, micheal brian <michealbrian120@gmail.com> wrote:

the equipment will be delivered by the delivery teams, you don’t have to worry okay, i will keep you posted on any update on the check coming and any other info okay?

On Mon, Apr 10, 2017 at 4:31 AM, Annie Smith <xxxxxx2013@gmail.com> wrote:

Yes, that’s right. I’ve been staying with her since I lost my phone. It’s a long story – I might have to move out of my flat as the landlord wants it for his own son to live in. They’ve been harassing me and stealing stuff – which is where I think my iPhone has gone, but I can’t find it so can’t prove it.

Will you bring all the equipment when we meet in MacDonalds on 18th?

Annie

On 10 April 2017 at 11:54, micheal brian <michealbrian120@gmail.com> wrote:

Okay, so you mean I should send it to your sister’s address right? Will you be able to get it there?
On Apr 10, 2017 11:04, “Annie Smith” <xxxxxx2013@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello Micheal
I think my sister in law will let me use her cell number – I’ll ask her later today. She doesn’t get up as early as I do and she has to go to work.

In which case, it’s probably better if you send the check and all the equipment to her house. She is Lucia Maria Santana and her address is 735 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101,

Annie

On 9 April 2017 at 18:34, micheal brian <michealbrian120@gmail.com> wrote:

we have ordered the equipment okay you don’t have to worry about that, and also i will need your mobile number or any of your family mobile number i can reach you on, and kindly confirm your address so that i can issue out the check to you on monday okay

On Sun, Apr 9, 2017 at 10:20 AM, Annie Smith <xxxxxx2013@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello Micheal
Thanks for your reply. I can’t give you a phone number right now – my iPhone was stolen last week and although the tracker app tells me where it is, we haven’t managed to find it.

I’m happy to meet you in MacDonalds on 18th April to discuss your project. Meanwhile, I’ll order the equipment you suggest from Amazon.com

Annie

On 8 April 2017 at 13:23, micheal brian <michealbrian120@gmail.com> wrote:

hello?