Bizarre Craigslist Scam Punks Dozens of Job Seekers

You know, I thought I'd seen it all when it came to scam artistry. But that's exactly why scams are so effective: Just when you think you're on to every con game in the book, they spin something new. This time, the scam involves a Craigslist job ad, which was used to recruit dozens of normally high-paid lawyers, writers, and even a mathematician into putting their lives on hold and working day and night for a hush-hush project. See if you can guess how this story ends...

Arin Greenwood's tale begins like any job-seeker's might. Hungry for work, this lawyer, just back from assignment overseas, turns to Craigslist for employment prospects. One job catches his eye: A research and report-writing gig, analyzing financial websites, promising $21,000 for about two months of work. Sounds like a lot, but that's totally in line with hiring a lawyer for research work. Greenwood got the gig without an interview, was given a corporate email address, filled out a direct deposit form, and was sent off to do his work. Like many would, he rationalized the lack of due diligence on the part of the employer as their being in a rush. Plus, he was desperate. He started work immediately.

Cut to a month later, and the paychecks haven't arrived. Soon after, the employer disappears, leaving some angry professionals wondering exactly what happened. What value could this odd report have held for a scam artist? Conspiracy theories fly, but it isn't until Greenwood gets access to the employer's private email account that he starts to piece together exactly how and why he was scammed. I won't spoil the ending, but I will say that it's the most bizarre part of the tale.

Think you're immune from such things? That you're too smart to get scammed? Give Greenwood's tale a read (warning, it'll take awhile), and just remind yourself that trust on the Internet is a really tricky thing.

UPDATE: I'm not sure why numerous people continue to email and comment that this story is phony. It seems completely credible to me, and the paper which published it has not issued any kind of retraction. That said, even if it is fabricated (which I doubt), it offers an important lesson: If something seems like it's too good to be true, it probably is. Draw your own conclusions.

LINK: Wanted: Gullible Lawyers