Still happening in 2014. Going by the name Leonard Johnson. Lives in "Argentina." Hmmmm. Thought this might be too good to be true.
Email: "Thanks for the mail...As they say, punctuality is the soul of business.I believe promptness is key if any business is to thrive.I want to thank you for your prompt response.I have gone through your resume and it seems good enough.I will not be  able to meet up with you until I get back from my trip. You will resume work with helping me on errands,sorting  out my delivers and packages and doing my shopping.You will be properly briefed in  order to carry out every task appropriately.I believe we can start the purchase with  TRUST,Please assure me of your trust, honesty,  promptness to duty and commitment
.
Its great to know you are willing to work for me.I cherish versatility and freedom in a working relationship so you can work from your home or office.I will make for financial aid to be sent to you for purchase of some paintings and other merchandise ( pay my bills on my behalf)Sit for delivery( at your home) or pick items up at nearby post office at your convenience,Let me know if you will be able to offer me any/all of these services.Where are you located?anyway it doesnt matter where you located as long as you live in USA"

Way too unprofessional and generic.

This is still happening. Did he eventually
Leave you alone? I'm hoping he gets the hint from my emails as well. Did you ever end up getting anything in the mail??? HELP

I guess this is stil going on, he's goig by Tom again. The emails are worded a little differently but still asking for all the same money. I replied to him saying I was no longer interested (as his emails totally creeped me out) that I had other options and he needed to disregard all previous emails. I also stated I wouldn't accept any mail and it would be returned to sender. Hopefully this works. I'm bugginggggg about this now. Did anything ever happen to anyone else aside from the emails???

Same email as well. Morgan Parker, 619 area code, called the number, turned out to be a man of East Asian (possibly Indian) descent and the phone call was very broken up. He was very wary and tight-lipped over the phone, then I searched the number and led me to this blog. Well done, by you all. Kudos and be careful.

I just received the same email as everyone else. It sounded super sketchy! Going by the name "Morgan Parker", email: vinchap665@gmail.com and phone: (619) 752-0951

Law enforcement agencies are quite aware of this scam, but there is little they can do since the scammers are in foreign countries.

I knew it was to good to be true... Scam

I emailed him back asking where did he get my email addres from... I had to do some research cause there is no way I was sending him any of my information. scam
I'm surprized the police haven't cought o to it...

He is going by the name of Jason Hunt beware is there away to fix is u deposited the check plz help ??? Email me at cantiflas_18@yahoo.com

Ricardo Gomez now.

Definitely the same guy - received the same message in response to a job ad for Receptionist.  Ugh...knew it was too good to be true.  He was going by Shawn Powell in this one as well, with the same phone number and an email shwell343@gmail.com.  Thanks for posting people - hope they catch this person.

I got a message reply from him too, a response to a craigslist add. same message as Jay posted. He's going by Shawn Powell in it and the email is shwell343@gmail.com

thank god I saw this when I found this to be suspicious and googled about him . really guys thank you

BE CAREFUL...Now going by the name SHAWN POWELL.
Thanks the Lord i got to check the phone number that lead me to this blog.

Hello ********,
   How is your day going? I'm more than happy to inform you that your position has been confirmed,i will get back to you as soon as i have Payment for shopping of items Including your salary sent to you with set of Instructions on each task you are to perform...Please note that this job require you to be checking your email 2-3 times daily Your Total commitment is However Needed.
  I await your Response
Regards.
Daniel Gonzalez

I told him I was not interested and he replied with this statement here. So I asked if he could Paypal me the money.

His response is silent right now!

Wow I emailed this guy back giving him my address and number thinking it was real being a personal assistant myself til I tried lookin him up and seen this I hoope he doesn't take any of that information or anything

I just received the same message, this time he is going by the name of Daniel Gonzalez and YET AGAIN has changed e-mail's the new one is lezdan167@gmail.com.

Thanks everyone!!

I just got this same e-mail.  Only the name I found was Daniel Gonzalez and the e-mail is vinchap665@gmail.com.

He is also going by Tom Polak. I received similar emails from him and it sounded really shady so I stopped responding, only to receive another email saying "POSITION CONFIRMED." So, I responded to that one just by saying thanks for the offer but I have accepted another job. (I thought it would end there)

So he emails again, "URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED" and proceeds to tell me that he has mailed me a check that I was to deposit immediately for shopping expenses and my wages. I emailed back saying "Tom, as i noted in my previous email, I have accepted another job and therefore will be unable to work for you." He responds with...

"Hey! But my payment has been already mail to you, I advice you to follow my instructions in other not to get in any kinda trouble. I have authorities looking into this transaction."


I'm glad I googled the phone number and came across this, thanks everyone for your posts!

Hi,

  Thanks for the mail...As they say, punctuality is the soul of business. I believe promptness is key if any business is to thrive. I want to thank you for your prompt response. I have gone through your resume and it seems good enough. I will not be  able to meet up with you until I get back from my trip. You will resume work with helping me on errands, sorting  out my delivers and packages and doing my shopping. You will be properly briefed in  order to carry out every task appropriately.  I believe we can start the purchase with  TRUST, Please assure me of your trust, honesty,  promptness to duty and commitment.
  Its great to know you are willing to work for me. I cherish versatility and freedom in a working relationship so you can work from your home or office. I will make for financial aid to be sent to you for purchase of some paintings and other merchandise ( pay my bills on my behalf)Sit for delivery( at your home) or pick items up at nearby post office at your convenience.
  Let me know if you will be able to offer me any/all of these services.
  Where are you located?
  I would love to meet up with you to talk about this job but I am currently away on business.
  I am in Australia so there will be no interview.
  I will prepay you in advance to do my shopping.
  I will also have my mails and packages forwarded to your address.
  If you will be unable to stay at your house to get my mails, I can have it shipped to a post office near you and then you can pick it up at your convenience.
  When you get my mails/packages; you are required to mail them to where I want them mailed to. You don't have to put money out of your pocket, all you have to do is have packages shipped to your house and do my shopping.
  You are allowed to open the packages to reveal its content.
  The content of the packages are computer and electronics, clothings business and personal letters..... All expenses and taxes will be covered by me.
  You will work between 15 and 20hrs a month..  How much will you charge Weekly? I will pay $300.00.
  That is not a bad offer is it? I need your service because I am constantly out of town.
  I work in Realestate and I own an Art Gallery in Australia.
  I will return to USA in December, so this process will be on going till then.  If you don't mind, I will meet up with you when I return and then we can talk about the possibility of making this long term.Well, let me know if you are able to handle the position.
  Hope to hear I will email you the list and pictures of what to shop for when I am ready.
  No heavy packages is involved! You can do the shopping at any nearest stores.You will be shopping for Electronics and clothing's.
  I will provide you my personal UPS account number for Shipping.All you have to do is provide my account number to UPS and shipping charges will be applied into the account.  I will provide clear set of instructions for each task I need done as well the funds to cover them.
  If I were to mail you money to do my shopping plus upfront payment for your service, where would you want it mailed to?   How should your name appear on the money?Maybe you can provide me with the following details below:

 Full Name:
 Full Address:
 Apt#
 City:State:
 Zip Code:
 Phone Number:
 Age:
  Thank you!
My Phone # 415-251-1072

I recieved the SAME email however the only difference is that he is still going under the name Kevin Chapman but with a different email: Kevin Chapman <hapkev12@gmail.com>

Derek Gilbert posted fake job ads on craigslist for a personal assistant/
Send me an email from derekgilbert199@yahoo.com.

I just received the same email and it sounded totally suspicious, especially since his CL ad said he was a football writer which is why I googled him. Thank you for posting this!

He is exactly right! When I received the email, I was suspicious.
Hi,

  Thanks for the mail...As they say, punctuality is the soul of business. I believe promptness is key if any business is to thrive. I want to thank you for your prompt response. I have gone through your resume and it seems good enough. I will not be  able to meet up with you until I get back from my trip. You will resume work with helping me on errands, sorting  out my delivers and packages and doing my shopping. You will be properly briefed in  order to carry out every task appropriately.  I believe we can start the purchase with  TRUST, Please assure me of your trust, honesty,  promptness to duty and commitment.
  Its great to know you are willing to work for me. I cherish versatility and freedom in a working relationship so you can work from your home or office. I will make for financial aid to be sent to you for purchase of some paintings and other merchandise ( pay my bills on my behalf)Sit for delivery( at your home) or pick items up at nearby post office at your convenience.
  Let me know if you will be able to offer me any/all of these services.
  Where are you located?
  I would love to meet up with you to talk about this job but I am currently away on business.
  I am in Australia so there will be no interview.
  I will prepay you in advance to do my shopping.
  I will also have my mails and packages forwarded to your address.
  If you will be unable to stay at your house to get my mails, I can have it shipped to a post office near you and then you can pick it up at your convenience.
  When you get my mails/packages; you are required to mail them to where I want them mailed to. You don't have to put money out of your pocket, all you have to do is have packages shipped to your house and do my shopping.
  You are allowed to open the packages to reveal its content.
  The content of the packages are computer and electronics, clothings business and personal letters..... All expenses and taxes will be covered by me.
  You will work between 15 and 20hrs a month..  How much will you charge Weekly? I will pay $300.00.
  That is not a bad offer is it? I need your service because I am constantly out of town.
  I work in Realestate and I own an Art Gallery in Australia.
  I will return to USA in December, so this process will be on going till then.  If you don't mind, I will meet up with you when I return and then we can talk about the possibility of making this long term.Well, let me know if you are able to handle the position.
  Hope to hear I will email you the list and pictures of what to shop for when I am ready.
  No heavy packages is involved! You can do the shopping at any nearest stores.You will be shopping for Electronics and clothing's.
  I will provide you my personal UPS account number for Shipping.All you have to do is provide my account number to UPS and shipping charges will be applied into the account.  I will provide clear set of instructions for each task I need done as well the funds to cover them.
  If I were to mail you money to do my shopping plus upfront payment for your service, where would you want it mailed to?   How should your name appear on the money?Maybe you can provide me with the following details below:

 Full Name:
 Full Address:
 Apt#
 City:State:
 Zip Code:
 Phone Number:
 Age:
  Thank you!
My Phone # 415-251-1072

Kevin Chapman

THE HAVE CHANGED NAME FROM DEREK GILBERT TO Kevin Chapman hapmankev65@gmail.com
Kevin Chapman hapmankev65@gmail.com
4:21 PM (1 hour ago)

to me

Hi,

  Thanks for the mail...As they say, punctuality is the soul of business. I believe promptness is key if any business is to thrive. I want to thank you for your prompt response. I have gone through your resume and it seems good enough. I will not be  able to meet up with you until I get back from my trip. You will resume work with helping me on errands, sorting  out my delivers and packages and doing my shopping. You will be properly briefed in  order to carry out every task appropriately.  I believe we can start the purchase with  TRUST, Please assure me of your trust, honesty,  promptness to duty and commitment.
  Its great to know you are willing to work for me. I cherish versatility and freedom in a working relationship so you can work from your home or office. I will make for financial aid to be sent to you for purchase of some paintings and other merchandise ( pay my bills on my behalf)Sit for delivery( at your home) or pick items up at nearby post office at your convenience.
  Let me know if you will be able to offer me any/all of these services.
  Where are you located?
  I would love to meet up with you to talk about this job but I am currently away on business.
  I am in Australia so there will be no interview.
  I will prepay you in advance to do my shopping.
  I will also have my mails and packages forwarded to your address.
  If you will be unable to stay at your house to get my mails, I can have it shipped to a post office near you and then you can pick it up at your convenience.
  When you get my mails/packages; you are required to mail them to where I want them mailed to. You don't have to put money out of your pocket, all you have to do is have packages shipped to your house and do my shopping.
  You are allowed to open the packages to reveal its content.
  The content of the packages are computer and electronics, clothings business and personal letters..... All expenses and taxes will be covered by me.
  You will work between 15 and 20hrs a month..  How much will you charge Weekly? I will pay $300.00.
  That is not a bad offer is it? I need your service because I am constantly out of town.
  I work in Realestate and I own an Art Gallery in Australia.
  I will return to USA in December, so this process will be on going till then.  If you don't mind, I will meet up with you when I return and then we can talk about the possibility of making this long term.Well, let me know if you are able to handle the position.
  Hope to hear I will email you the list and pictures of what to shop for when I am ready.
  No heavy packages is involved! You can do the shopping at any nearest stores.You will be shopping for Electronics and clothing's.
  I will provide you my personal UPS account number for Shipping.All you have to do is provide my account number to UPS and shipping charges will be applied into the account.  I will provide clear set of instructions for each task I need done as well the funds to cover them.
  If I were to mail you money to do my shopping plus upfront payment for your service, where would you want it mailed to?   How should your name appear on the money?Maybe you can provide me with the following details below:

 Full Name:
 Full Address:
 Apt#
 City:State:
 Zip Code:
 Phone Number:
 Age:
  Thank you!
My Phone # 415-251-1072

http://flakelist.org/page/viewpub/tid/1/pid/6510

You have every right to be worried.  He is sending you fake checks.  Do not cash them.

How can you be sure about the "mules" and the 'stolen items' part? I have received an email from this man saying that I am supposed to do his shopping and mailing with his money and now I am worried!

Scammer calling himself "Derek Gilbert" who posts fake job ads on craigslist for a personal assistant, but he's actually looking for "mules" to accept and forward stolen items to him.  He claims to own an art gallery in Australia.
His email is derekgilbert199@yahoo.com.