Payment Processing Job Scam: MIKRO-N

Received a scam job offer from 218.39.110.197 (undistinguished address in Korea) on Sun, 5 Jun 2005 06:41:31 -0000. This is targeting Australians and sent to a ".au" address. These job scams involve dealing with stolen money (usually obtained via phishing). I sent a query to them, and I'll update this post with the response if one arrives. The domain "mikro-n.com" was registered on 2005-06-01, probably specifically for this scam.

  

Get a JOB!

TODAY WE ARE THE ONLY WHO OFFER YOU A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN TOGETHER WITH OUR UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.

We have many clients world-wide and today we are taking a closer and better look at the market's potential in Australia for a possible sale
of our merchandize.

This might not be your general income. All You need to do is to receive money from our clients and to send the money back to us.
No special skills or experience is required.

You get 6% from the total sum for every successful money transfer.
For example we send 2000$ AUD to You. You take 6% from this money - that is 120$AUD.

To get any additional information about our site and to get the contract from us,

Send us an email and we'll reply in a couple of hours.

contact us: australian@mikro-n.com

Best regards,
MIKRO-N Ltd.

More information at 2005-06-06 16:14 +0000. They sent me a response (I used a yahoo.com.au address for correspondence). It looks like their website at http://www.mikro-n.com/ is a rip-off of www.mikron.ru. This is not unusual for job-scam spammers: they impersonate a genuine business to lend themselves an air of legitimacy. The rip-off site is being hosted at 221.11.133.17 (WHOIS: CNC Group Hainan province network, China Network Communications Group Corporation, China). The email reply came from 221.5.251.194 (WHOIS: CNC Group Chongqing province network) on Mon, 06 Jun 2005 07:33:39 -0000. Here's what it looks like.

Hello!, Charles.



Thank You for Your e-mail. Here You can find more information:

Our Home Page is: http://www.mikro-n.com

So, we need agents to receive payments for our products (wire 
transfers) and to send the
money to us this way we will save money because of the tax decreasing. 

Tax for international money transfer made by legal foreign entity 
(company) in Germany is 23%.
There is no sense for us to work this way, but tax for international 
money transfer made
by a private individual is 11% - Thats why we need You!

As soon as you receive the money from us (usually it's near to 3000 aud 
per transaction.),
you will leave for your self 6% from the each amount of money you will 
receive.

The rest of the money you send to us using Western Union without any 
delay.
Usually, we're making 7-10 transactions per month.

All You have to do is to fill a contract and fax it.  We need that 
information only for our partnership with You!

ALL INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE IS CONFIDENTIAL!!!
WE UNDERTAKE NEVER TO USE IT OR GIVE IT TO THE THIRD PERSON!!!

That Contract You can find here: 
http://mikro-n.com/apl/application.zip  - ZIP archive (packed MS Word 
format).
http://mikro-n.com/apl/application.doc  - MS Word format.
http://mikro-n.com/apl/application.pdf  - PDF format
If You cant open a contract using URL's, feel free to write us. We'll 
send it via e-mail.

Our fax number is: 49-931-298-9000
After that You'll get further details from us.


If You have other questions, feel free to write us!
If You can't open a contract using URL, please, tell us and we'll send 
it via e-mail.

Please, let us know when You'll send a fax. That way we can prepare job
for You and start as soon as we get it.
If You'll send that contract, for example, tomorrow, we'll prepare a 
wire for You in 2 days!

You have to know:

1. This scheme is totally legal, that's why You have to fill a 
contract.
2. We'll NEVER ask Your e-banking password or other VERY IMPORTANT and 
CONFIDENTIAL information.
3. You'll take Your 6% every time You'll get a wire! For example: If 
You'll get 2000$ AUD to You. You'll keep 210 Yourself!

-- 
Best Regards ,
JSC Mikron                         mailto:australian@mikro-n.com

I looked at the PDF of the "contract", and it's a patched-together employment agreement of the kind you may have thrust in front of you when starting a job somewhere. They want you to fork over a lot of personal information on that form! Personal details, past employers, bank account details. Mind you, they do actually need the bank account details so that they can transfer stolen money into your account -- that's part of the process -- but they've got a good potential secondary market in identity theft here.

As an aside, I note they suck at mathematics: 6% of $2000 is $210?