Have you recieved an email from Online Auction Block Team?
Posted: November 25th, 2007 | Author: Crusher | Filed under: Online Auctions | Tags: Auction Block, Email Block, Online Auction, Virtual Assistant |
countryman asked:
I recently got an email from the Online Auction Block Team offering me a position to be a virtual assistant, as anyone else got something similar? It seems like it might be a scam to me. What do you think?
I recently got an email from the Online Auction Block Team offering me a position to be a virtual assistant, as anyone else got something similar? It seems like it might be a scam to me. What do you think?
Look in the “Header Details” and see if the email was really sent by who claims to have sent it. If you think it is, then it probably would do no harm to see what they have to say.
A Google search for this name “Online Auction Block Team” brought NO url’s. And if Google can’t find it, it doesn’t exist. So, I guess that would make your “seems like a scam” to be true. If it sounds too good to be true - it is. And how would these people select you from the millions of email subscribers?
This is definitely SPAM.
Our systems have received hundreds of these messages overnight, all sent from different addresses.
The one common factor is the address to which they want you to respond - which is Ann.Moss at oab-jobs.com
WHOIS shows that this domain name was registered on the 25th February 2008.
There’s nothing on the web about this company.
Is this a legitimate offer? - Work it out for yourself!
Regards,
Eric G.
Yes got that email today, sounds scammy but I decided to email them to ask for more information - without sending my resume - and will keep you updated if I get a reply (not holding my breath though).
i recieved the same email just todaya nd i googled the name “online auction block” it came back giving me things they are selling on ebay and then this thread. im going to email them aswell and see if it for real or not minus my resume too.
will see what happens with it
Yep, got it too. Lots of google links to ebay, so maybe thats how they got email addresses. I agree, sounds too good to be true $3000+ pm!! I wont be sending any personal information. If its dodgy, what do you think they want?
I got one of those yesterday, seems unlikely that they would seek to recruit with such a wide ranging method. The Online Auction site is legit.(as far as I can tell). If you contact the auction site and ask if this a legit recruitment drive, they should be able to advise. The offer is well constructed, I’m responding, asking for more info. but not giving any more personal details up.
The problem is the scams try their best to look just like the real thing, they can be hard to tell apart.
If it interests you ,find out more without putting yourself at risk.
A similar e-mail arrived a few weeks week from a Roland Mandstein, with a similar offering from a different auction site. Google that name, see what comes up.
I received this email a few days ago and replied to ‘Anne Moss’ and got this sent as an attachment for a reply. As well as a personal message from ‘Anne’. Seems legit but I’m doubtful.
This outline specifies:
ConfidentialPage 12/29/2008
PURPOSE
-The considerations surrounding an employee’s trial period.
-The supervisor’s responsibility to provide guidance and assess employee’s performance and conduct during the trial period.
-The criteria for termination of trial period.
The trial period is the final, most policy significant step in the hiring process for new employees. It is the policy of the company to use the trial period as an opportunity to train new employees in job responsibilities; observe on-the-job conduct and performance to determine suitability; retain employee whose performance and conduct is fully acceptable; separate, without undue formality, those employees whose performance or conduct is deficient after the trial period; document the Company’s recommendation for retention or separation on the Trial Period Form.
Trial periods are periods of time during which employee’s conduct and performance is evaluated.
It is the responsibility of the supervisors to ensure that employees have every reasonable opportunity to achieve success on the job. Specifically, supervisors should:
A.Inform employees of job expectations in both performance and conduct. Employees must be provided performance standards, information on working policies and procedures, and guidelines on employee responsibilities and conduct.
B.Counsel and provide feedback concerning performance and conduct to employee on regular basis. It is crucial that employees know how and where they are or are not meeting expectations. If a performance or conduct problem becomes apparent, supervisors should provide training or assistance to remedy the situation, as appropriate.
C.Gather documentation throughout employees’ trial periods reflecting both good and bad performance and conduct.
TERMINATION
Generally, a request for action to terminate should be supported by
documentation making it clear that the employee received a “fair trial”. The documentation should specifically and in detail state:
1. How the employee was made aware of the performance/conduct expectations in question; guidance and training given to the employee
2. Counseling given to the employee regarding specific conduct and/or performance deficiencies; opportunities for improvement given to the employee
3. Details regarding the performance/conduct deficiencies.
REPORTING PROCEDURES
Trial Period Report
I. General
Trial Period Form is used to document new employees’ performance and conduct and the Company’s recommendation for retention or separation. The trial period will be for one month starting from the commencement date.
II. Responsibilities
The supervisor will, no earlier than the 2nd week but no later than the 3rd of the trial period, complete the Trial Period Form (evaluation) and forward it to the reviewing official. Once the reviewing official has signed the form, the rating supervisor will review it if satisfactory will discuss with employee, if recommends separation will contact personnel division for further guidance. Trial Period Evaluation Form will be also sent to the employee.
The Commencement Date:_______________________________________________________________
The Employee, ________________________________, acknowledged the Trial Period Outline,
First and Last Name
and signed ___________________________________, on the _________ of ___________, 2008.
Signature date month
Detailed Job Description – Virtual Assistant
ConfidentialPage 22/29/2008
The primary goal of the Virtual Assistant is to provide local representation within the location of the auctioned item, provide our clients with convenient payment options, contribute to the sales force and add convenience to our service dedicated to individuals, businesses, and organizations worldwide.
You will be assisting our clients within Australia and New Zealand, the assistance to be provided will include: communication with buyers regarding shipping and payments, payment collections and currency conversions, shipping details.
Your primary duties will include:
When a buyer in Australia or New Zealand decides to purchase an item through an online auction from our sellers he has the following payment options: pay pal, international wire transfer, international check, or local wire transfer. The quickest option of these is local wire transferring. Local wire transferring is the option that the Virtual Assistant will provide to the clients.
- Currency Conversions
Another factor for the preference of local wire transferring is that the client can transfer funds in local currency. All payments that you will receive will be in local currency. When forwarding, you will forward all payments in USD.
- Managing Data
Along with the payments received from buyers you will be receiving details of these sales. These details will include items sold, price, and buyer’s information.
- Forwarding of the Payments
Once you receive each payment you will be keeping 5% as commission and forwarding the rest to either the seller or other representative, whose information will be provided. It is crucial to complete forwarding of the payments in a time efficient manner.
- Correspondence
You will be submitting brief reports, weekly reports, and monthly reports. Weekly and monthly reports are to be done in Excel format.
Here is an example of a brief report:
Date: January 8, ‘08
Buyer: Steve Hill
Item: MontBlanc
Price: $3,886.27AUD
Commission 5%: $194.00AUD
Fees: $180.00AUD
Forwarded to Jane Cossa, Chisinau, Moldova: $3,512.27AUD / $3,161.04USD
Reference Numbers for Jane Cossa: 6512845269
- Communicating with Clients
You will receive a list of FAQ which will guide you how to respond via emails to buyer’s questions related to payments and shipping. The clients you will communicate with have agreed to make the purchase, no need to convince or sell, instead provide assistance with the completion of the purchase.
- Fees, and Transferring Procedures
All fees are covered by the company. The fees for transferring are simply deducted from the payment received. No client will contact you during initial stage of the trial period. After two weeks of the trial period you will begin to have contact with the buyers via email in regards to collection of the payments. For the first month you will simply receive all of the transferring details, and payments, along with step by step guidance from your supervisor. You will be forwarding the received payments through Western Union transferring agents, they are located at the post offices; this allows instant currency conversions and instant payment transferring.
ConfidentialPage 32/29/2008
Additional Information
Salary Part-Time
During the trial period, you will be working part-time, 3 hours per day, Monday-Friday; you will be paid 1,500AUD per month, plus 5% commission from every payment received and forwarded. The salary will be sent in the form of wire transfer directly to your account. After the trial period your base pay salary will go up to 1950AUD per month, plus 5% commission. Saturday is an optional day for working; receive 10% instead of 5% for sales on Saturdays.
Salary Full-Time
During the trial period, you will be working full-time, 6 hours per day, Monday-Friday; you will be paid 3,000AUD per month, plus 5% commission from every payment received and forwarded. The salary will be sent in the form of wire transfer directly to your account. After the trial period your base pay salary will go up to 3,900AUD per month, plus 5% commission. Saturday is an optional day for working; receive 10% instead of 5% for sales on Saturdays.
Taxes
You will receive a monthly invoice stating your total income. All applicable taxes are covered by the company.
EMPLOYEE INFORMATION FORM
(Complete the Following Form)
Personal Information
First and Last Name:___________________________________________________________
Residential Phone Number:______________________________________________________
Mobile Phone Number:___________________________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________________________________________ Date of Birth:_________________________________________________________________
Hours
Preferred Working Hours (please write or type in X for the time you prefer):
Part-Time:
SHIFT A: 9:00am-12:00pm SHIFT B: 11:00am-2:00pm
SHIFT C: 12:00pm-3:00pm SHIFT D: 2:00pm-5:00pm
Full-Time:
SHIFT A: 9:00am-3:00pm SHIFT B: 11:00am-5:00pm
Payments
In order to receive payments from clients and your salary please provide with the account information:
Account Holder’s Name:_________________________________________________________
Type of Account (Checking, Savings, Business):_________________________________
Name of Account (If Business):_________________________________________________
Name of the Bank:______________________________________________________________
Account Number:________________________________________________________________
BSB Number:____________________________________________________________________
The Company will not reveal these details; and will only remit agreed funds to the account at the times and dates specified prior each transaction. The Employee will not atte
Heavy_as, you should probably check up the meaning of the word “confidential” (no offence meant)
I’m going to do this thing and i’ll let you know what happens. do i get paid or robbed.. Watch this space………………
if i forget then just drop me an email (ie kick up the back side
colinwill78, don’t bother mate. I sent my resume and received a trial employment offer within hours. I only replied because I was forwarded the Online Auction Block email from someone I know, and I’ve been preparing and submitting quite a few job applications this week. A whois search indicates that oab-jobs.com was registered a few days ago to some clown in Italy. SCAM.
I too recently got an email from this online auction block team. I too am worried about it being a scam. I went one step further and I replied to their ad, sending my resume with it, I have also searched google for the site and NOTHING came up. This question on yahoo asking if it was a scam was the first thing that came up. Alarm bells should be ringing. They are for me!
IT IS A DODGY COMPANY!!!!!!!!!
I say this because they sent me an agreement for me to sign and send back to them. In this agreement they stated that for me to work for their company I would have to complete my bank account details and send it back.
Here is how the company works :-
1) Client makes a purchase
2) They deposit the money into your account
3) You then have to withdraw the money and forward it on to the seller with WESTERN UNION keeping 5% commission.
For anyone in Australia, the tax-man is gona wring your neck because every deposit is an income even though you are a middle man and you will have to pay a butt-load of tax on the lot. As for Americans, I am not sure how your tax system works, but I am pretty sure you would get screwed too.
Anything requiring a WESTERN UNION money transfer worries me alot
I have made an informed decision that this is a SCAM and I warn everyone to delete this ad straight out of their email without ever thinking twice!
I recently received an e-mail also about being a virtual assistant for online auction block. I am not sure what to think yet,as I have been duped before resulting in my bank account being shut down. Luckily I did not use that particular account any more for everyday transactions. I would suggest as I am going to do to check out on the net there is a site that lists companies that act fraudulently or that are just rip off merchants. If you go ahead use a bank account which you no longer use regularly. They don’t actually ask for you to spend money, but maybe check them out properly first.
have added this scam email to their site.