Following are examples of scams collected by the Identity Theft Resource Center.  These are copies of the actual text as received via email on some of our own “lure” email addresses. 

Please note, on this particular scam that "thewinebuyer.com" is a legitimate business in New Jersey, not affiliated with this scam.  However, the email address at the bottom is no doubt the scammer's.  They use www(dot)thewinebuyer(dot)com to attempt to fool you into thinking they are legitimate.

 -----Original Message-----
From: The Wine Company [
mailto:info@thewinebuyer.com]
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2007 2:26 PM
To: xxx@sbcglobal.net

Subject: EMPLOYMENT

Dear Sir/Ma,

The Wine Buyer Limited is a Latvian wine company.We produce and distribute wines and clothing materials worldwide.We have reached big sales volume of wine in the Europe and now are trying to penetrate the UK and US market.Quite soon we will open representative offices or authorized sales centers in the US and therefore we are currently looking for people who will assist us in establishing a new distribution network there. The fact is that despite the US market is new for us we already have regular clients also speaks for itself.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO FOR US

Receive wines, clothing materials, jewelries and electronics at your address, then sell it to people or a pawn shop.

JOB DESCRIPTION

1. Recieve (wines, clothing materials, jewelries and electronics) items from Clients 2. Look for buyer to buy them.

3. Deduct 10% of every sales which will be your percentage/pay on Items sold.

4. Forward balance after deduction of percentage/pay to any of the Offices you will be contacted to send payment to(Payment is to forwarded either by Money Gram or Western Union Money Transfer).

HOW MUCH WILL YOU EARN?

10% from each operation! For instance: when you receive items of $1000 a day. You will sell the items and keep $100 (10% from $1000) for yourself! At the beginning your commission will equal 10%, though later it will increase up to 12%! ADVANTAGES You do not have to go out as you will work as an independent contractor right from your home office. Your job is absolutely legal. You can earn up to $3000-4000 monthly depending on time you will spend for this job.

You do not need any capital to start. The employees who make efforts and work hard have a strong possibility to become managers. Anyway our employees never leave us.

MAIN REQUIREMENTS

21 years or older, legally capable responsible ready to work 3-4 hours perweek. with PC knowledge e-mail and internet experience (minimal) And please know that:Everything is absolutely legal, that's why You have to fill a contract! if you are interested file the unlisted form

Legal Name :

Full address :

City :

State :

Zipcode :

Sex :

Age :

Tel/Fax :

Reqular Email To Be Contacted Daily :

Present Job Tittle :

Proof of Identity (State ID or a Driver's License.)

Address: thewinebuyer@hotmail.com.

Thanks for your anticipated action.And we hope to hear back from you.

Very Respectfully,
Marketing Executive,
The Wine Buyer International Limited