Is this really legal?

[Chelda]

What is the name of your state? Missouri

My sister received this email and is highly considering replying if she already hasn't and I'm afraid that if she does she may get into some trouble. Can someone please tell me if this legal or not. This is the email:

I have received your mail first i must thank you for your interest in this endeavour but before we commence it will be better you know more about this as you have indicated,I seek a payment agent in your province due to that language barier i find problem with dealing directly with my customers so to this end i seek the assitance of individuals or a group to assist me.
My company was established in 2001 i export raw materials such as non-metallic minerals such as Calcite, Barytes, Manganese Dioxide , Dolomite Mica China Clay ,Mangnese Dioxide ,Ferrous (Iron ) Oxide . The various industries we cater to are Paints, Rubber, Plastics, Construction chemicals.
My sales varies from defferent sizes I will also like to note here that acting as my payment agent in your country in other words, you will be collecting payment from customers i supply goods to.By doing this on my behalf you will be paid 10% of very amount that you collect.This is how it goes when ever there is a payment to be made by any of them my customers you will be sent check, cashiers check or money order which you will later send a wire to me with the account info that ll provide you.
But payment check(s) or money order will be written in your name and you will have to deposit in your account for the check to clear. I hope to have informed you correctly and wait to hear from you soon so i can advice you on the very next step to take in this endeavour. Have a lovely day

Can someone please respond A.S.A.P Thanks

 

[BelizeBreeze]

It's an old scam with new twists.

Toss it.

 

[Some Random Guy]

You will be sent a cashiers check for $10,000. You will cash it and write the scammers a check from your personal account for $9,000. Then two weeks later the bank will finally get notification for the forgery and you will have to repay the bank the $10,000.

Old scam - but people fall for it all the time.

 

[Chelda]

Is this legal, Question #2

She's already received the check and it was for some high amount, not sure what amount extactly but to my understanding the check came from some company so she claimed to have researched the website of the company; saw it to be legit and deposited the check. She told me of this on Tuesday and then she told me that the check cleared her bank account and now she's suppose to take her 10% and then wire the remaining balance to the this guy in the email. Can you tell me what's up with that?

 

[BelizeBreeze]

She's already received the check and it was for some high amount, not sure what amount extactly but to my understanding the check came from some company so she claimed to have researched the website of the company; saw it to be legit and deposited the check. She told me of this on Tuesday and then she told me that the check cleared her bank account and now she's suppose to take her 10% and then wire the remaining balance to the this guy in the email. Can you tell me what's up with that?

Of course it cleared the bank. But it will NOT clear the clearing house.

Tell her to do nothing until at least a month. Then she'll know because the bank will give her a call. And she won't like the contents of that call.

 

[pojo2]

I seriously can not comprehend that people still or just, fall for such scams.

 

[Help34Friend]

I seriously can not comprehend that people still or just, fall for such scams.

Believe it, Pojo2! The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov) has statistics about such scams and how much mooolah is lost by folks to are too trusting of others.

They never ask themselves: "Why would a total stranger email me out of the blue with this awesome offer to give me 10% of a huge sum of money, and all I have to do is launder it for him/her?"

When they get something like this, folks should immediately think, "Either this is an incredible scam, or it is incredibly illegal and participating would land me in jail." Then, they would classify that email as "spam" and delete it.