China Finance Investment Holdings Limited (CFIHL) Commercial Collector Job Scam
Beware job seekers of a suspicious “recruiting” email for a “Commercial Collector” supposedly from a “recruiter” named Jackson Dillon claiming to represent a company called China Finance Investment Holdings Limited, using the email addresses- jobs@arstatejobs.com and JacksonDillon@accountant.com with the subject: CFIHL Careers 2017!
China Finance Investment Holdings Limited appears to be a legitimate business located in Hong Kong. According to reuters.com:
China Finance Investment Holdings Limited is a Hong Kong-based investment holding company principally engaged in the growing, processing and trading of agricultural products. Its main products include vegetables. The Company mainly operates in China and Hong Kong. The Company is also engaged in the investment in Internet finance businesses in China and money lending in Hong Kong, including personal loans and business loans.
China Finance Investment Holdings Limited’s website is located at www.cfih.hk and has been online since at least 2015. The website was registered and hosted in Hong Kong. However this recruiter, Jackson Dillon, is NOT associated with this company, he is actually a scammer who wants job seekers to believe he is!
The Recruiting Emails & Job Offer
Below is the initial email they send to bait their victims:
Subject: CFIHL Careers 2017
From: Jackson Dillon <jobs@arstatejobs.com>
reply to: JacksonDillon@accountant.comCFIHL Careers 2017
You are receiving this message because
– You have applied to a job with our company before;
– You have been recommended by one of our online or offline recruiting partners;
– You have had a previous discussion with one of our recruiters;If this message was sent by error to you, please let us know.
Our Message
I would like to thank you for the interest you have taken in CFIHL , on behalf of our company I would like to provide you with details about our latest opening Commercial Collector – Business Services (CCBS).
In order to do just that I have attached a document to this email message, this document contains a full Job Presentation complete with information about our company overall, our employee philosophy and duties we expect from employees to perform working in this position .
We have also added information about the starting compensation package and benefits we offer for this position.
– Please be aware that the position comes with a starting salary of $70,200.00 per year and a very competitive benefits package (More information can be found in the job presentation attached to this email message).
– Please also be aware that our company views this position as urgent and therefore we would like a reply to our offer as soon as possible.
– Please do not forget to let me know you received this message and the attached document.Thank you for your time and have a great day.
$70,200.00 per year seems to be the standard entry level salary for most of these scams lately and is usually the 1st tip off that you are dealing with a scammer.
Below is the content of the document that was attached. The first part of the document was copied directly from the legitimate companies website.
Company overview
Established in 1992, China Finance Investment Holdings Limited (CFIHL) (Stock code: 875.HK) was the first PRC “Key Leading Enterprise in Agricultural Industrialization” listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in February 2012. The Group operates in two core business areas, Agricultural and Integrated Financial Services. The Agricultural business is well developed and in its mature stage. As one of the leading national agricultural enterprises with a vertically integrated business model, the Group sells its products directly to customers in Hong Kong, the PRC, and via distributors to overseas markets such as Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States. To diversify its income streams and counter balance the cyclical nature of the agricultural business, the Group has been actively developing its business blueprint in the realm of internet finance and money lending since 2015. Currently, the Group is focusing on providing a comprehensive array of commercial and personal loan services in Hong Kong, such as basic and equity financing, cross-border financing, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) lending platform and mortgage. Meanwhile, the Group is actively exploring the financial leasing industry in the PRC, as well as the securities trading, brokerage and advisory services in Hong Kong. The relevant operating licenses and transactions are expected to be completed and approved by the mid of 2016.
Looking ahead, we shall continue to enhance our dual-business model. In order to create concrete and sustainable values for the Company and our Shareholders, we shall strive to maintain our leading position in China’s agricultural industry with a fully, vertically integrated value chain to deliver high quality agricultural products. We shall also capitalize on China’s booming online financial services industry to grasp the development opportunities and enhance the investment potential in both domestic and foreign integrated financial services markets.
Why CFIHL?
When the leaders of the world’s largest, fastest-growing companies look for help with their most complex challenges, they call CFIHL & Company. Today, we are at the top of our field, helping organizations—many of which are brands you’re familiar with—create change.
At CFIHL, you will work with these global organizations, alongside their most senior executives, to solve their toughest challenges. This high-profile exposure will help maximize your future career potential which you will fulfill by working alongside talented people genuinely committed to helping you learn and succeed. If this sounds like you then CFIHL may be the perfect place for you to take your career to a whole new level.
Our people and culture
Our people are our strongest asset. We recognize the importance of not only recruiting the best talent, but also developing their skills and providing an inclusive culture where everyone can truly flourish.
What also make CFIHL such a great company to work for is the people you get to interact with on a daily basis. Whether it is within your home office, or communicating with CFIHL colleagues in a city on the other side of the world, we have created a supportive environment which every employee is proud to be a part of.
Join our team of Nationwide MULTI-FAMILY Collection and start a new career!
Position – Commercial Collector – Business Services
Requirements
Must have good verbal and written communication skills in order to present and explain information to internal and external customers.
Ability to write letters
Must have practical experience with Word, Excel, Adobe applications
Must have ability to make independent decisions that are generally guided by established procedures
Must have a desire to learn ethical and compliant business practices
Must be able to handle sensitive, stressful and confidential situations and account information.
Willingness and ability to learn new tasks
Basic qualifications: High School Diploma or GED (Red Flag)
Benefits:
Base Pay: $5,400.00 USD / Monthly (BIG Red Flag)
Our benefits (Assurant Affiliate Benefits Program) start day 1 and include: (Another Red Flag)
Medical and Dental benefits starts Day 1
14 days paid time off plus 9 paid holidays
401K with up to 3% company match
Tuition Reimbursement
Flexible Spending Accounts
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Long Term and Short Term Disability, Life Insurance
Wellness Programs, EAP
Application information
Our formula for success is simple: We hire immensely talented people and give them everything they could possibly need to be brilliant at what they do. A career at CFIHL brings together the brightest, most curious minds into one global team who believe that anything is possible.
Interested in joining our team?
If you are reading this offer, you have either been contacted by one of our online recruiters or have been referred by one of our partners to one of our online recruiters. To apply for this position simply get back to the recruiter you have been in contact with and let him/her know that you are interested in the Commercial Collector – Business Services position available with CFIHL
Our recruiters will guide you through the application process.
Our recruiters will acknowledge every application.
Please allow at least 72 hours for our recruiters to respond to an application.
This offer was translated from Traditional Chinese to English US. We apologize for any typographical errors that may be present in the current offer. This offer is part of the 2017 early year recruiting campaign.
China Finance Investment Holdings Limited
Address:
Suite 1510, 15/F, Ocean Centre, Harbour City,
5 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
(852) 3188 3959
(852) 3188 3960
After responding with questions asking such as where the “position” was located etc, it was clear that the questions were not read. They were only looking for a response just to send the “job offer” email without answering any of the concerns or questions first and without any application or mention from the prospect that they even wanted to apply or be considered for the position! Below is the followup email response from the scammer along with my thoughts in red:
Subject: China Finance Investment Holdings Limited Standing Employment offer
From: Jackson Dillon <JacksonDillon@accountant.com>China Finance Investment Holdings Limited Standing Employment offer
This message is sent with reference to your interest in the Commercial Collector position available at China Finance Investment Holdings Limited .
We are pleased to offer you the job for role of Commercial Collector available with our company in the Financial Branch. (Really?? A job offer without knowing anything about me?? RED FLAG!!)
A full benefits package is being offered as well (information can be found in the legal draft attached to this message)
A detailed legal draft of the Employment Agreement pertaining to this position can be found attached to this email. (Collection Contract). (WOW! An Employment Agreement/Contract without an interview or background check?? Must be my lucky day! HUGE RED FLAG!!)
Please download and review the document.
Should you decide to accept China Finance Investment Holdings Limited ’s offer of employment on the spot, please email back a signed and completed copy of the Collection Contract. (BIG Red Flag!)
Please send me an email confirming the receipt of this offer and the attached documents.
If you wish to accept this offer I will expect your confirmation.
Thank you for your interest in China Finance Investment Holdings Limited .
I won’t share the entire boring Employment Agreement however I will share the tell tale red flag paragraph(s) that shows that this “Job” is not a real job, it is nothing more than just another money mule scam!
CHINA FINANCE INVESTMENT HOLDINGS LIMITED has one or more of the following: Perkins Accounts (formerly National Defense/National Direct Student Loans), Health Profession and Nursing Loan Programs, Federally Insured Student Loans, Book Store Charges, Board Accounts, Accounts and Notes Receivable, Student Accounts, Short-Term Loans, Emergency Tuition Fund Loans, Housing Accounts/Dormitory Rent, Returned Checks, Tuition Loans and other forms of delinquent accounts receivable including overawards and overpayments not reimbursed which it desires collected and COMMERCIAL COLLECTOR desires to collect such unpaid accounts as may be referred to COMMERCIAL COLLECTOR by CHINA FINANCE INVESTMENT HOLDINGS LIMITED.
- COLLECTION FEES. COMMERCIAL COLLECTOR’S compensation for services rendered under the terms of this Contract will be 5400$ monthly paid.
III. DUTIES OF COMMERCIAL COLLECTOR: COMMERCIAL COLLECTOR agrees to:
- Accept for collection and pursue diligent collection efforts, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Contract, regarding the accounts which CHINA FINANCE INVESTMENT HOLDINGS LIMITED chooses to refer to it for collection without regard to the amount of the account.
7. Remit by wire transfer to CHINA FINANCE INVESTMENT HOLDINGS LIMITED , by the twentieth (20th) day of each month; all monies collected for CHINA FINANCE INVESTMENT HOLDINGS LIMITED during the preceding calendar month, taking care to insure all debtor checks have been cleared on or before such date, together with an itemization of the payments received for each account. The itemization will feature debtor’s name, account number, amount collected and whether or not the account has been closed. COMMERCIAL COLLECTOR’S statement for payment must accompany the itemization. The amount due to COMMERCIAL COLLECTOR will then be paid by CHINA FINANCE INVESTMENT HOLDINGS LIMITED within thirty (30) calendar days following the receipt of COMMERCIAL COLLECTOR’S statement.
So basically the “Job” requires the “employee” to collect checks, cash them and wire the money to China or some other foreign country!
This fake job is in no way associated with the real legitimate company CHINA FINANCE INVESTMENT HOLDINGS LIMITED in Hong Kong!
The typical red flags you should always look out for that is common with all money mule job scams is they always offer a too good to be true high salary with full benefits part-time or full-time and the position offered will always involve handling financial transactions working from home, usually using your own bank account for “customer payments” either to cash checks or accept direct deposits which makes you financially responsible for any fraudulent transactions AFTER the scammers has conned you into sending THEM the cash from these transactions. By the time the fraud is discovered the scammers has already disappeared along with your money AND your personal information!
What To Do If You Are A Victim
If you have fell victim to an employment scam like this, you need to contact your bank immediately and close your account IF you have provided your account information to the scammers. Next file a police report with your local authorities and then file a complaint with the FBI’s internet crime center at http://www.ic3.gov/
If you provided your personal information like ss # birthdate etc , you need to contact the 3 credit bureaus- TransUnion, Equifax and Experian, and place a fraud alert on your report. These criminals can steal your identity and may try and obtain credit in your name. Doing this will alert you for at least 90 days about any suspicious activity.
In the hands of a thief, just your name, address, Social Security number or date of birth, can be used over and over months- even years down the road to:
Open new lines of credit
Seek medical attention
Drain savings and retirement accounts
Provide an alias when arrested
Get a job or file false tax returns
Get Payday Loans in your name
Obtain service agreements for cellular service or utilities
Obtain Government Documents such as a drivers license or passport
And MORE!
That’s why I highly recommend you get some sort of ongoing identity theft protection such as the services offered through companies like LifeLock-Visit Their Website Here or Identity Force-visit their website here! LifeLock and Identity Force are both reputable companies that monitors your accounts and alerts and protects you from identity theft.
Have you received a suspicious email offering you a “job” with CHINA FINANCE INVESTMENT HOLDINGS LIMITED or other work at home “Commercial Collector, Collection Officer, Account Manager, Client or Billing Manager” job that you never applied for? Feel free to copy and paste the email in the comments so we can help alert and prevent others from becoming victims.
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