Help recognize fraud

[corndoge]

I am looking for a job. I recently found a job that requires an assistant trader.
Scheme of work:
The trader acts as an intermediary between the bitcoin seller, the buyer and me.
When a buyer wants to buy bitcoins, they send me the dollar amount using zelle. I buy bitcoins from my bank account in my verified Coinbase account and send it to the buyer's bitcoin wallet. I keep myself 10% of every trade.
The trader uses paxful and localbitcoins with escrow method. But as I said he doesn't have sellet account, he is just intermediary.
Money from different people comes to my card, the trader does not ask for any of my personal details and even sent me a photo of his ID.

I fear for my bank account. I don't want the police to come to me if I start working with him.

This is a fraud? Is it legal in the USA?

I will be grateful for a detailed answer.

[jackg]

So most exchanges have it in their terms and conditions that they don't allow you to buy on behalf of someone else. 10% is a high markup.

Did you get a video of him saying/mouthing something unique?. He doesn't have to send it via audio - identification that's fake/copied is easy to come by...

[DdmrDdmr]

<…>

In that scheme, the first thing I’d be worried about is the IRS. By that I mean making sure that you’ve got everything well aligned for them in case it became necessary at some point, and the fact that you will be making a bunch of purchase orders from your bank account.

The Zelle account seems to tie to a bank and or visa/mastercard debit card, so you will have a bunch of inputs there to justify. All of this subject to the amounts you move around I figure (i.e. small amounts are probably not an issue, but bigger figures would likely need a proper justification – at least prepared just in case).

As to the fraud, I cannot discern if there is any loophole there. You’ll have to see if the money they send you to your Zelle account is always committed, or can be rolled-back for some reason as can happen with Paypal. The ultimate thing to watch out for is not sending BTCs if the received money is not absolutely solid.

Edit: First and foremost, ask yourself why you would get 10% for being a middle man providing no added value, when the straight forward method followed by most does not entail going through the process described in the OP.  You are the legal face in these scheme, and that risk needs to be very clearly assessed.

[Twentyonepaylots]

They are putting you in the middle, you are off guard when you accept that job, you didn't know who you are working for. This also goes the same as those people who are hiring people with fully verified paypal and can receive a huge amount of money, though their reason is just to hide their identity, the total identity exposed is yours. You don't want the police knocking at your door right? better be thinking right about that.

@jackg was right, IDs can be easily fake without scanning it personally, photoshop software is really good on editing. Don't be fooled.

[2chase]

I think that this can potentially lead you to some kind of problems, because you do not know in whose interests the trader is acting. If it turns out that the person who is the ultimate owner of the bitcoins received from you is involved in some illegal schemes, and i think this is more than likely, since you are paid money for this activity, then this can lead to problems with police or fbi. And if you are not a fan of playing roulette, then it is better to refuse this venture.

[corndoge]

So most exchanges have it in their terms and conditions that they don't allow you to buy on behalf of someone else. 10% is a high markup.

Did you get a video of him saying/mouthing something unique?. He doesn't have to send it via audio - identification that's fake/copied is easy to come by...

I chated a lot with him and he sent me voice messages. I mean his behavior doesn't look like fraud. I saw fraud acting in the past.

[corndoge]

<…>

In that scheme, the first thing I’d be worried about is the IRS. By that I mean making sure that you’ve got everything well aligned for them in case it became necessary at some point, and the fact that you will be making a bunch of purchase orders from your bank account.

The Zelle account seems to tie to a bank and or visa/mastercard debit card, so you will have a bunch of inputs there to justify. All of this subject to the amounts you move around I figure (i.e. small amounts are probably not an issue, but bigger figures would likely need a proper justification – at least prepared just in case).

As to the fraud, I cannot discern if there is any loophole there. You’ll have to see if the money they send you to your Zelle account is always committed, or can be rolled-back for some reason as can happen with Paypal. The ultimate thing to watch out for is not sending BTCs if the received money is not absolutely solid.

Edit: First and foremost, ask yourself why you would get 10% for being a middle man providing no added value, when the straight forward method followed by most does not entail going through the process described in the OP.  You are the legal face in these scheme, and that risk needs to be very clearly assessed.

I don't have IRS problems. Each zelle transaction looks like a real people, americans send me their own money.
He showed me like receipt when man wrote that he works with him and confirms his 3000$ transaction + ID photo.
Also guy who proposeme that work said that I will ger 10% for oppotunity of using my zelle, because it more comfortable way to transfer money. And he can't trade himself because Coinbase or Coinmama there are financial limits.

[Wexnident]

I don't have IRS problems. Each zelle transaction looks like a real people, americans send me their own money.
He showed me like receipt when man wrote that he works with him and confirms his 3000$ transaction + ID photo.
Also guy who proposeme that work said that I will ger 10% for oppotunity of using my zelle, because it more comfortable way to transfer money. And he can't trade himself because Coinbase or Coinmama there are financial limits.

Receipts can be faked, reasons can be faked, and yea, what DdmrDdmr said, is the fact that you're acting as some sort of middleman enough for you to receive that 10%? Stop thinking like it's worth it cause of the profit cause that's the wrong way to take things like this. Even with voice messages, even if you've seen fraud like behavior before, that doesn't make every other fraudster the same. Also, I think the IRS problem was not for right now but rather when you start cooperating with whoever you're going to. I'd honestly not want to join in since if legal authorities came by, you'd solely be the one at the forefront, basically acting as something similar to a scapegoat for them. Up to you though, just ask yourself if the risks possibly involved is worth that 10%

[jossiel]

You are the legal face in these scheme, and that risk needs to be very clearly assessed.

Remember the quote corndoge.

I'd be careful in doing business or transaction like this. Acting as someone to purchase in behalf of others, I have no experience on this but if you see no problem and you're not doing anything illegal, you have to think of it as your name is in the middle of those transactions and purchases you do.

[Lucius]

corndoge, there is no doubt that 10% is a pretty nice commission for what you need to do, but as other members have already written, you are taking the biggest risk in this business venture. The risk is that you can't know the origin of the money that will be paid into your bank account, and to me this method actually looks like an attempt to launder money.

Dirty money from x sources comes to your bank account, you buy BTC for that money and forward it to the address you get - a person can then send that BTC to a coin mixer or buy a coin that has greater anonymity - a trace of money is lost in that process, only you remain as someone who bought and passed on the funds.

At best, Coinbase can block your account - at worst, you can be visited by guys from the three letters agency who might ask you some very awkward questions.

[DdmrDdmr]

<…>

If being a middle man for operations, which you will be accountable for, is not enough, let’s assume you go ahead with the deal. You’ll start receiving cash TXs from multiple payers, potentially adding-up to a pretty penny. You may end-up getting the attention from the IRS because of this, and then you’d have to justify the received income, see if tax is applicable, and so forth.

Incidently, Zelle’s User Service Agreement (https://www.zellepay.com/user-service-agreement) actually states the following:

You agree that you will not use the Service to request, send or receive money related to any of the following:
•   Pharmaceuticals and other controlled substances;
•   Illegal drugs;
•   Drug paraphernalia;
•   Firearms, ammunition or other weapons;
•   Sexually oriented activities or materials;
•   Pornography;
•   Obscene or offensive activities or materials;
•   Materials or activities that promote intolerance, violence or hate;
•   Ponzi or pyramid schemes;
•   Illegal gambling, gaming, lotteries or sweepstakes;
•   Traveler’s checks, money orders, equities, annuities, or currencies, including digital currencies, such as bitcoins;
•   Counterfeit materials;
•   Infringement on the copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret or other intellectual property rights of Zelle, a Network Financial Institution, another User or any other third party;
•   Terrorist funding;
•   Fraud;
•   Scams;
•   Money laundering; or
•   Any other illegal activity or unlawful purpose.

[Taskford]

I am looking for a job. I recently found a job that requires an assistant trader.
Scheme of work:
The trader acts as an intermediary between the bitcoin seller, the buyer and me.
When a buyer wants to buy bitcoins, they send me the dollar amount using zelle. I buy bitcoins from my bank account in my verified Coinbase account and send it to the buyer's bitcoin wallet. I keep myself 10% of every trade.
The trader uses paxful and localbitcoins with escrow method. But as I said he doesn't have sellet account, he is just intermediary.
Money from different people comes to my card, the trader does not ask for any of my personal details and even sent me a photo of his ID.

I fear for my bank account. I don't want the police to come to me if I start working with him.

This is a fraud? Is it legal in the USA?

I will be grateful for a detailed answer.

So simple to think if you are not comfortable on the things you are doing right now better stop it since you will never know on what are the consequences of what you do today in future and might you are right that you will have a big trouble in future since you are dealing with money. Best to find a good job that doesn't required any illegalities nor those disturbing your mind since there are so many options to choose here.

[pakhitheboss]

You are in a really messed up situation as you were part of the scheme. I do not understand what made you join such a shitty scheme. When they offered you 10 percent at that time you should have understood what can happen if they are caught?

Since, you did those transactions you cannot escape, the only thing that can benefit you would be to surrender everything you know with the authorities if they come for you and plead guilty.

I am not sorry about you, but I think people like you should be caught and prosecuted as individuals like you give a bad reputation to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency.

[Bttzed03]

~
He showed me like receipt when man wrote that he works with him and confirms his 3000$ transaction + ID photo.

I'll repeat what others have said that these documents can be manipulated. Maybe the ID photos are legit people but it's possible that it's not the person you are talking to. I'm sure you've heard of personal information being leaked/stolen by hackers and sold.

You are in a really messed up situation as you were part of the scheme. I do not understand what made you join such a shitty scheme. When they offered you 10 percent at that time you should have understood what can happen if they are caught?

Since, you did those transactions you cannot escape, the only thing that can benefit you would be to surrender everything you know with the authorities if they come for you and plead guilty.

I am not sorry about you, but I think people like you should be caught and prosecuted as individuals like you give a bad reputation to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency.

OP hasn't accepted the job yet based on his post.

~ I fear for my bank account. I don't want the police to come to me if I start working with him.

He is asking for help from the community to determine if the job being offered to him is fraudulent or not.

What made you conclude that he already joined the "shitty scheme"?

[fortunecrypto]

I fear for my bank account. I don't want the police to come to me if I start working with him.

This is a fraud? Is it legal in the USA?

You need to read about the TOS of the trading site and the bank that you are dealing with, and most of all do not deal with an unknown account
in short check the legality of this transaction, you might want to ask a lawyer for this, you need to be honest so that you will not risk getting charged for breaking rules or civil and criminal laws, this is bank transactions and you need to be transparent.

[Velkro]

I fear for my bank account. I don't want the police to come to me if I start working with him.

This is a fraud? Is it legal in the USA?

I dont think its legal anywhere. Ask yourself why this company want you to beign money exchanger, this is highly regulated thing and you take all risk for 10% cut?
This is asking for trouble, i dont recommend it, be your own bank is Bitcoin slogan, not beign someone else's bank

[Adwoagyedom]

Although the offer seem profitable, It's not advisable to use your personal account for such a risky scheme. Beware of scams especially those who try to contact you on Telegram private message. There are several instances I have seen on reddit where people have compromised their personal accounts through such trades.

[nelson4lov]

My personal take on this is that, even if you want to get involved in such deals, it shouldn't be on your personal account. I've seen cases where the owner of an account gets victimized and possibly arrested for a crime they didn't commit  when their account is used for fraudulent transactions and they're held accountable for it. It could also be that the buyer / seller just want to access Coinbase's services but can't do so due to certain restrictions. If you plan to go ahead with it: Do make sure you.

[dondonk]

being an intermediary is a risky job, especially if the transaction is large. If you are not sure you can confirm with your work partner, is this really legal. and also using personal accounts for work I don't think is a good idea. if you want to continue, maybe you can use a non-bank account, using another platform that might be safer to support your Job.

[daneal stev]

I advise you to stay away from this job, my friend, as it is dangerous and causes you a lot of risks and problems, and it is possible that it is also a fraud, so staying away from this matter is the best thing.