Part I here.

Part II here.

There's not much to add to the continuing saga.  Except that, as of this morning, I was still receiving phone calls from the recipients of various FEDex packages, wondering about the check.

One package went out yesterday — which is AFTER I put the hold on "my" FEDex account last week.  I had words with FEDex about that, believe you me.

Also, it seems that the latest batch of packages don't have a $2900 (or so) check from "South Motors Infiniti" in Miami Florida, but rather, a $2900 (or so) check from "Vincennes University", which is located somewhere in Illinois.  Obviously, it really doesn't matter what's on the checks.  They are fake.

However, having spoke to 8 or 9 of these FEDex package recipients, one thing is coming into focus: these people have all been contacted about jobs, after responding to an ad or listing at monster.com or on Craigslist.  The details are sketchy, but apparently they respond to some employment ad, and then they receive an email saying they will be sent a check with which to purchase a computer, and to be sure to deposit it.  And at the same time (within a day or two, before or after), they receive "my" check via FEDex.

So now there seems to be something linking all these scam victims together.  They were all jobhunting.

And the email the receive?  It's from a guy named Eric Fleming, and his email address is enquiries.verco.eric at gmail.com.  I suspect that "Eric Fleming" is not the name of the person behind the scam.  It's probably just a compromised email, just like the FEDex account isn't mine.  Or it could be a totally fictional email name.

Perhaps when one applies for the job online in response to the job ad, they are asked for (and perhaps give) their social security number.  And then they get this bogus check (plus an email urging them to deposit it).  If they deposit that check, information about the checking account gets back to the bad guys, who also have a social security number.  Now they are off to the races.  I imagine you can do a lot of damage with a bank account and social security number.

Anyway, when I get these calls, I tell the people not to cash the check.  Most of them are suspicious anyway, thank goodness.

And from today's USA Today: