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SAMPLE NARRATIVE: Employment Scam

Date: Saturday, November 3, 2007

Jane Doe

123 Main Street

Anytown, State

Phone: 555-222-1111

Cell: 555-333-4444

Amount owed: $10,000

Owed to: Ma & Pa’s Bank

(If you owe more than one creditor repeat the last two lines)

1. Monday, June 5, 2007 – I was looking for a second job online to supplement the income from the one I already have, which has been cut back to part time.

I found one as an [accountant, Secret Shopper, bill collector, representative, etc.] on [Craigslist, Monster.com, CareerBuilders, etc].

I answered the ad by writing to the listed email address: johndoe@bayou.com.

2. Tuesday, June 6, 2007 – I received an email reply stating that I needed to complete the attached employment application, which I did and sent back immediately.

3. Wednesday, June 7 – I received an email from Bill Smith stating that I had the job and would be receiving the first check payment from one of their customers within the next couple of days.

Mr. Smith wrote that I should notify him immediately as soon as I had deposited or cashed the check.

4. Thursday, June 9, 2007 – I received an envelope by Federal Express that contained the check Mr. Smith (Bill) told me to expect.  The check was from [name of account holder] in [name of state or country], drawn on [name of bank] in the amount of $_______________.

I sent Bill an email notifying him if its arrival later that evening.

Bill wrote right back, asking me if I had deposited the check yet.  I told him that no, I wouldn't be able to get to the bank until Saturday the 11th.

His reply was a little upsetting in that he stated that if I didn't deposit or cash the check right away he would have to dock my pay and I might lose my job. 

5. Friday, June 10, 2007 –  I cancelled my doctor's appointment and deposited check in my personal checking account at Bank of America.  The bank placed a 3-day hold on the check.

When I got back home I wrote to Bill that the check had been deposited and that the bank had placed a 3-day hold on it.

6. Saturday, June 11, 2007 - I received an email containing instructions from Bill to send the money by [Western Union / MoneyGram] to one of their collection hubs in the UK.

I was to keep 5% of the check amount as my pay.

7. Wednesday, June 15, 2007 - The hold on the check was released.  I withdrew all but my 5% pay and wired the money by [MoneyGram/Western Union] as instructed.

Once you’ve dated and related the last contact from your bank, credit union, the store, or law enforcement, your narrative is complete.  Email your narrative to

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