ABILENE, Tx – During this time of year, most people are busy buying Christmas presents for loved ones, but thieves always try and find a way into their bank accounts.
James Doe is one of those people. He just wanted to get some extra cash to buy Christmas presents for his children, but he didn't think this could happen to him. He used to work for a warehouse company, but hurt his hand on the job. He wasn't getting the money like before so he found a job with the help of Craigslist.
"I thought it would be a little extra income you know so my kids wouldn't have to worry about Christmas," says Doe.
The job listing said all he had to do was drive around with the energy drink's logo on his car and he would get 400 dollars per week. Before he started, they sent him a check for over 23 hundred dollars. He then was supposed to deposit it in his account and take out all the money and send it back to them. This is when he started to believe it was too good to be true.
"That's where the package was dropped off and shipped from -- Staten Island, New York,” says Doe. “So I thought like wow it's bogus."
The check was from the Carrolton Christian Academy and the phone number on the package was from Nevada. James says after receiving it, the company kept asking through email and text when he would send it back. This is when he started investigating the company.
"These things are out there -- be aware of them,” says Steve Abel, President of the Better Business Bureau. “If it sounds like it's going to be money from heaven, all you got to do is drive around in your car and you're going to get 400 bucks a week. No that's not reality."
Since he started looking into the company, he says he isn't going to send the money. I spoke to VPX Sports which produces the Redline Energy Drinks and they say they have no association with these scams. I also spoke to the Carrolton Christian Academy and they say many people have called them about this.
"I never really thought it was that bad -- I used to see people get robbed because of being a victim off Craigslist you know,” says Doe. “But now me myself -- now I’m a victim of it."
James says his next moves will be to send a copy of the check to the Carrolton Christian Academy and contact the Better Business Bureau for some guidance.
