(2002-10-24) — Police arrested an unemployed man in Columbus, OH, late yesterday and charged him with creating a paycheck with his computer, and trying to cash it.
Jon Swift, 35, said he was only obeying the subject line of a recently received email: “Create a PAYCHECK with your COMPUTER.”
“You get emails every day, offering to show you how to make money,” said Mr. Swift. “Most of these emails are from people who are NOT making any money. And they expect you to listen to them? Enough.”
Apparently that was enough for Mr. Swift, who used a simple graphics program to design a paycheck, and then took it to his bank to cash it. Bank officials alerted authorities to the scam.
An unnamed man who leads a local counterfeiting ring said Mr. Swift made a common mistake.
“If you want to make money with your computer,” he said. “then you should hook up with a group that is actually DOING it. We are making a large, continuing income every month. What’s more - we will show YOU how to do the same thing. This business is done completely by internet and email, and you can even join for free to check it out first. If you can send an email, you can do this. No special “skills” are required.”
The man said he and his associates are making $2000 to $9000 per month working only 10-12 hours per week.
“But keep in mind, we do WORK at it,” he said. “I am not going to insult your intelligence by saying you can sign up, do no work, and rake in the cash. That kind of job does not exist.

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