I've answered an ad on craigslist for a warehouse position. I was then offered a position for "warehouse assistant".
This position apparently requires me to purchase artwork on this person's behalf and then shipping them to his galleries abroad.
He's said that he would be sending me funds to go purchase these artworks as well as my 400 bucks a week.

So yeah, sounds a little fishy doesn't it? I was hoping to get some extra opinions before getting myself involved in god knows what.

An 'art procurement warehouse assistant' job posted on Craigslist? Yeah, sounds fishy to me. Did you try googling the guy to see what you can find out about him?

Its a scam. That's basically the scam form letter. I am offering you this job, but first buy these things for me and I'll send you the money later along with your paycheck.

It does sound a bit strange, so I take it you'll never have any in person communication with this guy? Where exactly are you going to be picking up and dropping off these "artworks"?

It almost sounds like you're going to secretly be drug trafficking, but hey maybe I've just been playing too many videogames lol.

Yes, that sounds fishy. First it might be a scam. So if you decide to go through with it, only buy something you have been given the funds for up front. Don't buy anything with your own money and hope to be paid back later. That won't work.
Two: it might be illegal. So you might check with your lawyer, if you have one. Or if you don't, check with your local police department. Perhaps something like this is already known. Or at the very least they can inform you which steps you have to take to ensure that the operation is actually legal.

If he's actually suggesting to pay for something out of your own pocket first, it's a scam for sure.

All I have is his name, "Brad Miller", which is pretty damn common. Yeah, I probably shouldn't trust this crap.

If it involves your bank account, I think you should avoid the situation. I would think the company would have it's own credit card or bank card here you could use. The other thing that sets off alarm bells is the job description does not match what you have to do. You could try asking other "art warehouse" collectors if this is an industry norm, but as a general rule, if your bank account is being used, you should probably avoid it. When it comes to charges, returns, product disappointment, overcharges, and just straight up screwage of not paying you, you do not want to be the one holding the hot potato.

My question is why he needs a third party to purchase the items and not buy them himself.

Would save money and hassle imo.

You'd need the money from him up front and not be expected to use your own money and be reimbursed or it would defiantly seems like a scam but why would be send his money, up front, to a random Craigeslister he'd never met ? Can't see how it could possibly work without immediately braking down over trust issues
Do NOT use you own money for anything though!

The ad originally said they were just looking for general positions, this got sprung on me when they said all those positions were full.

Yeah, this is almost definitely phony, which sucks because 400 a week would have been nice. He hasn't actually asked me to purchase anything with my own funds, promising to give me the "shopping list and funds" within the next 48 hours but I have to wonder if it will be like "Oh noez, I don't have the funds can you spot me?"

But what about if someone who wants to buy art is in a country very far away.
Some of those rich people do have someone else to buy their art.

Not saying it is a scam or not, but i believe it's possible, and from what i gathered he gets the fund to buy the art.

It's a scam. But, if it required an art degree and paid a lot more it could be legitimate. But, between the lack of job requirements and the specifics it does scream scam rather loudly.

Yeah I think I was just hoping my gut was wrong so I can stop job hunting.

Back to the job boards...