Ok, disclaimer: I am not opposed to working for foreign companies as LONG as they are:

A-Transparent

B-Pay me

C-Conduct ethical/legal business practices

and D-Have an AMERICAN CONTACT....

That said, here is the scary part:

Foreign companies from foreign countries (not naming names) have called me, recruiting me to become that "american contact", the friendly face, the AMERICAN voice, the guy who is HERE in the UNITED STATES.

I admit, one time I quoted them RIDICULOUS TERMS just to see how far they would go, and see how far I could push it: 80,000 USD annual base salary, company Lexus, things like that. Needless to say, when I explained to them WHY I come with such an insane price, they backed off.

None the less, the truth remains: the threat of fraud is real, the threat of shell companies is real, the threat of foreign entities getting their hands on financial records of US CITIZENS and/or companies is even worse.

You would be naive to think otherwise.

I advise the following, when you get an email from a "potential client":

-Schedule a phone conference

-Look up their company in their Secretary of State website

-Also ask casually: "Hey, can I add you on LinkedIn? I would LOVE TO ADD YOU into my network...". We live in a Digital Age with a HUGE stake in Online Media Marketing. Anyone who worth a lick, is going to be on LinkedIn. Yes, I AM ON LINKED IN!

-Ask to be paid up front on retainer. Attorney's operate on retainer, why can't you? 

-If it feels shady, don't do it. Yes, some of us hit slow points, but don't gamble your business against doing business with what may be a sanctioned and/or fraudulent company. You won't get paid, and you'll do work, for basically nothing, while arguably assisting a criminal enterprise.

Don't do it.

PS: If someone emails you saying they are "Tom Cruise"(yes, that happened) with X-Title....tell them I " feel the need, the need for speed" and hit DELETE!