What at first looked like it might be a legitimate part-time work opportunity simply turned out to be another scam.
First I received the following email from Jacklyn SWIFT even though the email address appeared as [email protected]:
Hello.
"Conceal Shopping" is know-how that cut down current annual facility maintenance spend and reduce corporate risk thus company executives can be sure there is no gap between promised quality and it's actual delivery.
We evaluate companie's customer service to find out how they are handling their services in relation to their customers. Our agent act like usual customer; thereby we always get the actual information regarding customer service performance.
Detailed report is a result of agent? S evaluation.
Report must contain:
1. How long does it take to get served?
2. Staff politeness and professionalism.
3. Staff ability to deal with difficult clients (rude clients).
4. Your own opinion.
Remuneration: $1.400 every week OR $5.000 every month.
You must:
1. Be adult.
2. Have full internet access.
3. Be USA resident.
4. To explain well in written and oral forms.
Please fill and forward us following information to [email protected]
Full name; address; city; age; state; zip code; occupation; phone number.
Thank you.
*
So I responded with the appropriate information. What was strange was I had received an email like this before about a year or two ago during a previous period of unemployment, so I was a bit wary.
In about 1 hours time I received the following email from Michael McDowell [WA Surveys] [email protected] RE: Mystery Shopper Position:
Mystery/Secret Shopper Position.
Shopper's Guide wants you to run surveys on a few prominent western union locations in your area (the locations are within 10 miles
from your zip code, you will be filled with the exact details).
The Western Union location was reported for evaluation for the following reasons:
1) Customers have reported their money missing.
2) Slow services.
3) Unbalanced transfer charges.
4) Rudeness to customers.
5) Late opening time and Closing before time.
Your Evaluation at the first western union location would be:
1) To make a transfer of funds from this western union location to another mystery shopper (we will provide you with the needed
funds; you will never use your own money).
2) You will have to record the time you spend sending the transfer.
3) You will also provide the name of the cashier that attended to you.
4) Make a detailed report about your personal impressions as an average customer.
To complete the surveys we will send you the money to cover your $100 commission and the money you need to use at the western
union location.
Upon receiving the funds, the exact instructions of the survey will be forwarded to you and the report is to be ready same day you receive the funds.
You will have to keep a comprehensive report on every activity you carry out and send it by fax to our office.
If you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper confirm that you are ready by replying to this message with "I AGREE".
Thank you,
Michael McDowell (Main Recruiting Officer)
WA Surveys, 410 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105
*
It was the "I AGREE" at the bottom of the email that triggered my memories of my previous experiences. I had responded with the "I AGREE" and then came the requests for me to open an account. As a matter of fact his name at the time was Michael Friedman not Michael McDowell. This was just last January when my last encounter with this SCAM occurred...
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I am going to have to pass on this offer as this whole thing is just sounding a bit too much like a scam at this point.
I appreciate the opportunity but I am going to have to pass.
Thanks anyway.
On Thu, Jan 15 at 5:01 AM, Michael Friedman [WA Surveys] wrote:
Mystery Shopper Position.
Shopper's Guide wants you to run surveys on a few prominent western union locations in your area (the locations are within 10 miles
from your zip code, you will be filled with the exact details).
The Western Union location was reported for evaluation for the following reasons:
1) Customers have reported their money missing.
2) Slow services.
3) Unbalanced transfer charges.
4) Rudeness to customers.
5) Late opening time and Closing before time.
Your Evaluation at the first western union location would be:
1) To make a transfer of funds from this western union location to another mystery shopper (we will provide with the needed
funds).
2) You will have to record the time you spend sending the transfer.
3) You will also provide the name of the cashier that attended to you.
4) Make a detailed report about your personal impressions as an average customer.
To complete the surveys we will send you the money to cover your $100 commission and the money you need to use at the western
union location.
Upon receiving the funds, the exact instructions of the survey will be forwarded to you.
There is no specific time to do a survey, however the report is to be ready same day you receive the funds from us.
You will have to keep a comprehensive report on every activity you carry out and send it by fax to our office.
If you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper confirm that you are ready by replying to this message with "I AGREE".
Thank you,
Michael Friedman
WA Surveys
4140 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
*
To which he responded with:
To make things clear, I hope you're not confusing the account number with your credit card number. Unlike a credit card number,
the account number is not a sensitive information and is not to be kept secret, it is OK to share the account number in order to
receive a transfer. This is how wire transfers can be done. Without sharing the account number a wire transfer cannot be made to
your account. The only way someone could use your bank account number is to send funds your way. Nothing else can be done with an
account number. Not to mention the fact that we are talking about a separate new empty account, not your existing account.
Moreover, most companies have their account numbers listed on their business cards or websites, let's take for example to the
multibillion-dollar company Apple, they have their bank information listed on their website for the public to see and use for
making payments (http://store. Apple.com/us/help/payments#wire) It is technically impossible for one to take a penny out of the
bank account using that information. Only the owner of the account is able to access the funds using proper identification.
Everyone else can only use that information to send payments to the account. Therefore there is no risk whatsoever.
I hope this information is useful for you and clarifies everything.
Also. We are 100% legitimate and verifiable.
Our company's name is WA Surveys and we are registered with BBB (Better-Business-Bureau) since 2003. We have over 9,000 employees
in 23 countries. Our business license number is 2920034-GEN-107.
For more information you can visit our website at www.us-surveys.net
Let us know if you have interest in the mystery shopper position.
*
The last communication we had at that time was when I sent him the following:
Mr. Friedman,
I was not worried about money being taken out of the account but, the money being transferred in then the transfer not being any good later & me being held responsible for it at a later date.
I am interested in the position, I hope you understand my concerns with the scams that have come to light lately, where people believe they are being contacted by respectable companies and end up losing thousands of dollars.
*
Surprisingly enough I never heard from him again, until this recent attempt to get me to sign up as a "mystery shopper" again.
I wish there was someone out there who could and would put these guys and the Russian "Dating Service" people out of business. Maybe this will help.
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