Complaint Review: Gulfstream TN - Nationwide

I called and emailed Gulfstream many many times to get an answer but never got through or received any sort of explaniation. Once I told them I was going to file this scam report they just stopped sending me tests etc so they are aware of this site and this report but have never responded to it to defend themselves. If you are thinking about working with them run for the hills, total scam.

Hi-

I had the same problem. FYI they will not mail you any money... Thank goodness I opted to pass on the "special project" that would "gurantee" me $3000.. What a waste of time. SO frustrating! 

I am glad that someone else has commented on this "company".

I have just finished doing all of the "tests", and have yet to receive my "check". 

The first two weeks, I received daily reading supplies from a David C. Bender. Initially, a woman named Michelle Swan emailed me, telling me about this "opportunity" to be a project manager for the company. Similarly, they listed their address as 410 Park.

David did call me at one point before I began, and we chatted for about 5 minutes. He then started to send me the materials. I noticed that many of the emails he sent me had grammar mistakes or seemed written by someone whose first language was not English. That should have been a red flag.

I have something installed on my Chrome browser that allows me to see when emails are opened and where they are opened. I noticed that my "tests" and emails to David were being opened in the following cities: Omaha Nebraska, Klamath Falls, Oregon, and Chambersburg PA, amongst other cities. This struck me as odd, because if David was indeed in NYC, then it should say that the emails were being opened here, not in other random cities.

After the first week, he said that someone from London was going to call me to do an over-the-phone interview. A woman did call me with an international area code, but the questions she asked seemed random and unusual.

David emailed me and said that the people in London were "impressed" with me (which is odd, because the interview lasted 5 minutes and I seriously could have said anything) and then I got the "opportunity". Basically, I was being asked to buy computers, phones, etc. and ship to:

Manager-on-duty: ANNA LANINA

Address: UL. Chapygina 94, 4

City/Country: Kiev, Ukraine

Zip: 04086

Phone: +380 (044) 311 9005

I haven't tried to call this number yet.

I then received these instructions:

Please complete the PO as soon as the payment arrives. If you can get the payment sorted out today, the money should be on your account tomorrow morning. Let me know if you have any problems. As soon as the payment posts please buy 4 (four) Apple MacBooks available at closest Bestbuy. After that please go to the closest USPS office and send via USPS Priority Express Mail International to the address on the PO list. The PO should be addressed to the broker or manager on duty, not to Gulfstream TN because the office was not launched there yet and equipment can be lost. The payment will appear on your card one business day after you apply. Before going ahead with the PO, please make sure that the payment has been credited to your account.  As soon as it is, print out the PO list and take it with you to USPS. Hang on to the PO list and all the receipts, you’ll need them for the monthly report – basically, just keep everything.

As you can see, the PO includes $4,796 to pay for equipment, $431 for the tax (approximate 9% sales tax), $400 shipment and handle fee, $300 your commission, you can cash through ATM. If there’s anything left over, it goes towards your commission; finance department says no need to reimburse anything to the company. The USPS shipment will not take you more than $100 per item, please pack and send everything in USPS boxes. Again, please keep the PO list and all the receipts. The list is a company document, the post office won't need it, but you’ll need one for the report later next week. Please confirm when you get the PO and let me know when you apply for the PO payment. 

I told David that I didn't have a credit card, and that I couldn't do it. I then asked if they could just send me a check or a company card and I would use that. David said he would check with the "accountants" and never got back to me about it.

Another red flag.

So, I finished the last two tests, mostly because I was interested in seeing where this would all go. I submitted the last "test", and David said they would mail my check out. That was 12 days ago, and I have yet to receive anything.

I started to check Linkedin and other sources to see if I could find out who this David C. Bender is. I found this:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidcarlbender

It's odd because he has no connections on LinkedIn, which is kind of bizarre if you are working for an international company.

I also found Michele Swan:

https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=28831143&authType=name&authToken=QOZd&trk=prof-sb-browse_map-name

That's it. There are no other people from GulfstreamTN that I have found on Linkedin. Strange.

There is a real GulfStream:

http://www.gulfstream.com/

I think they hope that people will confuse GulfStream TN with the real GulfStream. How can two companies have the same name?

I haven't tried calling their international numbers to see if they exist there (or are false addresses). Overall, if it is a scam, it is pretty elaborate (with the inclusion of a website and all of the text, the tests, the phone calls, etc). I am going to continue to do research on them until I figure out what the deal is. If you have any further information, please let me know!

I'm not sure how it works but I've heard of this sort of scam before. Think about it. Why would they have us buy office gear in the US for a EU office? And why would they have more than one person doing it? David emailed me (never calls) and said he'd call the building manager and work it out and that they were moving in June 1. BM said there's no way. David told me they were moving in to the 8th floor but BM said that floor is in a long term lease. 

mike, they are also doing the same thing to me. would you be able to tell me the risks of them wiring money to us? isnt is possible that it is somewhat safe because we are not giving the our personal info or money? I do admit that something seems weird here but I am still not sure. 

Hey Mike...I am in the Columbus area and have been taking part in this "training" as well. I haven't noticed anything that would tell me its a scam yet however I also wouldn't be surprised if it is. Have you found out for sure if this is a scam? Have they asked you for any money or anything yet? Not doubting you just seeking facts here. Thanks!