This email was sent to my university email address:
********Virtual Customer Service Rep Position******* |
Stupid me replied with my name and phone number. I then recieved this text message from the phone number 1-516-945-9604:
This is from Kelly lightman, Rakuten LinkShare Corporation,We are getting back to you regarding the Virtual Customer Service Rep position,do check your personal email of alternative email for the full description of the position, we will be expecting your response, Rakuten LinkShare Corporation¿
Later, I was sent this email:
I replied back with my name, mailing address, phone number, and email address. However, I did a thorough online search and found this message on the (real) Rakuten Linkshare website:
LinkShare has no “secret shopper” or “mystery shopper” program or employment positions of this kind and we never have. Similarly, we do not have any employment positions that require you to send or exchange money as a condition for employment. We list all of our open positions on our website. If you are approached about such an opportunity in conjunction with the LinkShare name, please know that it is not a legitimate enterprise. The LinkShare brand and name is being misrepresented and illegally used in these cases and our legal department has notified the appropriate governmental authorities. We have reason to believe that the secret/mystery shopper emails are illegal phishing scams, identity theft scams and/or advance fee schemes. If you feel that you have been a victim of any secret/mystery shopper scams, you should contact your local police department and report the incident to IC3.gov.com.
From reading that, I realized that I was getting duped! I soon sent a polite email to "Kelly" declining the opportunity "she" was offering me.
I should have known early on that these were scam emails. Kelly's messages had many grammar errors and even mispelled the company name. It was also dumb of me to still believe Kelly's emails even after I did some research on the actual company, thinking "she" was legit. I guess I should have looked harder on Rakuten LinkShare's careers website before I sent "her" my contact information. Thank goodness I didn't send my credit card or bank account information!
It's very unfortunate that this person preyed on my university email, knowing that there are lots of job-hungry college students and graduates out there who are vulnerable to these scams.
None
Kansas,#2General Comment
Thu, October 02, 2014
Wow, I'm SO happy that I found these disputes.. Surprisingly, when I received this 'job interview invitation', the first thing that I did was vividly search this company and to the best of my power find out if it was what my gut (and common sense) was telling me that it was, a scam, and I found nothing. UNTIL I found this.. Unfortunately after I told them that I was interested and gave them my information (name, etc, NOT BANK ACCOUNT THANK GOD).
I'm REALLY shocked to see that this is the only thing that i've found so far in my searches that call this out for what it is, a scam.. It's pretty scary actually, how they haven't been blasted all over the web or that there hasn't been more coverage on this.. I'm really happy that I found this and I'm going to do all that I can to help stop these... *******...
AMY
Dearborn Heights,#3REBUTTAL Owner of company
Tue, September 09, 2014
I too was duped by this supposed organization. I also received an email and followed the instructions. I was hesitant and should have followed my gut feelings. I went as far as receiving a check from this scam company. The chack was from a company in Indiana. I do believe the company is legitimate but not sure if they are aware that their company name is being used but I will try and contact them to make them aware.
The check was written from B&B Molders, LLC. 58471 FLR Road (South) Mishawaka, IN 48544.
I received the check and deposited into my account. In the mean time I consistently receiced emails and text messages inquiring when I would be forwarding the funds. They instructed the check should clear within three days. I checked my account online and it did appear to have cleared however it was a weekend so I could not do anything until Monday (yesterday). I withdrew the funds and went to my local CVS who has MoneyGram, keep in mind I was suspicious. To side with my inner feeling I called my bank to ensure the check had cleared and they did not simply provide money becuase I had funds to cover it. The bank indicated the check clearded so I went into CVS to transfer funds but still had that feeling something was wrong after listening to the automated message from MoneyGram. I went back to my bank and told them of the situation and suspicions. The banker informed of many scams, which I had suspected this whole business deals was and decided to wait it out. He stated to wait an additional week because payment on the check could always be stopped. I thank God that I listened to my suspicions because when I went to the bank today (I just arrived home) I was informed the check was fraudulent!!!!!!! I am so upset right now because I wonder how many innocent people have fallen for this scam?
So her is the information I know: THE ORGANIZATION IS CLAIMING TO BE RUKUTEN LINKSHARE (516) 945-9604 EMAIL IS [email protected]. THEY SENT CONFIRMATION OF PAYMENT VIA EMAIL: Payment will arrive via US Postal service with the tracking #(947010169932XXXXXXXXX) WHICH I DID RECEIVE AND I WAS INSTRUCTED TO WIRE PAYMENT IMMEDIATELY TO:
REMIT FUNDS TO :
NAME: Alice Hamilton Williams
ADDRESS: 21610 77th Ave
CITY: Upper Malboro
STATE: MD
ZIP CODE: 20772
I HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF REPORTING THIS TO THE AUTHORITIES HOWEVER THEY MAY HAVE CHANGED INFORMATION BECASUE IN MY ANGER I DID INFORM THAT I WAS AWARE THEY WERE A SCAM.
PLEASE DO NOT BE TAKEN BY THESE UNETHICAL PEOPLE! LISTEN TO YOUR GUT! IF I HAD NOT I WOULD BE OUT $1,947.32!
IF ANYONE HAS ALREADY STARTED AN INVESTIGATION I WILL GLADLY PARTICIPATE.