Scam Type
Employment Scam
Business Name Used
MS Personnel Agency
Date Reported
Sep 19, 2022
Victim Postal Code
97214
Total Dollars Lost
0
Scam Description
I followed a link via LinkedIn to apply for a job posting that was to be a part time secret shopper for a Direct Marketing company. I didn’t hear anything from them. A week ago I started getting shipping notifications from USPS of a package coming but I hadn’t made any purchases and wasn’t expecting a package. I received a vague text this morning from “David Carlson, Management” (509) 257-7964 saying that my package was delivered and to verify I received it. I opened a large USPS envelope and found a poorly copied sheet of directions and a check for $2,450 made out to me from:
LSCH LLC
Renovation Account
300 Centerville Road, Suite 300 East
Warwick RI 02886
The directions stated specifically to deposit it in my bank in 24 hours, save $400 for myself, and to use my debit card to buy 4 specific gift cards for $500 each and to send them a photo or the front and the back of each card and to email to dmsurveyreport@gmail.com or text to “Donald Wright – Client Service Representative, MS Personnel Agency” 220-203-8270.
A Google search showed that the company and address on the check is a construction company. And I searched Donald Wright and all I could find was an account on LinkedIn with no profile photo that says they are a money mover. I Google searched MS Personnel Agency and it came up on Scam Pulse saying that people followed directions and the gift cards had balances immediately zeroed out (because they have you send them a picture with the card numbers) and that the check doesn’t clear. Debit cards are not insured which is why they specify to use them. This is clearly a money laundering scam.
I thought I was signing up to be a secret shopper to buy real items or to eat a meal at a chain like the job posting stated. I responded to the text to tell them I’m shredding the check.
