Scam Type
Employment Scam
Business Name Used
Claiming to be with Pharmaron
Date Reported
Oct 21, 2022
Victim Postal Code
55420
Total Dollars Lost
0
Scam Description
I received a text message by a woman who introduced herself as Mrs. Crystal Mills saying she saw my resume online and thought i would be interested in a job as a Customer Service Rep/Data Entry position Remote/Telecommute. Said pay was $35/hr, training at $22/hr. Itold her absolutely bc it was a bit higher range that i was currently at, and expected to find. She then said to give her my Skype ID. I thought it sounded strange because i hadn’t used Skype in years. Most ppl use Zoom, or Meet (formerly Google Duo) bfut i agreed and headed over to my Skype App. Next came a message from a Mr Mark Hoggs for an online interview. I immediately told him via skype text that i was out running errands, and unavailable to meet but would love to schedule a future time. He then told me it would be only be through text and if i was able to do it that way. i hesitantly agreed. He sends a picturesque link through the feed for Pharmaron. A real company that does R&D on a scientific level dealing with biomedical research, catalysts, and ground breaking science on a high medical level. Gene therapy, the whole 9 yards. I skimmed through the company’s online description and thought, well i used to be an Office/Sales manager for Medtronics plus i have a medical background so great! I’m familiar with the ins and outs of medicine and science. He then begins sending very thorough and precise interview questions. i’m sending very professional and precise answers. As soon as i type one novel of answers, more questions come. Fan through to the end of questions (1 1/2 hours of text from an apple iphone) he tells me how impressed he was of my knowledge and professional answers and he thought i would be a great candidate, but he needs to send a referral along with my answers to the department the position is for, but to stay active for 20-30 minutes. Come 30-35 minutes later he texts back that he would like to offer me the position. Started how i preferred to get paid; weekly, bi-weekly; direct deposit or check. weird i get to choose . then asks me who i bank with to see if they work with my banks…sketchy but of course i ended up telling him. I then proceed to request the company’s EIN number. i explained this was an unorthodox way of giving out information and due to scammers i thought it was a fair question so i could cross check the company and legitimacy. He then proceeds to explain he could not release the information. I told him that is public information and any w-2, w-4, 1099 would already have, or require that information and he immediately becomes unavailable. Funny his profile says home computer but last seen DAYS ago. I still messaged him that i know that he is a scammer and would be reporting the whole scheme to the BBB and possibly Attorney General. Hours later he is still offline. Everything felt off. I did not give any bank information except the names of the banks, which was still a dumb thing to do.
But requesting the company’s EIN was the moment i knew for darn tootin’ 1000% this was a multiple person scam
I just wish i would’ve gone with my gut instinct at SKYPE who the heck uses skype anymore? and no video interview ? i saw all the signs but I really wanted it to be real. BEWARE!
