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geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: abdulmuhsee on Fri, 28 September 2018, 19:04:55

Title: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: abdulmuhsee on Fri, 28 September 2018, 19:04:55
I received an email requesting virtual assistants to my old college email.  When I inquired about it, I received this email.  Something seems fishy about it beyond the fact that it came from a normal gmail account, but I can't quite put my finger on it.  Since most people here are in IT or technologically inclined, can anyone tell me if this is legit?

Dear [name],


    We received your application, you have been considered for employment, you are to occupy the position of Virtual Assistant available.

PRIOR TO BEEN EMPLOYED PLEASE NOTE YOU MUST ALWAYS ACKNOWLEDGE ANY EMAIL OR TEXT RECEIVED FROM US.

KEYSTONE TECHNOLOGIES provides a full range of integrated facility across Canada and United States, and it is expanding its training centers across the States,a need for a good and reliable virtual assistant that can work with team manager is of necessity. I want you to read through the company website so you can have a better understanding about the company.

This position will be home-based and flexible part time/full time job.Your duties as virtual assistant will be running personal errands, performing various administrative tasks, including answering emails, scheduling meetings, booking flights and appointments, Handling cash and deposits, receiving calls, purchasing supplies and attending to clients. You are to start immediately.


You are to respond with the below information. After we have received your information you will be placed on a week trial, during which your pay will be $300 per week. Details will be sent after you must have returned the information below.


Full name:
Valid Address:
City & state:
Zip code:
Date:
DOB:
Valid Cell Phone  #:
Are you currently employed? if so state your job and your current working and free hours:

When we receive the above information, your first assignment will be relayed via email and how it should be conducted.

Be rest assured that your information requested is needed for our company’s database as an employee and will not be disclosed to a third party.

We will send your package for your first assignment this week. which will contain your paycheck and instructions for a week trial after which you will be sent an employment after completion of your trial.You will then print out and fill then send back to me.

Thanks in anticipation of your prompt response.

Best regards,
Tiara Parker
4835 Hwy 109

Eureka, MO 63025
pfta1952@gmail.com
https://keystonetechnologies.com/

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE: This communication and any attachments included herein contain information that belongs to KEYSTONE TECHNOLOGIES, that may be confidential, legally privileged and/or a trade secret. Its unauthorized disclosure, copying or distribution is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error please delete or destroy it and notify the sender immediately. Neither  KEYSTONE, nor its subsidiaries or affiliates will be liable for any damages resulting from any modification or falsification of an e-mail that is originated by us. Moreover, although precautions have been taken to ensure that the data included herein is free from viruses or other malicious content, we cannot assure that such is indeed the case and disclaim any responsibility attributable there.
Title: Re: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 28 September 2018, 19:11:36
Hahahaha. Obviously a scam. !!

Eureka, MO 63025
pfta1952@gmail.com

They don't even have their own email server
Title: Re: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: abdulmuhsee on Fri, 28 September 2018, 19:15:39
Hahahaha. Obviously a scam. !!

Eureka, MO 63025
pfta1952@gmail.com

They don't even have their own email server


Yeah, that seemed like an obvious enough clue, but a part-time, work-from-home job seemed pretty sweet :-p.
Title: Re: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: noisyturtle on Fri, 28 September 2018, 19:16:21
"This position will be home-based and flexible part time/full time job. You are to start immediately."

right off the bat you can tell it's a scam
Title: Re: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: fer.real on Fri, 28 September 2018, 19:21:18
We received your application, you have been considered for employment...

Did you send them an application?  If not, that should be red flag number one.
Title: Re: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: suicidal_orange on Fri, 28 September 2018, 19:23:41
I got as far as "We received your application" - if you had applied you'd know they were legit.  This is shortly followed by "you have been considered for employment" and "PRIOR TO BEEN EMPLOYED" which are both so wrong grammatically it's a dead giveaway - no-one would present their company so badly to a potential new employee.  Kept reading for fun, how do you handle cash online?!

Sorry, your search for a job is not over :))
Title: Re: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 28 September 2018, 19:23:50
Google the address they have a real email address and telephone number.

You could call, it seems to be a medical company.

Although the website is completely boiler plate.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: abdulmuhsee on Fri, 28 September 2018, 19:26:16
We received your application, you have been considered for employment...

Did you send them an application?  If not, that should be red flag number one.

I actually did send an application, and the original email was sent from an email associated with my old college.  This email seems way fishier.
Title: Re: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: hyteuu on Mon, 20 January 2020, 01:27:10
I received an email requesting virtual assistants to my old college email.  When I inquired about it, I received this email.  Something seems fishy about it beyond the fact that it came from a normal gmail account, but I can't quite put my finger on it.  Since most people here are in IT or technologically inclined, can anyone tell me if this is legit?

Dear [name],


    We received your application, you have been considered for employment, you are to occupy the position of Virtual Assistant available.

PRIOR TO BEEN EMPLOYED PLEASE NOTE YOU MUST ALWAYS ACKNOWLEDGE ANY EMAIL OR TEXT RECEIVED FROM US.

KEYSTONE TECHNOLOGIES provides a full range of integrated facility across Canada and United States, and it is expanding its training centers across the States,a need for a good and reliable virtual assistant that can work with team manager is of necessity. I want you to read through the company website so you can have a better understanding about the company.

This position will be home-based and flexible part time/full time job.Your duties as virtual assistant will be running personal errands, performing various administrative tasks, including answering emails, scheduling meetings, booking flights and appointments, Handling Coles for you login page (https://myclesp.online/) and deposits, receiving calls, purchasing supplies and attending to clients. You are to start immediately.


You are to respond with the below information. After we have received your information you will be placed on a week trial, during which your pay will be $300 per week. Details will be sent after you must have returned the information below.


Full name:
Valid Address:
City & state:
Zip code:
Date:
DOB:
Valid Cell Phone  #:
Are you currently employed? if so state your job and your current working and free hours:

When we receive the above information, your first assignment will be relayed via email and how it should be conducted.

Be rest assured that your information requested is needed for our company’s database as an employee and will not be disclosed to a third party.

We will send your package for your first assignment this week. which will contain your paycheck and instructions for a week trial after which you will be sent an employment after completion of your trial.You will then print out and fill then send back to me.

Thanks in anticipation of your prompt response.

Best regards,
Tiara Parker
4835 Hwy 109

Eureka, MO 63025
pfta1952@gmail.com
https://keystonetechnologies.com/

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE: This communication and any attachments included herein contain information that belongs to KEYSTONE TECHNOLOGIES, that may be confidential, legally privileged and/or a trade secret. Its unauthorized disclosure, copying or distribution is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error please delete or destroy it and notify the sender immediately. Neither  KEYSTONE, nor its subsidiaries or affiliates will be liable for any damages resulting from any modification or falsification of an e-mail that is originated by us. Moreover, although precautions have been taken to ensure that the data included herein is free from viruses or other malicious content, we cannot assure that such is indeed the case and disclaim any responsibility attributable there.

Yeah it's totally scam but in the end they're just trying loop hole to get access to your bank details :'(
Title: Re: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: Leslieann on Mon, 20 January 2020, 03:25:05
A surprising lot of smaller companies use gmail for mail.
Fighting spam filters is a nightmare (F Microsoft in particular), do not use this as a way of judging real or fake. It's just not practical for many businesses today.


As for being real or fake,
No phone number is a VERY BIG RED FLAG, they can't have you calling a fake number. Also an employer will always need your social security number but doing so would also be a gigantic red flag if asked in email.

Another red flag is the fact that they plan on sending you a check along with the job, which is a trial. What employer pays you before the job is done? This is either a fishing expedition for identity theft and/or they will ask you to pay a "shipping and handling fee" for your package (probably both, why sell themselves short?).
Title: Re: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: Sintpinty on Mon, 20 January 2020, 05:22:18
Never heard of them. It is a scam. You'd be better off applying in person or finding a legitimate company
Title: Re: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: noisyturtle on Mon, 20 January 2020, 15:26:28
If it's a work from home job you can pretty much guarantee it is a scam. 99.999% of the time

just realized I made the same comment I did before in the same thread 3 months later  :-[
Title: Re: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 20 January 2020, 16:19:46
If it's a work from home job you can pretty much guarantee it is a scam. 99.999% of the time

Jet Blue..
Title: Re: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 20 January 2020, 16:24:26
Nah this is totally legit it's 2020.

Sent from my SM-G970U1 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: rinkaan on Mon, 20 January 2020, 17:46:16
From Google maps street view they actually do have a valid address and phone number on the website. Perhaps u can call the help line, but chances are it is a scam given that the company have their own email address but is not used in the email
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200120/ff8723108ea660b45289adecc474f750.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200120/c5ec1a712f36d40e6534fffae22e2779.jpg)

Sent from my Redmi K20 Pro using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: Kavik on Wed, 22 January 2020, 10:38:45
You guys realize this thread is a year and a half old and the OP likely no longer needs an answer or investigation, right?
Title: Re: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: digi on Wed, 22 January 2020, 17:05:52
Yes
Title: Re: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: jacethesaltsculptor on Sun, 26 January 2020, 16:33:48
You guys realize this thread is a year and a half old and the OP likely no longer needs an answer or investigation, right?

Thread Necromancy is big here I've noticed, to a much greater degree than nearly any other forum I've ever been on.

I actually kinda like it, it keeps conversation flowing, even if it's old stuff.
Title: Re: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: Kavik on Tue, 28 January 2020, 12:00:34
You guys realize this thread is a year and a half old and the OP likely no longer needs an answer or investigation, right?

Thread Necromancy is big here I've noticed, to a much greater degree than nearly any other forum I've ever been on.

I actually kinda like it, it keeps conversation flowing, even if it's old stuff.

I have noticed it too, and I always end up reading the thread from the beginning only later realizing it's several months or years old and doesn't need my input. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but the initial necro responder(s) doesn't seem to realize this and responds in earnest.
Title: Re: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: jacethesaltsculptor on Tue, 28 January 2020, 13:33:41
You guys realize this thread is a year and a half old and the OP likely no longer needs an answer or investigation, right?

Thread Necromancy is big here I've noticed, to a much greater degree than nearly any other forum I've ever been on.

I actually kinda like it, it keeps conversation flowing, even if it's old stuff.

I have noticed it too, and I always end up reading the thread from the beginning only later realizing it's several months or years old and doesn't need my input. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but the initial necro responder(s) doesn't seem to realize this and responds in earnest.

That's the strange thing to me as well, I've gotten vigilant about reading the dates of these threads now just to know what to expect for conversation, since the original posters from 5 years ago probably won't respond.
Title: Re: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: Leslieann on Wed, 29 January 2020, 04:21:00
I usually look, but I missed it this time.
Title: Re: Is this job offer a scam?
Post by: tp4tissue on Wed, 29 January 2020, 04:31:02
That's the strange thing to me as well, I've gotten vigilant about reading the dates of these threads now just to know what to expect for conversation, since the original posters from 5 years ago probably won't respond.

Absent verification we are all timeless echos to one another.

In fact, many post could have even come from the future, or a parallel universe.

Or maybe it's all a simulation. !!  /matrix