Victim Location 73160
Total money lost $7,000
Type of a scam Debt Collections
Initial means of contacted was via phone. Was told that I had fallen victim to an identity theft and was told that refusal to comply would lead to a warrant for my arrest and that I would be charged with money laundering and drug trafficking in addition to a $80,000 fine. Scammers said that they worked for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and that a case has been taken out against me under Ref #CA7963Q. Scammers also included "agent number" as follows: US7400 and US9890. Was then informed in order for me to avoid said action I would need to provide money in the form of a target gift card. Scammers asked that I physically go to bank with my phone on speaker phone to withdrawal money (I believe this was done in order to obtain other bank account #s in the process). Once I had come to the realization that this was a scammer phone calls stopped.
Victim Location 28210
Type of a scam Fake Check/Money Order
On June 7th I responded to an email from Target looking for secret shoppers. July 2nd I received an email stating I was shortlisted to be one of their representatives, and I would be receiving an envelope containing a Cashier’s Check, Instruction Letter and Assessment Form. I received the envelope the same day I received the email. In the envelope was a cashier’s check for $2900.00 and a Secret Surveyor Evaluation Form that described my first assignment. The assignment was to go to any vendor selling Ebay gift cards are to purchase $2500 in any available denominations and keep $400 as my payment. Once purchased I was to: 1) open the pack and peel the scratch-off area on the card, then 2) capture the image of front and back of cards but do not discard the cards because they will be used for forthcoming assignment. I was to complete and evaluation (store name, cashier name, overall experience, and photo of cards), and email all the details to [email protected] July 3rd I received an email stating the first assignment package delivered. Kindly confirm and get back to us.
Victim Location 31645
Type of a scam Employment
I received an email wanting me to be a mystery shopper for target. It provided very detailed information about the program and the benefits. When I clicked sign up it directed me to a page for Product Testers USA. Again from what I could see and based on what I could find, it looked like a very legitimate website and program. I provided my name, address, cell phone number and that I was over 18 years of age. It said that I would be contacted within a couple of weeks if I was selected as a mystery shopper for Target. A couple weeks later (tonight) I received the following text message: "Good day,This is Richard Fels from TARGET SECRET SURVEY PROGRAM. This is a confirmation that we have received your information in our database. Your First assignment will be delivered to you this week. Kindly affirm you have received this text message." The text message seemed strange so I contacted Target and they confirmed that it is not legitimate and is a scam. Based on further research I am expecting additional emails/text messages and a check in the mail in which I WILL NOT be cashing because it very well likely will be a fake check. I am also reaching out to my banking institutions and notifying them of this information.