Balanced Growth

Dana –

Victim Location 88030

Type of a scam Employment

I recently answered an employment ad on a job search engine website. I came across this "Market Research Surveyers Needed" in my area. I clicked on the job posting and was shortly contacted by a man named Marc Burton. He informed me that there would be further instructions awaiting me in the mail (Yes, I entered my mailing address, thinking this was a legitimate job application). The following week, on Monday afternoon, sure enough I received a document envelope from the post office. Inside was a check made out to me for $1,830.00 and instructions by Mr. Marc Burton, which informed me that I needed to take the check to my local bank and deposit it, or I could do so over my smartphone, to my bank account.

Then, I was to email him at the address he provided.

I did not deposit the check, but instead emailed him shortly after opening the envelope. He responded quickly with instructions in which I was to deposit the money into my account, then go to several local stores in my area and purchase up to $1,500 of Ebay cards, usually where the gift cards are located, and load money onto the cards. He stated that some cards can have $300, $500, $700 (total of $1,500) making sure I did not load less than $100 on the cards, and to make sure the cashier activated these cards before leaving the store. Then, I the consumer had to scratch off the silver overlay strip (found on the back of the card) and reveal the card pin code numbers. Then take a photo of these numbers, and email these pictures to him.

As for the remaining $300 from the $1,830.00, I was told to keep as "commission" for my efforts.

According to his instructions, in the coming days, he’ll request the receipts of my card purchases.

Several red flags within his instructions: according to Burton, If questioned about whether I am a survey researcher, I had to deny it and act as discreetly as possible, as not to raise suspicion. I had to make my card purchases quickly and then exit the store(s). Several stores were listed: Home Depot, Lowes, Target, Walmart, K-Mart, Family Dollar, (to name a few). Again, I had to act as discreetly as possible.

Secondly, his last name on the check is not the same on the email. On the check, his last name is listed as Volquardsen.

Finally, after completing my card purchases, I had to email him a description of which stores, the dates, the time and their locations I went to, in a "report" and submit that report within 24-72 hours of receiving the check.

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