Edward Jones Investments

Maggie – Apr 29, 2020

Victim Location 10924

Type of a scam Employment

I received the following email this morning with no logos or links:

"Dear Applicant,

Your resume has been reviewed by the Hiring Dept of Edward Jones Investments and we believe you have the required qualifications to occupy one (1) among the listed opening positions in the company. We would like to invite you to interview [via Telegram] to discuss the job requirements and learn more about you.

We would like to invite you to interview [via Telegram] to discuss the job requirements and learn more about you. At this interview you will be meeting with [Christopher ***** the Principal General Counsel]. We expect the interview to last about [30-45] minutes. Feel free to ask any questions you may have about our hiring process, the position or our company.

You are required to download Telegram and set up an account with Telegram set it up with your phone number, Once it is set up; You’re to add the Principal General Counsel Mr Christopher ***** on your Telegram contact List ASAP for the job briefing and comprehensive details and his Telegram ID ( @officialedwardjones ), He will be online waiting to respond to your add request as well as your messages.

VERIFICATION CODE: ****** Pay : $29.15/hourly

Please respond to this email at your earliest convenience and let me know which of these options work best for you.

[Wednesday April 29, 12:30pm]

[Wednesday April 29, 2:45pm]

[Thursday April 30, 9:00am]

[Thursday April 30, 12:30pm]

If none of these options are suitable, please let me know what your availability is for next week.

We are looking forward to discussing this position with you.

Best Regards,

Edward Jones Investments

Headquarters ***** ********** **** ***** ****** ** *****"

Believing this to be a scam, I first researched the company and confirmed that the address is real and the company does exist. I also looked up the individual and found that name linked to a very vague LinkedIn profile. I researched the app it told me I had to download and it seemed to be a legitimate and safe program.

Desperate for a job and honestly confused as to how they got my resume I agreed to participate. I downloaded the program and added the Telegram ID. I replied to the email saying I was available for the first slot and asked them to confirm (mind you the first slot was a mere 2 hours after receiving the first email and did not include a time zone – all of which I should have been skeptical of).

This was the reply: "Mr ***** will be available then to proceed further with this job briefing and interview. Best regards,"

Note the lack of signature on the email and still lack of information.

At 12:35 I sent a message to this "Mr. *****" because it was 5 minutes past the time the conversation was supposed to begin.

Unfortunately, I cannot provide a transcript of the conversation because "Mr. *****" deleted it immediately after I said no and I was unable to retrieve it.

However, the conversation was clearly prewritten and included extremely vague information. It started out with "Mr. *****" asking if I was ready to proceed with an interview over chat. I said Yes (obviously I was otherwise I wouldn’t have agreed to that time slot.) I immediately asked for the job title and description and informed "Mr. *****" that I did not apply for any job at Edward Jones Investments and was extremely confused as to how they got my resume. "Mr. *****" replied that he received it LinkedIn and again asked if I was ready to proceed. I replied "OK".

Immediately I received a very long message that was clearly prewritten including a vague description of a work-from-home position (no job title) that stated I would receive $31 an hour (which is different than what the email said) and that it required a number of responsibilities including customer service and sales. "Mr. *****" then asked if that sounded good to me. I replied, "I am interested depending on what the job title is."

I got another immediate response that stated I must be over 18, a legal resident, etc. Then he replied "Data entry clerk." I informed "Mr. *****" that I am a licensed attorney and am looking for jobs strickly in that field. His response was "Alright" and he quickly deleted the conversation, preventing me from copying it or responding further.

Upon further research, I determined that there is not a single data entry position listed on Edward Jones Investments’ website or ANY job search website. This was clearly a scam. I have reported the email chain to google as a phishing scam and posted a review on Indeed’s website about this incident as I cannot seem to contact Indeed about it directly.

Miranda –

Victim Location 53156

Type of a scam Employment

I was applying for freelance jobs on up work i received this message below from Sophia Brenton

Congratulations! Our recruitment team has viewed your profile on www.upwork.com, we are pleased with your qualifications and believe you have the required qualifications to undergo an on-line interview. You may choose to focus on one of the main areas needed : Bookkeeper or Administrative Assistant and you will be trained towards it during your training and orientation.

If you are still available and interested in any of the position, You are to set up a screen name with Gmail account on (www.gmail.com) and then signin to hangout on (www.google.com/hangouts) and message Mr Anderson Jerry ([email protected]) for the interview process, your verification code is (JOB-107), this would serve as your identification number throughout the on-line hiring process.

Best Regards

Sophia Bronfeld

Edward Jones Investment Company

www.edwardjones.com

Here is the following conversation with [email protected]

Good Afternoon Mr. Anderson,

My Name is Amy Beaver. I am contacting you in regards to JOB-107

Good afternoon

How are you doing today?

I am doing well, thank you. How are you today?

I am fine

Are you ready for the job briefing?

Yes

Okay let’s get started.

Let me start by introducing myself and little about the company and the available position

Okay, sounds good.

The name of our company is Edward Jones Investments

Edward Jones serves nearly 7 million investors and we have more offices than any other investment firm in America. We attribute a great deal of our success to our principles and personal, long-term approach to investing.

For more information about us,Visit www.edwardjones.com

This is strictly an online and work from home job the working hours are flexible and you can chose to work from anywhere of your choice,the pay is $30 per hour training is $25 per hour and will be getting payment bi weekly via check or direct deposit(Depending on which you prefer) working 30 to 40 hours weekly,if you are employed you are going to be working as a full employee and not an independent contractor.Benefits: Health, Dental, Life and AD&D Insurance, Employee Wellness and 401k plans.Paid Time Off and Holidays with Generous Company Discounts

This sounds good with me.

Your Primary duties include: Printing payable check,Preparation of Balance sheets (Mini), account balancing,Create and modify documents using Microsoft Office, invoicing recording, all these will be done through the use of the Accounting Software. I will train you on how to use the softwares you will be working with.

Your secondary daily duties would be to report to your Supervisor, who would be attached to you online, He/She would assign logs of duty daily and you would be required to work according to instructions, using the Microsoft Office tools and the Accounting software. Now the function of the Accounting software is to arrange, formalize and manage the data you have processed, sent to your supervisor via E-mail.

Okay

Are you currently employed?

Will you be able to devote 8 hours of your time daily to Edward Jones Investments. ? At least 4hrs daily?

I am currently a Stay at Home Mom and I have child care available to be able to devote a minimum of 4-10 hours daily

Okay.. Sorry for my late respond

That is okay ?

I need you to answer the below question accordingly:

Okay

Have you ever worked from home?

How long would you expect to work for us if hired?

What does petty cash mean to you?

Do you know your clerical speed?

How do you handle work in high pressure situations?

Do you have an idea of how to use ms excel?

When I worked as a paralegal at time I would remote in from home to work due to ill children and/or weather. I would work for the company as long as I am needed whether it be temporary, contracted, or a career I am content with any of those option.

Petty cash to me means pennies

unfortunately I don’t know my clerical speed, I believe it is high 40’s, but I am not exactly positive.

I work well under pressure as I use that pressure as motivation and create goal for myself

Yes I have used ms excel in my last 3 employments

Well you have done well so far and you seem like a perfect fit for this position. Hold on online while i review your answers for consideration okay ?

Thank you that sounds great.

I am back

k

Due to your level of experience and your working skills the company has decided to hire you as one of our staff.You are now a staff of Edward Jones Investments. and we hope to see the best in you…Congratulations Amy

This is very exciting Thank you. I look forward to my new ventures with the company

You are now given a chance to show your commitment,charisma,diligence and be a productive employee.

You will sign your employment offer letter tomorrow, It will be signed and email to you before the end of tomorrow.You are to print it out,fill it and have it scanned and email back to me directly.

I need to step out for 10 minutes at the moment I am need to pick my oldest daughter up from school. I am sorry for the inconvenience. I can’t wait to show myself to the company

That sounds great I will handle that right away.

Okay.. Let me know once you’re back so i can roundup the job briefing

I will wait for you, go pick up your daughter and let me know when you’re back

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding I am back

Okay

Welcome back

Thank you

We are starting you with $30 per hour,But dont forget you will earn $25 per hour during training.You will receive your pay every friday bi-weekly via wire transfer,Direct deposit or check,Depending on which you prefer. What payment option do you prefer?And what bank do you bank with?

Okay that sounds good, I am fine with direct deposit. The Account is with American Express Centurion Bank

Okay

Before you start work you will receive a payment(Check) ,you will be using this payment (check)to set up your mini office by purchasing some office equipment and accounting software, immediately you get this payment you start work fully.

okay that sounds great

Here are the list of items to purchase when you receive the check:

* Simply Accounting Pro

* Sage Software Sage 50 Premium Accounting 2018

* Microsoft Windows Server 2018 R2 Standard OEM

* Laptop (Lenovo ThinkPad W540)

* All-in-one printer

* Portable office desk (moveable)

I will provide you with the list of materials to purchase when you receive the check.

okay I will save this information

Okay good

NOTE: All materials are to be purchased from the company’s accredited vendor..I will provide you with the vendor information when you receive the payment,And i will also provide you with this list again.And your signing bonus will be included in the check you are receiving,Your sign-up bonus is $150,So deduct it from the check when you receive it(This sign-up bonus is to motivate workers towards commencement).

Perfect thank you.

I do have one question for you…

Was this interview conducted on google hangouts because this is not a contract job?

Yes

Okay I just wanted to make sure. I have been scammed by work from home jobs

Oh, sorry to hear about that.

But i want you to be rest assured this job is legit and you should have nothing to worry about.. Okay

The check will be sent out to you tomorrow and it will be delivered to you via fedex next day air because we need you to get started as soon as possible.

Thank you I just make sure to cover my basis

Okay no problem

What address would you like us to send your start-up check? And how would you like your name to appear on the check?

Amy Beaver

752 Beach St. Lot A9

Palmyra Wi, 53156

Okay

I will need your cell/home number and email address to enable us register your file

I can be reached at 262-238-3495 and my email address is [email protected]

Okay no problem

That is all for today, you are to report online tomorrow by 8am CSt for job update regarding your start-up check and signing of your offer letter

It was really nice chatting with you

Okay that sounds good where will i be signing into?

via hangouts just as you we are doing now

Okay that sounds good thank you. It was nice chatting with you today, too.

Do enjoy the rest of your day.

Thank you, you too

Talk to you tomorrow Amy

Employees of Edward Jones only communicate with job applicants from email addresses that end with "@edwardjones.com" or through Edward Jones’ contact management system.

Yes, but this is our department hiring and you will receive from us from our work email

Edward Jones is BIG and as time goes on you will get to understand more

Good Morning

Good Morning

Good Morning Amy

I am so sorry we had an emergency meeting this morning

how are you doing today?

I am doing well thank you. How are you?

I am doing good

Your offer letter should be ready in a few.. hold on while its emailed to you.

Also,I receive an offline message from you yesterday,hope you are ready to start work with as soon as you receive your start-up check?

I am ready. I was doing some research and what I sent you did make me hesitant.

oh okay

I already told our hr department to call you

And they should have called you this morning

I did just recieve a call but the call was breaking up. I couldn’t understand the person on the other line. What number would they be calling from?

Just want you to be rest assured you are workin with the right team

They will call from 414-522-9783 or 314-515-2000

I just received a text from James due to the bad connection

Oh good

please hang on while we prepare your offer letter..okay

Sounds good

I have sent your offer letter to you

Hope you got it?

Yeah I got it

Okay good

I will await your reply with the signed offer letter before the end of today

Let me forward your details to our accounting officer so she could prepare your start-up check and have it mailed to you today.. BRB

I have called the Corporate Office and they said that …

Please note that, as part of the recruitment process:

Edward Jones only requests personal information through our secure applicant tracking system.

Edward Jones does not request bank account information.

Edward Jones does not require any money or payment from its applicants.

Employees of Edward Jones only communicate with job applicants from email addresses that end with "@edwardjones.com" or through Edward Jones’ contact management system.

Edward Jones does not require applicants to create new email addresses.

I will be reporting this to them as well. I have reported this to upwork as well

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