Victim Location 21075
Type of a scam Employment
An email was sent to my graduate student email address stating the following:
Evening,
My name is David Moran, shopping survey coordinator for IMPACT METRICS INC. Your application to join our team of retail shoppers has been accepted and APPROVED. You’ve been shortlisted to participate in our forthcoming shopping survey evaluation. I’ll walk you through your first few survey assignments. It is my hope, that your addition to the fold will bring another edge and a heightened perspective to our surveys in your local city.
Acknowledge receipt of this email soon as you read it, with a simple reply. Also, reconfirm your mailing address. Your welcome letter will be mailed out shortly, I want to make sure it delivers successfully to your home.
Physical/Mailing Address
Apt/Suite/Floor# (If you have one)
City, State and ZIp
David Moran, MBA
Survey Coordinator | IMPACT METRICS INC
I did not recall applying for this mystery shopper job and did not feel comfortable providing my mailing address or information in response to the email. A couple weeks later I received the following:
A plain white (approx. 4.5" x 6" sized) priority 2-day letter in the mail. Opened it up with a mystery shopper survey and a check for $1,650.00. The letter indicates for me to evaluate a local Apple Store and I will be compensated $250. The letter instructed me to purchase an Apple Store Gift Card for $1,400 (specifically the Grey/Rose Gold or White color gift card). The letter states to text David Moran, MBA (Impact Metrics Inc) as soon as I deposit the check into my account for restrictions to be lifted off the check. (I called the number and a short beep sounded with no identifying recording). If you complete the survey within 48 hours of delivery you get a BONUS $200 on top of your $250 salary/wage. The letter also stated that in order to submit the report you have to text David Moran a picture of your gift card purchase receipt and your scratched off store gift card (It goes without saying that you cannot return a gift card after this secure area is scratched/peeled off). The check is from Woodforest National Bank in Texas. I contacted the bank and they provided me with the number to Chex Systems who were unable to verify the check but advised me to contact my bank to inquire…my bank advised that the letter sounds like a scam & that I should contact Woodforest National Banks fraud/securities department to report the check–When I attempted to call Woodforest National Bank 3 more times, I received a message saying invalid number; I discovered from other Scam reports via the ScamPulse.com state that according to the ScamPulse.com this bank has 8 scams associated with it all similar to this one). On the check the Purchaser Memo is: Andy Green and signed by Gayla Parycar and another illegible signature I am unable to decipher (both printed and not handwritten).