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Employment - Equipment Purchasing Scam

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Employment - Equipment Purchasing Scam Reports & Reviews (125)

- Forney, TX, USA
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Contacted by this person via email saying they were interested in hiring me for a job I had applied for. Told me to go to website to upload my resume and references. I did this not knowing it was a scam. Then this "Wendy Hendricks" sends me an email wanting to know my personal info like my name and address and what hours could I work, experience, name of my bank (not acct number) so they could do direct deposit after a month. I did this as well. I read on here someone else had the same experience, so I stopped contact. Then this person sends an email saying I was hired and will be sending me a check for supplies for packaging, etc. Well, I received the check yesterday for $1755. The next email said they saw through tracking I received it and told me to deposit it. I am not responding at all. I changed passwords to all my accounts.

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- Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Happy to discuss in further detail if helpful (call mobile at ###-###-####). Please read the Google Reviews for this company - apparently others have experienced something similar. My mentee was contacted out of the blue about a interview for a great sounding job to which he frankly couldn't remember applying. My mentee contacted me about this because he was so excited to receive an offer but surprised because he got this job without ever talking with anyone at the company (his 'interview' was simply a survey with questions about his work style). They sent him an offer letter (attached) and then (as explained in the offer letter) they emailed him a picture of a check for ~$5,000 dollars and told him to deposit this in his bank account in order to buy equipment for the job. I tried calling their offices to speak with the new boss and learn more about this operation but the operator simply said "He'll give you a call back in 5 minutes" without ever taking my phone number down. At this point, I told my mentee he should first try speaking to his new 'boss' (goes by the name Felix Yorke, which I suspect is a fictional alias) before making any further moves. When my mentee requested to chat, Felix proceeded to call him at 6:30am PST to ask "what are your questions?" before wrapping up the call 2 minutes later. When my mentee emailed back about setting up a call at a more reasonable hour, Felix seemed to ignore the question and simply asked "Kindly confirm to me the status of the deposit from yesterday." I now suspect this is a money laundering operation.

My mentee is a first generation college student who just graduated and is looking for his first job. He is unsurprisingly adamant that "this must be a real job" because the prospect of making this much money this fast is so incredible. I obviously do not know that this is a scam but I am incredibly skeptical. And the idea that they would prey on him enrages me the likes of which I have never previously experienced. If there was ever a time for the ScamPulse.com to seek justice in this world, I feel like this might be that moment. I am happy to assist in any other way that may be helpful.

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I had same experience as u said in chat with same number.

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- Bronx, NY, USA
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I was contacted by email on October 10, 2023 by Dr. sapna purohit saying that HE/SHE found my resume on CAREER BULDER(this is how the person wrote it, instead of BUILDER . Here the company and email that that person used :

SUN PHARMA <[email protected]>.Later on, the person emailed me again from a different address: [email protected]

The person told me to download skype and sent me also 2 skype link that unfortunately, I opened it. Gave me information about the company and the job. Dr. sapna purohi asked how I want to ne payed {Direct deposit or check), I chose by check. He asked me again if I want tone paid weekly or every 2 weeks.

He said that the job was remote, asked me my full name and where I bank. because the company is not in United States, I asked him if he was in United States, He ignored my question first and he said that he was in United States.

I remembered that first time when I saw his email, It was late in the night so I downloaded Skype that night and the next, he called me at 7am, then we started to text on skype more than 2 hours even though he said that the interview won't take long. After he said that I was hired, he told me that I will receive a check to buy materials that I will need to work with.

He would call me any time and end the call before I answer it.

So I answered texts that he sent me around 5pm saying that I was expecting his email where he said that the check was sent via UPS.

Coming home in the night, I received an envelope inside was the check of $4550.00 and a letter (see the image). The check and envelope look very suspicious , I will never deposit something like that in my account, I heard stories...

The letter is from John Lewis, no emblem or logo of the business on the letter, my name is not even motioned and said to contact [email protected] and contact my supervisor employer hiring manager immediately. At this point, I just delete skype from my phone, I hope he doesn;t have access on my laptop when I opened links that he sent me.

I know he will try to contact me, I won't answer his emails again</[email protected]>

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- Athens, AL, USA
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I received an email that Runway HC saw my profile on an indeed job board and they wanted to set up an interview. The interview took place over Microsoft Teams and was AI generated. I thought this was strange but was immediately offered a position. They asked who I banked with during the interview and I thought that was also strange so I was not truthful with my answer. Then they wanted my home address so they could send me a check to purchase work from home equipment. I started doing some research and saw their address was residential housing. They also have no job postings on indeed or LinkedIn. I sent my hiring manager an email to ask some questions and she said she never received it, so I sent it over on Teams. After a while of not getting a response, I messaged again and asked if she could answer my questions. She immediately went offline and has not been back since Friday.

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- Valley Cottage, NY, USA
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Wants me to contact hiring manager through signal app for a text interview. I’ve experienced this before and they will eventually ask for banking info and ask for an address to send a company check to buy work from home equipment.

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Same here. I was contacted right around the same, if not the exact, day that you were. But I'd like to add that there is another email: hrdepartment @ wostoneadvisorsltd.com

I did get the signal app and spoke with "Mrs.Iris Pendleton", who I'm pretty sure is a bot of some sort.

There were never any other points of contact, which was suspicious, but even more so after they sent me a long email about being hired, and towards the end there was a sentence that went like this: If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at .

The company SEC page does not list www.wostoneadvisorsltd.com as a website, although the company itself is listed as a part of EPF Inc.. I believe this is a highly developed scam that is using a real company's information.

Initially, there was a LinkedIn page associated with the website, but it has recently become "unavailable".

They did not try to get more information about my bank other than its name. But they did request that I buy work-from-home office supplies. They said I should receive a check tomorrow because the UPS had a delay yesterday. From the beginning, I had planned to have the check "checked" out by the bank. I will definitely be increasing the level of caution towards this check if it arrives.

This scam appears to be piggybacking off of a real company and information about its business practices. If anyone else receives this scam or other scams, I would recommend that you also report it on BBB because it may reach a wider audience of people who are looking into the company.

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- Chula Vista, CA, USA
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I was contacted via email from this companies HR department. Did the whole application and interview process. I was then redirected to the manager who introduced herself and welcomed me to the company. She asked what time and days I would be available for training. Days passed and she then had me open a credit union account (I usually use cash app) which I didn’t find weird since the company isn’t located in my city and I did need a bank account. Anyway, after opening the account to supposedly be able to get paid for my training things started to get weird. She mentioned speaking to accounting and that they said I had to add an external account to my new bank account so that I may receive money to purchase the equipment I’d be needing for the position through an IT company after turning said money into cryptocurrency. I started to get suspicious since this isn’t the first time someone has tried to scam me so I lied and said I was unable to add external accounts due to my account being new she said she had to speak to accounting department again and get back to me the following day. This whole process has taken about a week and a half and now they want me to open another account with a credit union “they’re recommending” which I will not open. Most of our communication has been through telegram.

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- Durhamville, NY, USA
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A friend of mine of FB posted a job listing and I messaged him. He told me to download the Telegram app which I did and he gave me a number to text. I was immediately given to a Mrs. Martha Sanders Tonahill and I was asked questions online. She then had a $950 check emailed to me to purchase office supplies.

My bank called me and told me the check was a fraud and now I am not allowed to go online with my bank.

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- Chester, PA, USA
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I was approached via text message saying that my application was received by the company, (Biond Biologics) and they felt that I was a good fit for the position and team. They conducted the interview over the Telegram App, and I was notified shortly after that they were happy to say i got the job. Then the following day i was sent via email forms to fill out, signed, and sent back. The forms were a verification letter of employment, w4's, and a code of conduct letter. I filled them out, signed them and sent them back. Then they sent me a check via UPS overnight that was to be used to buy the equipment needed to do the job, and I was to take $150 of the $4,900 as a sign-on bonus. I messaged Mark to let him know that the bank would not cash the check. The teller told me that she believed the check to be fraudulent and she didn't feel like she wanted to chance cashing it. That was on Friday and I still have yet to hear back from him. I am worried that they may try to take a loan out in my name or something else equally as detrimental. I don't know where else to turn with this important information.

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- Charlotte Hall, MD, USA
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Talked to me for days via Teams. Sent me a contract and everything seemed ok until they said they’d be sending ME a check to purchase office equipment. I can understand being asked to have it or the company buying it for you but why would you ever get a check first and have to buy the equipment? It was all very fishy.

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- Oviedo, FL, USA
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Was offered an at home job with World Wide Technology. Interview and communication via Teams. Suspicious due to $30 ph for Training and $50 ph once wk commenced. Training skills set 3 hrs for 2 days. A employment contract was sent. When compared to company website HR name Ann Mahrr matched. Ceo name Thomas Strunk matched. And hiring manager matched Marlan Hardi. The skills training seemed very ligit questions which were timed with response. This a.m. after this weeks last training. They notified me i would be reciving a ups check to purchase systems for next week's job Training. Received check for $4500. No I9 employment form or payroll information was requested. When i questions this these forms were sent to me the next day via email. When i look up the address on the ups and check it is a bridal shop and a office with boxes outside the building. I did not deposit the check as requested.

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• Dec 27, 2023
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WOW! I just got the same extact offer from Marlan Hardi. Except I was supposed to start training this AM on Teams and no one showed up. I did get the new hire docs via Docusign so I thought it may have been legit. All emails and names matched the company's employee emails which was the odd part. Im annoyed that they have my home address and SS #. Luckily my credit report is locked but not sure if that may be enough.

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- Kansas City, MO, USA
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Job was posted for data entry clerk for Lexington clinic in Lexington KY. I was interviewed and hired all via email and an app called RingCentral. They said they were would electronically send me a check via email to purchase my office computer and supplies ! The check sent was not a vaild check and it was a check from George Daly housing in nyc. I called the number listed online to see if they were aware but they wouldn't talk to me and hung up .

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- Kittanning, PA, USA
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Contacted me by email about my resume and a job that I applied for on career builder.com for a data entry clerk. The interview was scheduled for the very next day, 9/7/23 at 9 a.m. on Zoom TeamChat. I attended the interview on chat and answered all of the questions. 30 minutes later I got a job offer for a full time data entry clerk with Validation Associates LLC and got emailed an offer letter for employment with a w4 tax form to fill out and send back and was also told to send photos of my driver's license front and back. I signed the offer letter, filled out the w4 and sent it all back to them with the photos of my DL. The very next day, they sent me a check by UPS for almost $4000, that I was told was a start up check from them in order to set up my home office and order all supplies and materials needed for my job position. The check came with a letter of deposit instructions from the chief financial officer of Validation Associates. I was instructed to immediately go to my bank and deposit the check by ATM, which I was unable to do so since I do not have a debit card yet so I went inside the branch and deposited the check with a teller, who seemed a little puzzled by my story. After I left the bank I got worried that I was getting scammed since the supposed hiring manager was blowing me up on Zoom TeamChat wanting to know if the check was deposited yet and demanding me to send the deposit receipt, for which I complied. Later on in the evening, I started asking the supposed hiring manager questions because things weren't adding up or making sense and he immediately blocked me. Now these people have all of my personal information and I have to call my bank tomorrow to let them know that the check is a scam and close my account! What do I do? How can these people and this fake company continue to get away with doing this to people since 2012?!?!

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They want to give me a check so I have to deposit in mi account and then buy the sistems to work.

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There was a post on FaceBook from about a job opportunity and I inquired and was ask to download signal messenger and put in a code. Then Adam contacted me to conduct an interview, it all seemed to be on the up and up. Then it came down to getting the equipment to start the training for the job and I needed to purchase the equipment and I would be reimbursed. I kept questioning him and he was good at his job and kept convincing me it was all ok. I didn't give him the $500 he wanted but I did give him $130. He wasn't happy. I was asking him more about the company and he has stopped responding to me.

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Offered me a "project manager position" with paid training in the amount of $2400 for 5 weeks, with the incentive of doubling the pay with excellent test scores. Completed a phone interview, and was told company just opened in the US in 2023 and once my online training was complete would travel to the New York Office for a week of in person training. Once I completed 3/5 weeks of training, was offered a project to complete that would be "similar to job once I received an official offer". The project was to use my personal credit card to purchase apple products for the Taiwan office, specifically requested i use the card with the highest spending limit. I was to use Atom's checking information to "payoff" my car PRIOR to ordering any product. When I declined to use a personal card for business purposes, Mr. Cotton (hiring manager) ceased communication.

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1. I was sent an email "to follow up on your application for the Remote Data Analyst position at Govcio".

"If you are still interested, please respond to this email with a "YES."

2. After I said "yes", I was sent a "screening questionnaire". It was a PDF file. Here are some contradicting quotes:

"Please take a few moments to answer the following question in as much detail as possible"

"Kindly note that we need your response as soon as possible, so please respond urgently."

3. I answered the questionnaire and sent it to them. I received a job offer in the email.

"I am writing to formally Congratulate you on your new role as a Remote Data Analyst at GovCio. We are impressed with your qualifications, experience, and the results of the screening questions you completed, which were used to evaluate your suitability for the position."

There are some some information and how much they will pay and how frequent.

"I am writing to formally Congratulate you on your new role as a Remote Data Analyst at GovCio. We are impressed with your qualifications, experience, and the results of the screening questions you completed, which were used to evaluate your suitability for the position."

The next request was:

"Kindly forward the details below to the HR department for further processing.

Full Name:

Home Address:

Phone number:

Email address:

Please email the requested information above to: [email protected]"

I did this and so humanresources email address replied to me:

x-------------------------------------------------------------------------------...⇄ />
Congratulations on joining GovCio!

Attached to this email is the company's Employment Offer Letter you need to sign. You are directed to print this letter, read it carefully, append your signature, and email back the signed offer letter.

Please note that, on acceptance of this employment offer, the following equipment will be delivered to you to set up your home office, the funds for the purchase of the equipment will be made available to you prior to purchase and delivery.

*Apple Mac Studio M1 Max, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD, Apple 27” Studio Display, 5K, HP LaserJet Pro M15w Printer, External hard drive/backup system, Headset with microphone, Networking and router capabilities, Surge Protectors and Automated Time Tracker, Proof Hub.

Please make sure to attach to this document a copy of your valid ID (front and back) for employment confirmation and email it back with the signed offer letter.

After signing this offer letter, the check to pay for the equipment listed above for your mini office will be mailed out to you, then you will begin training as soon as you take delivery of the equipment.

Please note, the management of GovCio sees it fit to conduct our job interview/briefing process through email and instant messaging so as to determine an applicant's writing, typing, communication, and timing skills since communication and timing are an integral part of the Data Analyst (Remote) position.

Also, The position requires you to work between the hours of 9 am Cst - 5 pm Cst from Monday to Friday.

Note: Upon signing out this contract with the company you are bound by LAW to not destroy any of the company's property i.e.: Equipment sent and delivered to you for your work or a Check forwarded to you for payment. Contravening any of these rules will render this contract null and void and penalties will be incurred.

Accept the assurances of our best wishes.

x-------------------------------------------------------------------------------...⇄ />
There was no attachment. I replied that there was no attachment.

I emailed marketing at govcio.com to ask them if these emails are legitimate.

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The scammer used the name Gustavo Pavese. They conducted an interview via the Microsoft Teams app. The next day they provided a job offer. They requested, in addition to the information they already had, my full address and confirmed my email address. They also asked the name of my bank to ensure it was an accepted bank with their payroll department. They emailed a job offer to be signed to my email address. The offer included $15/hr training as well as a standard pay of $35/hr as well as benefits. I noticed there was no address listed in the offer or associated email addresses listed within the contact section of the offer. I thought that may have been a simple typo. I advised I had completed the offer by adding my signature and had sent the signed offer back. We continued our conversation where they mentioned I would need equipment to work, which would include a MacBook Pro laptop, fast-speed internet etc. They then stated they would be sending me a check via email to cover the cost of said equipment. They stated I was to deposit the check and then purchase said equipment from their preferred vendor. As a requirement, I would need to submit the check via mobile deposit to my bank and send a snapshot of the deposit slip, as well as send copies of the receipts from purchasing any equipment. At this point, I contacted my bank to discuss the potentiality of this being a scheme to commit fraud. My bank advised me this could be "a man in the middle mobile deposit scheme." If I had continued, this scammer would have access to my banking information and also I may have been at fault for cashing any checks and spending the money.

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My son was looking for a "Work From Home" job and inquired to an ad from Momentum Financial Services Group. A man named Ben A. Wohlforth, hiring manager (276-221-9578) contacted him via text to confirm that they had reviewed his resume and to setup a Microsoft Teams account for the interview. After interview, no video, there was only text communication. My son was notified that he should expect a fedex offer letter in the mail along with a check to purchase software needed to do this job. He was notified with a FedEx tracking number, which the day after a delay in shipment was received. When my son notified Ben of the delay notification, Ben offered to resend via USPS. My son received the FedEx with a check and offer of employment contract, for $4600, then also received the second check and letter for $4217. Letter addressed different people and different amounts. Check was deposited, flagged by the bank, never cleared. Then Ben asked my son to cover $2400 for the purchase of the software needed and wire the funds to him. This is where all communication stopped. Last text message was sent to Ben to advise him that we realize the scam and authorities were notified. Ben never texted back.

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They offered me a position starting asap through LinkedIn with the check for first week’s pay and instructions to send a money order for supplies.

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They offered me a work from home job, then sent me a check for $4,980 saying it was partially my first weeks pay (even though I hadn’t even been interviewed yet) and the rest was for equipment through their “associate gadget supplier.” After doing research and finding out this is a very common scam tactic, I did not cash the check.

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