ACE Research, Inc SCAM
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I realize that I should have posted what they sent me, so here it is:
Hello Mary,
You have been Accepted as one of our Survey Agent in your
neighborhood, you will be given as survey date as soon as you
confirm your status.
You will be evaluating some stores in your neighborhood as a customer
and give us feedback on your overall experience by filling out an online
survey form. You'll be paid $300 for this survey and payment to cover
all expenses for the survey will be delivered to you by this week.
You'll be required to fill out a survey form after the survey using the
below pointers:
1) How long it took you to get services.
2) Ambiance/Outlook of the Shop/Outlet
3) Customer service professionalism
4) Reaction of personnel under pressure
5) Information that you think would be helpful
6) Your comments and impressions.
Respond to this email on your acceptance to carry out the survey.
Thank you and hope to hear from you today.
Thanks.
Mr Michael Harrington
Research Manager
Hello Mary,
You have been Accepted as one of our Survey Agent in your
neighborhood, you will be given as survey date as soon as you
confirm your status.
You will be evaluating some stores in your neighborhood as a customer
and give us feedback on your overall experience by filling out an online
survey form. You'll be paid $300 for this survey and payment to cover
all expenses for the survey will be delivered to you by this week.
You'll be required to fill out a survey form after the survey using the
below pointers:
1) How long it took you to get services.
2) Ambiance/Outlook of the Shop/Outlet
3) Customer service professionalism
4) Reaction of personnel under pressure
5) Information that you think would be helpful
6) Your comments and impressions.
Respond to this email on your acceptance to carry out the survey.
Thank you and hope to hear from you today.
Thanks.
Mr Michael Harrington
Research Manager
All I had to read was you will be paid $300 to know it is a scam. There are plenty of other red flags including the use of a variation on the name of a legitimate mystery shopping company and really poor grammar.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
This is a scam, The offer of $300 is not real, they are throwing out a hook with bait hoping to reel you in.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
Thank you for confirming my gut instincts. This is a good lesson for anyone.
"You have been Accepted as one of our Survey Agent in your neighborhood, you will be given as survey date as soon as you confirm your status."
Didn't need to read past that to know that this is a scam. Just the horrible grammar is a dead giveaway!
Didn't need to read past that to know that this is a scam. Just the horrible grammar is a dead giveaway!
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
The grammar was bad, and that bothered me. But I've known some legitimate schedulers to have horrible grammar and spelling in the past. I was more skeptical about the money. I've been paid high amounts for shops before; but those shop had been hard to fill with companies that I had good relationships with. It's been a while since there was good money floating around I just was hopeful.
It might be helpful to let the MSC that you received this, they might not know that this scam is going on.
@MaryP11 wrote:
But I've known some legitimate schedulers to have horrible grammar and spelling in the past.
LOL! Yes, many schedulers and MSC materials are fraught with poor grammar and spelling. But this goes beyond even that! Especially capitalizing "accepted" and failing to make "agent" plural. Even the worst of what we see from legitimate MSCs isn't usually that bad.... But, in conjunction with the $300, it can't help but be a scam!
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
The bad grammar, the $300 fee, or simply the fact they are going to pay you before you do the job. Well I have to go help that poor Nigerian Prince now.
Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.
@BuffaloNY101 wrote:
Well I have to go help that poor Nigerian Prince now.
Here, you want some extra money to throw his way?
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I have been completing mystery shops for many years and am embarassed to say I fell for this one. Luckily, they "only" have my address and phone number, I didn't cashor deposit the check. Now I am going to dedicate myself to posting all the details anywhere I possible can so they can't scam anyone else.
It doesn't seem like I can post attachments here, but I'd love to post the letter and check I just received. It is for $1,300 and the letter instructs me to send $900 via Western Union to "Skylar Jenkins" in Richton Park IL 60471 and keeping $300 as my commision. (Yup, do the math).
I have emailed the credit union that issued the cashier check.
It doesn't seem like I can post attachments here, but I'd love to post the letter and check I just received. It is for $1,300 and the letter instructs me to send $900 via Western Union to "Skylar Jenkins" in Richton Park IL 60471 and keeping $300 as my commision. (Yup, do the math).
I have emailed the credit union that issued the cashier check.
Identity thief has me so cautious. Any old snail mail with even my name on a form gets diamond shredded before going in the trash. One of my best friends is going through her second year of trying to get her credit back to normal after being scammed by an employee who has since disappeared, but continues to use her credit.
In the last issue of my Auto Insurance magazine, It had the following ad
TAYLOR, age 5
Owns a house in Palm Springs,
a condo in Nashville and a yacht
somewhere in the Atlantic
OR AT LEAST THE GUY WHO STOLE HER IDENTITY DOES
In the last issue of my Auto Insurance magazine, It had the following ad
TAYLOR, age 5
Owns a house in Palm Springs,
a condo in Nashville and a yacht
somewhere in the Atlantic
OR AT LEAST THE GUY WHO STOLE HER IDENTITY DOES
Actually, no credit union issued the Cashier's Check. It was a fake check printed and filled out by the scammers.
@Jst.me.being.me wrote:
I have emailed the credit union that issued the cashier check.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
Just write back:
Dear Michael,
Because of all the Internet Scams, I need you to Western Union my $300 fee in advance.
That should shut him up.
Dear Michael,
Because of all the Internet Scams, I need you to Western Union my $300 fee in advance.
That should shut him up.
Nice one! I actually think I want to blog about this, but I kind of want to string him along first.
Hi! I just googled the company and found this forum.
I'm the newbie idiot that totally fell for all of it, even going as far as depositing the check, and having it returned cause it's obviously a fake.
Anyone know any actions I can take? I contacted my bank and spoke to them about protecting my account. Thinking about filing a police report.
I'm the newbie idiot that totally fell for all of it, even going as far as depositing the check, and having it returned cause it's obviously a fake.
Anyone know any actions I can take? I contacted my bank and spoke to them about protecting my account. Thinking about filing a police report.
Oh no! Did you also wire out the money?
I went back into the original email I got and realized that I had filled out the information on a survey monkey form. Anyone can create a form on survey monkey and receive the information from it. (Not fault of survey monkey, they are actually a legitimate and helpful site if used properly.) The survey I used was shut down. I had reported it to the bank on the fake check and FBI cyber crimes.
Just an FYI that most mystery shop tasks pay around $20 or less, with higher paying ones only available to shoppers that have worked with that company for a while.
I went back into the original email I got and realized that I had filled out the information on a survey monkey form. Anyone can create a form on survey monkey and receive the information from it. (Not fault of survey monkey, they are actually a legitimate and helpful site if used properly.) The survey I used was shut down. I had reported it to the bank on the fake check and FBI cyber crimes.
Just an FYI that most mystery shop tasks pay around $20 or less, with higher paying ones only available to shoppers that have worked with that company for a while.
Just a FYI. Don't email the scammer back. If you do, they now know your email address is real. They usually send out 1000's of emails to different combinations of addresses hoping to get a hit.
I replied to one years ago calling myself telling the person off. What happened was, my 'real' email address was then placed on many spamming lists and I received 100's of scamming offers from, "The Prince of this country...", the, "You won the lottery but we need a release fee...", the "Cash this check, take your fee, send us the money..." and many more.
I did not deactivate the account since I like the username. Instead, I just kept marking the emails as spam and over time, they stopped coming. I still have the account, but will never answer another one to tell someone off or for any other reason.
I replied to one years ago calling myself telling the person off. What happened was, my 'real' email address was then placed on many spamming lists and I received 100's of scamming offers from, "The Prince of this country...", the, "You won the lottery but we need a release fee...", the "Cash this check, take your fee, send us the money..." and many more.
I did not deactivate the account since I like the username. Instead, I just kept marking the emails as spam and over time, they stopped coming. I still have the account, but will never answer another one to tell someone off or for any other reason.
Sounds like you dodged a BIG bullet!@playdeadbolt wrote:
Hi! I just googled the company and found this forum.
I'm the newbie idiot that totally fell for all of it, even going as far as depositing the check, and having it returned cause it's obviously a fake.
Anyone know any actions I can take? I contacted my bank and spoke to them about protecting my account. Thinking about filing a police report.
I got the letter and the check. The letter stats that the $300 is for a shopping survey I will have to do and + $1,290 to further surveys I will conduct. Just deposit the check and it seems legit so far, it has funds meaning money available in my account. I'm still waiting on the possible instructions for the other surveys to see how far it goes.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/26/2016 01:12AM by joca2016.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/26/2016 01:12AM by joca2016.
@joca2016 wrote:
I got the letter and the check. The letter stats that the $300 is for a shopping survey I will have to do and + $1,290 to further surveys I will conduct. Just deposit the check and it seems legit so far, it has funds meaning money available in my account. I'm still waiting on the possible instructions for the other surveys to see how far it goes.
I think Joker2016 needs to be kittenized...Who has a button?
It can take up to 30 days before the bank finds the check is a fraud. In the mean time, you took the money, will probably spend some of the money, and when the check is flagged, you're responsible. If you chose to play the game to see if someone would actually send that type of money, then do. Just don't spend any of the money so when the bank finally flags the check as a fraud, you haven't spent any of the money. On another note, if the bank thinks you in on the scam, they'll cancel your account and contact the authorities.
@deelitefullyme, joca (aka joker) is a troll judging by his username.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/26/2016 01:59AM by ChrisCooper.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/26/2016 01:59AM by ChrisCooper.
Sounds like someone who is not understanding how banking and mystery shopping works. It doesn't matter what your bank says right now, when the check is returned as fraudulent (notice I said when, not if), joca will be responsible for all fees and could even be prosecuted for fraud. Joca you need to think about this. Why would any company pay you in advance for any work? What experience/education do you have that would command $300 or more per hour? My guess is the answers to both questions are none. Do yourself a favor by going to the bank NOW and telling them you have been the victim of a scam. It will save you the fees the bank will definitely charge and prevent you from being prosecuted.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Goodmorning.My name is TIM HOWARD.i am contacting in regards to the secret Shopping assignment you applied for.Please I need to know if you have an apt number for the address provided so that we can proceed in mailing your assignment packet.Thank you
I just recieved this text message this morning..the puncutuation/grammar is concerning. I wanted to ask someone to verify if this Tim Howard really works for this company. I am intrested in becoming a mystery shopper, but dont want to fall for a scam, so im checking this guy out before releasing my home address to him...it states that he needs to know if i have an apt # for the address provided, then when i ask what company it will be coming from, he stated this company, and asked me for my home address. Why would he need my home address if ive already provided it? Can anyone help me? Please and thank you so very much.
I just recieved this text message this morning..the puncutuation/grammar is concerning. I wanted to ask someone to verify if this Tim Howard really works for this company. I am intrested in becoming a mystery shopper, but dont want to fall for a scam, so im checking this guy out before releasing my home address to him...it states that he needs to know if i have an apt # for the address provided, then when i ask what company it will be coming from, he stated this company, and asked me for my home address. Why would he need my home address if ive already provided it? Can anyone help me? Please and thank you so very much.
melissa,
That message is almost certainly from a scammer, no matter what name he is using. Valid MS companies and real schedulers often are used as smoke screens for scammers. If you independently go to the MSC's web site you will see that any sign-up with them would have captured your full mailing address!!!
Do not respond to unsolicited messages from any MSC that you are not signed up with and use care responding even if you are signed up.
PLEASE stop and read all of the suggestions pinned to the top of the topics list for New Mystery Shoppers here. We are here to help newbies get started safely.
That message is almost certainly from a scammer, no matter what name he is using. Valid MS companies and real schedulers often are used as smoke screens for scammers. If you independently go to the MSC's web site you will see that any sign-up with them would have captured your full mailing address!!!
Do not respond to unsolicited messages from any MSC that you are not signed up with and use care responding even if you are signed up.
PLEASE stop and read all of the suggestions pinned to the top of the topics list for New Mystery Shoppers here. We are here to help newbies get started safely.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Thank you so much for your help! I assumed it was a scam, but wanted to be certain. I am trying to snag a mystery shopping assignment and will be following the advice from this site. I hope it will let me use my data to go through it. Thanks again so much.
I just got one but it has a money order....how is it a scam if it's a money order?
Amounts can be changed on money orders. If it is not money you have earned already, why would someone send a money order to a stranger?
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