Confero received information today about a scam regarding "Patrick Powell" who claims to work for Confero.  We have no employee named Patrick Powell.  The fraudster’s email was sent through LinkedIn, and he uses an email address of customershr@gmail.com.The person falsely claims to be associated with Confero and attempts to recruit secret shoppers through emails.   The scam asks for the person to reply by email in regard to survey opportunities. Once contact information is provided, the fraudster sends checks via UPS, asking for the recipient to cash the fake checks. Please do not fall for this scam!

 

Here is an example of the email:

 

You submitted your information to one of our recruitment agency  Via a Referral from Linked-in to work as a secret shopper in CONFERO Evaluation program.  Your details have been verified and you are shortlisted as one of our representatives. Here is your unique I.D number MS8653, your details have been stored in our database.  Our company has recently been contracted to do a quality survey on Apple, Walmart stores, best buy, CVS, and Target, we have shortlisted few representatives from various states and cities to visit any of those stores listed randomly, to buy merchandise and share their experience via our feedback assessment form.

 

You will receive an envelope containing a Cashier's Check(Payment for your first assignment), Instruction Letter and Assessment Form soon VIA USPS. Please check your mailbox daily.

 

Best Regards,

Patrick Powell

Survey(HR)

 

 

Please do not contact Patrick Powell, as this person is trying to scam people.  These scams almost always result in consumers becoming duped into a fake check scam. In fake check scams, shoppers are sent checks to deposit, and then told to wire most of the funds elsewhere and keep the difference. Ultimately, the check the scammer sent the shopper turns out to be worthless and the shopper is on the hook to cover the entire check with the bank. Some of the checks look quite real – so real in fact that bank tellers see them all the time. BE CAREFUL! 

 

Please be aware: 

1.    Emails from Confero employees will come from conferoinc.com  (This one comes from customershr@gmail.com.)

2.    Confero does not recruit shoppers through LinkedIn.                       

3.   Confero NEVER issues checks to shoppers for any reason. Our payments to shoppers are sent via PayPal or Direct Deposit.  

 

We thank the consumers who brought this to our attention, so that we were able to warn others of this scam.